St Kilda wants to establish a “talls academy” as part of its women’s football push

ST KILDA wants to establish a “talls academy” as part of its women’s football push.

St Kilda general manager Jamie Cox, flanked by senior coach Alan Richardson and chief executive Matt Finnis, wants to set up a talls academy as part of the club’s women’s footy push. Picture: Getty

ST KILDA wants to establish a “talls academy” as part of its women’s football push.

The strategy would maximise football’s appeal to athletes who otherwise might play basketball, netball or volleyball.

“What our research suggested is there’s not a deep talent pool at the moment in the girls game,” Saints football boss Jamie Cox said.

“At the moment, taller girls probably graduate to those sports where being tall you can develop an advantage. We want to give them an alternative option.

“To actually say, you know what, talls can have a really strong effect on our game too, so let’s develop them specifically so there’s a pathway and a real feasible option for tall girls.

“It would be intensified skill development around the skills necessary to be a tall: bodywork, marking is an obvious one, making sure they understand the intricacies of ruckwork.

“Most ruckmen and ruck coaches would refer to it as an art form … it’s really about giving some very targeted and accelerated learning to girls.”

Cox said he sensed the looming national women’s league is a part of a push by the AFL to make Australian rules the No. 1 sport of choice for girls.

“Absolutely, I would imagine that’s one of the targets,” Cox said.

“I’ve never actually heard those words stated, but that sort of underlies it I think.

“If you’re going to go to the effort of putting on an elite competition, you’d have an aspiration that it attracts first-choice talent and that girls are going to want to choose AFL over some other options.”

Thirteen clubs are vying for eight national league licences, with the AFL considering increasing the number to 10.

Cox said he didn’t have an opinion on how many sides should be in the competition in year one, but he felt confident the talent would grow quickly.

“I wouldn’t get caught up in talent if it were me, because I think that could be grown but I understand the AFL would want a pretty sharp, shining product for year one,” Cox said.

“Having spent a little bit of time around a couple of our local clubs, while the talent pool might be small at the moment, I think putting some professional expertise and resource around what are very, very willing participants at the moment, I think you’ll grow the talent pool really quickly.

Cox said a women’s side fitted perfectly with the Saint’s philosophy.

“We are the club that really does promote a place where everyone belongs and a place where everyone can be how they want to be,” he said.

“At the moment, girls can’t be a St Kilda footballer and we think that’s wrong.”

Originally published as St Kilda wants to establish a “talls academy” as part of its women’s football push