FOUR Wimmera girls have been named in the Western Bulldogs Girls Next Generation Academy Squad which will be participating in this year’s V/Line Cup Carnival in Gippsland.
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Horsham Saints players Ella Friend and Kyra Clarke and Stawell Warriors players Jesse Bligh and Crystal Summers have been named in the squad.
The squad features players from the Goldfields, Horsham, Hamilton and Warrnambool regions.
AFL Wimmera-Mallee development manager Jason Muldoon said the girls would all be exposed to state selectors at the V/Line Cup in September.
“It’s an opportunity for exposure for them and there will be state selectors there,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for these girls to break into the Greater Western Victoria Rebels program, which is the next level for them.”
Muldoon also said the selections reflect the initial success of the Deakin University Female Football League.
“13 of the 24 in the squad are from that league,” he said.
“The league is only just starting so it’s only going to get stronger and stronger so it’s a really pleasing to see.”
Muldoon said the Western Bulldogs academy provided some great chances for the girls moving forward.
“They will train for three weeks before we go to the cup,” he said.
“Being connected with the Western Bulldogs certainly strengthens the pathway for these girls.
“The bulldogs can nominate for these girls in the AFLW draft but these girls are a bit young for that at the moment. It certainly does form an alliance.”
