BIG OPPORTUNITY: Kaitlyn Ashmore has been selected as an inaugural member of the AFL Victoria Victorian Women’s Football League Academy. Picture: Jeremy Bannister
MANY young footballers dream of playing in the elite national competition.
Comparatively few are invited to join an AFL academy to make it a reality.
Kaitlyn Ashmore of the North Ballarat Eagles has been selected as an inaugural member of the AFL Victoria Victorian Women’s Football League Academy.
The Academy will work to development individual footballers, with topics that include skill development and game education, as women’s football moves towards the establishment of a national competition in the not too distant future.
Ashmore, 20, who is also a keen netballer, and track and field athlete, says it is an incredible opportunity.
“My coach John Marshall nominated me for it.
‘‘We had heard a little bit here and there but I didn’t think I’d be selected,” Ashmore says.
“When I started footy it was for fun, or to keep fit and the maybe the social aspect. Now I’m taking it a lot more seriously.
“They are now talking about having a national competition maybe even by 2014. If I knuckle down, I think I could go pretty far with this. In terms of my sports it’s definitely near the top.”
Five-time Darebin Falcons coach Peta Searle has been named the inaugural AFL Victoria VWFL Academy coach-mentor.
The first training session is May 25 at Princes Park, Carlton.