Pathway established for best female footballers in the west

TAC Cup club Western Jets has established a Youth Girls Academy, which will start on November 10, with 75 girls invited to take part.

AFL Victoria introduced a Youth Girls Academy Challenge earlier this year, with eight TAC Cup teams taking part in the round-robin competition.

The Jets fielded a combined side with Geelong Falcons, but now have their own academy catering for 15 to 18-year-old girls.

The program will include training sessions, a camp, intraclub practice matches and six games against other TAC Cup clubs.

It will coincide with the AFL National Women’s League and conclude in April.

“We’ll play six matches against other teams and then all the girls will go back to domestic footy,” Jets talent manager Shane Sexton said.

“The idea, at this stage anyway, is to look after the local domestic competitions throughout the season.

“Ultimately, who knows, it will probably replicate the boys at some stage.”

Bridget Barker, who works at North Melbourne, has been appointed coach.

Gavin Mahony, Krista Woodruffe and Stephanie Webb will take on roles as assistant coaches, while Shae-Lee Murphy-Burke and Sabrin Nyawela will work as development coaches.

“Really keen on having strong female representation in all that as well,” Sexton said.

“There are some girls who have had a reasonable amount of experience and other girls who have certainly been involved in playing footy for a while.

“We’re certainly not going to be able to fit 75 girls into the competition phase.

“A ballpark number — and that’s all it is at this stage — is that about 30-35 will play in the competition.”

The Jets have also gained the support of Footscray Park’s Victoria University campus and Victorian Football League club Williamstown.