Rebels Academy coach Jeff Whittaker said his players’ games had markedly improved since the latest academy intake was finalised in October.

“Enthusiasm and their commitment has been fantastic. We’ve got girls travelling two to three hours, from as far as Timboon, Portland and Dimboola, just to train once a fortnight,” Whittaker said.

“Their skills are improving all the time and no doubt girls’  football is growing stronger across the region.”

Academy training will resume in February. Pre-Christmas sessions have offered important preparation work for Vic Country hopefuls, with state trials to start on January 14.

Rebels Emma Lynch (Ballarat), Nikkita Alexander (Lake Wendouree), Ainslie Kemp (Kyneton), Nickesha Jones (Ballarat), Amy McDonald (Redan) and Georgia Watson (Modewarre) represented Vic Country last season and are vying to represent the Big V again.

AFL Goldfields junior academy coach Shaun O’Loughlin returns as Vic Country youth girls’  head coach, with Whittaker as an assistant, AFL Goldfields development manager Tim Shearer as team manager and Ballarat’s Prue Harvey leading fitness and conditioning.

Whittaker also said the new Rebels youth girls futures squad – the first in the state – was working well to expose more promising players to the Rebels’ program.

The futures squad aims to help fast-track younger players into the Rebels Academy program.

Youth girls academies have expanded from three to six programs aligned with TAC Cup clubs for next season.

Established BFL girls Abbi Bolt (Darley), Caitlin Broadfoot (Riddells Creek) and Eshe Lane (Gisborne) have already been selected for new academies – Bolt to the Falcons/Jets and Broadfoot and Lane to Calder Cannons.

Former Rebel Lily Mithen will move to Geelong.

REBELS YOUTH GIRLS ACADEMY SQUAD: Nikkita Alexander (Lake Wendouree), Sarah Anderson (Ararat Storm), Ella Banfield (Kyneton), Olivia Bedggood (Timboon Demons), Alysha Bettles (Ararat Storm), Genevieve Blake (Stawell Swifts), Jess Bokma (Redan), Tylah Bruhn (Lake Wendouree), Lauren Butler (MCDFL), Jordyn Gilmer (Lake Wendouree), Sarah Griffin (Ballarat), Winona Greenhalgh (Golden Point), Riley Holloway (Lake Wendouree), Nickesha Jones (Ballarat), Chloe Kalms (Western Rebels), Jasmine Kawa (Sebastapol), Maddison Kawa (Sebastopol), Joanne Lawrence (Ballarat), Charlotte Lakey (Kyneton), Ainslie Kemp (Kyneton), Emma Lynch (Ballarat), Michelle McCready (Maryborough), Amy McDonald (Redan), Choney Meemusor (Castlemaine), Lauren Murphy (Redan), Anna Marie Rice (Lake Wendouree), Alicia Rooth (Kyneton), Chamika Sadler (Maryborough), Taylah Spark (Ballarat), Natalie Svansio (MCDFL), Natasha Thomas (Sebastopol), Ebony Tucker (Redan), Georgia Watson (Modewarre), Shannon White (Kyneton).

REBELS FUTURES SQUAD: Georgia Anderson (Ararat Storm), Jasmine Biggs (MCDFL), Lily Dowling (Ararat Storm), Brittney Haddon (Sebastopol), Olivia Kyatt (Redan), Gabrielle Leckie (Golden Point), Marion McCready (MCDFL Lions), Ayesha Nicholson (Ararat Storm), Kristen Prebble (Redan), Elisabeth Richardson (Redan), Carrie Slorach (Ararat Storm), Evelyn Trainor (Lake Wendouree), Hayley Whitehand (Bacchus Marsh), Ella Wood (Mounties FC).

melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au