AFLW Futures game set to be held in Geelong
Forty-six of Australia’s brightest young female footballers will descend on Melbourne this weekend to showcase their skills as they aim for a place in the AFLW Academy. SEE THE TEAMS.
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Western Jets duo Kiera Whiley and Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner are enjoying quite the 2022.
They were both part of the Jets’ maiden NAB League premiership, boys or girls in April.
Now they’ll have the opportunity to test themselves against the country’s best under 17s after they were named in the iangural AFLW Futures program.
The program will see 46 players assemble in Melbourne this week for a training camp and exhibition match on Sunday at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium at 10.30am.
The players named in the NAB AFLW Futures squad will be eligible for selection in next year’s NAB AFLW Academy.
Jets coach Robbie Chancellor said it was a fantastic opportunity for both players to continue their experiences in an elite environment.
The pair’s selections highlight the strength of the Jets program with Charlotte Baskaran and Montana Ham expected to be first round picks in this month’s AFLW Draft.
“Part of the plan was to get players in our region into the program as soon as possible,” Chancellor said.
“A lot of credit needs to go to our talent manager Luke Williams for that. A lot of the girls are only playing in a smaller competition where half of them are in one team.
“Getting them in here early allows them to develop a little bit faster than they would at local level.”
Whiley has improved quickly in her time in the Jets program moving from a halfback role in 2021 to a wing in 2022.
“It’s a process I follow with a lot of our players,” Chancellor said.
“Kiera will probably spend more time inside next year. She’s a really creative player with her work around stoppages and can run all day.”
Weston-Turner was a key contributor in the Jets’ premiership impressing with her athleticism and breakaway speed in the grand final against the Dandenong Stingrays.
“I jokingly call her the Buddy Franklin of the west,” Chancellor said.
“She’s got outstanding speed and her skill at ground level is really impressive for a taller player. There’s so much upside to her game.
“We’re looking forward to watching both girls continue to develop.”
Other Victorians to be selected include Lila Keck, Tara Quinn, Jemma Ramsdale, Amy Gaylor, Bianca Lyne, Mikayla Williamson, Chloe Adams, Laura Stone, Jessica Rentsch and Jess Vukic.
Players have been split into two teams ahead of Sunday’s game.
Hawthorn AFLW signing and Adelaide premiership forward Sarah Perkins will coach Team Black in the NAB AFLW Futures match. She will be assisted by Western Bulldogs VFLW head coach Kirby Bentley, Northern Knights assistant Laura Frazer and South Australian Bek McMahon,
Former AFLW player Georgia Walker will coach Team White and will be assisted by Adelaide premiership captain Chelsea Randall and Vic Metro Under-18 Girls head coach Jacara Egan, along with Western Jets assistant Ali Hamad.
SELECTED TEAMS FOR THE AFLW FUTURES GAME
TEAM WHITE
Brooke Barwick, Glenorchy
Lila Keck, Bendigo Pioneers/Sandhurst
Sienna McMullen, Burleigh/Bond University
Ebony Milne, Victoria Point
Piper Window, Glenelg
Sophie Berry, Southern Districts
Kiera Whiley, Western Jets/Caroline Springs
Lily Whitcombe, Sturt
Kaitlyn Srhoj, Peel Thunder
Madi Lamb, North Hobart
Kayla Van den Heever, West Perth/Joondalup Kinross
Tara Quinn, Pines
Bellah Parker, North Hobart
Anjelique Raison, East Fremantle
Melanie Staunton, Ulladulla
Bianca Lyne, Dandenong Stingrays/Beleura
Jemma Ramsdale, Pines
Amy Gaylor, Strathmore
Emelye Blades, UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs/Maroubra Saints
Georgie Cleaver, East Fremantle
Timeka Cox, North Adelaide
Matilda Scholz, Glenelg
Kierra Zerafa, Waratah
TEAM BLACK
Elaine Grigg, North Adelaide
Sophie Peters, Maroochydore
Tsharni Graham, Palmerston
Olivia Morris, Pennant Hills/Westbrook
Shineah Goody, Woodville-West Torrens
Laura Roy, Morningside
Grace Whittaker, Southern Districts/Norwood
Molly Brooksby, Norwood
Mikayla Williamson, Pines
Marnie Robinson, UTS/Drummoyne
Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, Spotswood
Chloe Adams, Grovedale Tigers
Kyanne Campbell, Rovers/Pinktails
Tyla Fitzgerald, Swan Districts/High Wycombe
Laura Stone, Eastern Ranges/Rowville Knights
Jessica Rentsch, Portland Tigers
Jaime Henry, Swan Districts
Georgia Clark, Glenorchy
Tunisha Kikoak, North Launceston
Darcie Davies, Southport
Jess Vukic, Eastern Ranges/Vermont
Liliana Grassenis, West Perth
Tamashya Blurton, Claremont
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