Young stars to learn from the best

The program runs from February 3-7 and this year the HPAF is open to just 20 of the countries best 16-year-old female footballers and eight coaches.

The academy will include fitness testing, nutrition/hydration seminars, game sense and skills. 

Alexandra Tegg from Southern Power Women’s and Eleri Morris from Wollongong Saints Women’s are the two players chosen for the program.

It will also be attended by Darren Denneman, AFL NSW/ACT Manager Talent and Sarah McFarlane, NSW/ACT Under-18s Youth Girls Head Coach.

Libby Sadler, AFL NSW/ACT Female Programs manager, attended the 2012 HPAF as an all-Australian member and said the experience will provide the coaches and players with an unprecedented amount of information on female football. 

“The program is explicitly designed to target key areas of development specific to youth aged females and gives the players and coaches a fabulous opportunity to network and broaden their football skills,” Sadler said.

“Such an experience will also provide both Eleri and Alex an opportunity to mix it with some of the more experienced footballers from traditional states like Victoria.”

Tegg is the youngest member of the Southern Power Women’s team and has been rewarded for her hard-work and love of the game.

She has played for Southern Power for two years, representing NSW in the Under-16s Schoolgirls team in 2011 and was a NSW/ACT representative player in 2012.

She is also currently a member of the NSW/ACT Under-18s Development Squad.

Morris has played Youth Girls AFL for two years, also represented NSW in the Under-16s Schoolgirls team in 2011 and is a member of the NSW/ACT Under-18s Development Squad.