WA 16s Girls Gain National ExposureThursday, April 18, 2024 - 2:51 PM

Competing in the Marsh AFL National Championships – U16s Girls provided the WA team with a firsthand insight into the dedication and skill required at the elite level of football. 

Over eight days the WA side travelled across two states to compete in two matches where they secured a convincing victory in Melbourne against the Gold Coast Suns Academy, before suffering a defeat against South Australia in Adelaide the following weekend. 

These Championships are designed to enhance players’ skills, expose them to elite-level training, pit them against the top-tier talent from across the country, and highlight the pathway to WAFLW and AFLW. 

Following WA’s final match against South Australia, Lexi Strachan was named WA’s best player for the competition, putting on a solid performance which included 14 disposals (10 kicks and four handballs) and seven tackles against the Croweaters to back up her 27 disposals and 11 tackles in Game One. 

WAFC Manager – Female Talent Programs and Coaching Specialist, Trent Cooper congratulated the players and coaches involved highlighting that for many players, this marked their inaugural participation in a state team, complete with high-performance training sessions. 

“The Championships offer invaluable exposure to the demands and standards of top-tier match-play, setting the stage for future success,” Cooper said. 

“To play against a super-strong SA side gives our girls a better understanding of where they will need to improve individually as they continue along. the player pathway towards elite level competitions such as the WAFLW and AFLW." 

The players have had exit interviews and physical testing since returning from Adelaide and will return to their respective WAFLW clubs this weekend.