Female Talent on display in Crows v Power Academy Showdown

SANFL’s elite female youth talent was showcased in an inaugural Adelaide versus Port Adelaide Next Generation Academy Showdown at Football Park last night.

The best under-16 female elite players from each of the eight SANFL Clubs were nominated in late 2018 for the Crows and Power academy programs, which have held training sessions since December.

Sturt, North Adelaide, Glenelg and Central District prospects form the Crows Academies Girls Elite Talent Squad, while West Adelaide, South Adelaide, Norwood and Eagles’ best young talent represent Port Adelaide’s Female Talent Next Generation Academy.

Players were nominated for the Academy programs following the Statewide Super Shield U15 competition held in September 2018.

SANFL Female Talent Manager Robbie Neill said the Academy programs replaced the previous State Academy format in 2018 to provide an elite environment for emerging female talent on a pathway to the Statewide Super Women’s League and AFLW.

“The AFL-based Academy Programs is a collaborative approach with SANFL to developing female talent pathways in SA,” Neill said.

“The program also provides the best under-age talent with a unique opportunity to experience AFL facilities and training, and to match up against the best players of the same age.”

Three matches will be played between the Crows and Power Academies, with a State U16s squad to be selected following the final game on April 18.

The SA U16 State Team, coached by SANFL’s Jason Rivett, will play Vic Country on June 9 in Mt Gambier.

“The Adelaide Football Club, via our Crows Academies model, is excited to extend our presence in South Australian talent pathway programs to now include emerging female talent,” said Crows Academies Manager Jarrod Meers.

“Since the AFL, SANFL and AFL clubs have signed off on a commitment to support and work with the talented young footballers, our Crows Academies Girls Elite Talent Squad members have been able to experience the ultimate AFLW setting,” Meers said.

“What better way than having AFLW Premiership and All Australian Captain Chelsea Randall mentoring the girls.”

Power Next Generation Academy Manager Shane Grimm said the program was helping the club continue its commitment to female football pathways.

“The Port Adelaide Football Club has had a long history of developing talented footballers within South Australia and the Next Generation Academies continues to allow us to be a major part of the talent pathway within the SANFL and our aligned NGA clubs,” Grimm said.

“It is exciting for the Club to expand our programs to involve talented female footballers who are now able to be involved in a pathway from community football through to the AFLW.

“It is also important that we are providing a pathway for female coaches to gain experience and move into AFLW and we are proud to have Naomi Maidment as coach of our under 16 NGA girls.”

Crows Academies Girls Elite Talent squad                  Power Female Talent Next Generation Academy

Darcie Brown                       Central                                            Emily Smith                          South Adelaide

Zoe Perry                              Central                                              Ella Radbone                        South Adelaide

Nikki Cullen                          Central                                               Jorja Hooper                         South Adelaide

Libby Fiebiger                      Central                                               Indiana Flynn                        South Adelaide

Taliyah Uncle                       Central                                               Lauren Clifton                      South Adelaide

Cooper Hyde                        Central                                               Teliya Hetaraka                    South Adelaide

Molly Fiebiger                      Central                                               Callie Wilson                         South Adelaide

Brooke Tonon                      Glenelg                                               Gypsy Schirmer                 South Adelaide

Hattie Cox                             Glenelg                                             Bridie Nye                           South Adelaide

Ella Little                               Glenelg                                            Kiahni Russell                  South Adelaide

Sarah Goodwin                    Glenelg                                              Alana Cleary                         Norwood

Neave Delaney                     Glenelg                                              Jess Williams                        Norwood

Matilda Scholz                      Glenelg                                             Hayley Taheny                     Norwood

Natasha Christophers        Glenelg                                            Sachi Syme                           Norwood

Natasha Allison                    Glenelg                                            Alana Lischmund              Norwood

Hannah Ewings                    North Adelaide                               Cherylee Waters                 Eagles

Chelsea Rundle                    North Adelaide                                Avah Topp                             Eagles

Kate Case                              North Adelaide                                 Jamie Parish                         Eagles

Amelie Borg                          North Adelaide                                Kelliah Maher                      Eagles

April Kerrison                     North Adelaide                                Alicia Gaffney                       Eagles

Zoe Prowse                           Sturt                                                   Lauren Young                       West Adelaide

Georgia Swan                       Sturt                                                   Zoe Venning                         West Adelaide

Holly Temby                         Sturt                                                   Keeley Kustermann           West Adelaide

Charlotte Hurn                     Sturt                                                 Taylah Jane                          West Adelaide

Grace Powell                        Sturt                                                   Scarlett Griffiths                  West Adelaide

Taylor Lucey                         Sturt                                                  Chloe Schwarz                      Eagles

Kiera Mueller                       Sturt                                                  Madison Schwarz              Eagles