Development
camps for women players are on the cards for later this year
following the National Women’s Australian Football Carnival
last month.
Recent
commitments to East Timor meant that an under-strength ADF side
competed with mixed results against tough competition at the
championship.
The
ADF women’s Australian football coach, WO2 Kim Beasland,
said the ASAFA was considering a proposal to conduct the camps
at major military bases in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane,
Townsville and Darwin.
“The
camps will be conducted over a weekend for any full-time or
part-time serving female members who have even the remotest
interest in Australian football and not confined to current
players,” WO2 Beasland said.
The
camps would have the input from the AFL in the respective states
and would focus on techniques, strategies and thought processes
involved with Australian football.
“I
think the ADF needs to be very proud of the commitment these
girls have shown both on and off the field,” WO2 Beasland
said.
“We
had one Navy girl who pulled along side at Garden Island in
the morning to marry up with the team at noon to play the very
next day.
“Another
could play only four of the eight games as she had to go overseas
half-way through the week.
“I
am very proud of all those girls who came together to represent
the ADF in the highest echelon of women’s football in Australia.”
Female
players from many parts of Australia and all three services
gathered at Randwick Barracks for a short week of lead-up training
before the championship.
Despite
close contests against ACT, NSW and SA, the top three sides
- WA, Queensland and Victoria where too strong for the ADF.
“Heart
and determination are the words are come to mind when thinking
about how the girls played each and every game,” team captain
CPL Emma Hender said.
“The
team gave their all and as the captain of the side I could ask
for no more. The team showed each state the ADF never-give-up
attitude.”
