AFLW stars Sabrina Frederick and Steph Chiocci inspire future generation of players

AFLW player and SAS Australia TV star Sabrina Frederick is getting behind a special program to get kids outside, active and motivated to move.

AFLW player and SAS Australia TV star Sabrina Frederick has an important message for Aussie kids. Picture: Supplied

With the AFL Women’s comp kicking off this week, two stars of the sport believe it’s important for young girls to get involved in the sport early.

Steph Chiocci, the 33-year-old co-captain of the Collingwood Magpies is an ambassador for the Coles Healthy Kicks program, which combines her two passions – teaching and football.

When she’s not leading the Pies to glory, Chiocci is a full time PE teacher.

“It’s a cool concept that teaches kids about having a healthy body, a healthy mind, about nutritious food and how to be a part of a team,” she said.

“These are integral, life skills we can hopefully teach the kids.”

Stephanie Chiocci of the Magpies. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

SAS Australia contestant and now fellow Pie (having formerly played with both Brisbane and Richmond), Sabrina Frederick, 25, agreed it was a great post-lockdown initiative.

“For me growing up as a kid, being active helped me in so many ways, socially by being around other people, and physically by keeping fit,” she said.

“Today, a lot of kids are stuck inside looking at TV and screens, so this is great for getting kids to be physical.”

The incursion-based program for six-12 year olds kicks off on January 7, in line with the AFLW season.

Now in its sixth year, Chiocci said the AFLW league has had “phenomenal growth”.

“We’re still in our infancy, but the standard of football has increased, from the intensity to the skill level,” she said.

Sabrina Frederick with her mini-me little league legend Sunny. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Girls are exposed to football from a young age and there is now a clear pathway from youth girls to the AFLW, which wasn’t there when I started.

“I just love the game, it’s in my blood but there was no opportunity to play. I kicked balls with my brother, and Dad was told, ‘Gee, if she was a boy, she could play footy’. I had the opportunity to play at Diamond Creek when I was 17 years old and have never looked back.”

Frederick hoped programs like Coles Healthy Kicks will interest more girls in AFL.

“The one thing about AFL is the camaraderie is second to none,” she said.

Sabrina Frederick: “I genuinely went on SAS because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My favourite challenge was the rock run, it was running down the side of a building Mission Impossible-style. It was a childhood dream to do something like that.” Picture: Nigel Wright.

“It’s a great way to make friends and there aren’t a lot of games with that kind of physicality, you get to run and tackle and jump up in the air.”

Chiocci said she was excited about playing in front of a crowd again and believed the Pies are set up for a fantastic season.

“We’re coming off the back of a pretty good year, we lost the preliminary finals by a goal which has given us a bit of fire in the belly,” she said.

“We’ve put a consistent list together over the past two years which is important for connection and synergy and we’re well on track for round one.”

Visit aflmax.com.au/healthy-kicks

Towards a Better Future, in conjunction with Coles’ Better Together strategy, will share stories on Farming, Local Communities, Health & Wellbeing, and Sustainability/Food Waste to shine a light on the people, charities and organisations that are helping make our country a better place to live.