North trio given taste of big time
JORDAN GERRANS THREE emerging female footballers from the Far North are this week in Melbourne as part of the AFL Woomeras Leadership Program.
Tiarna Ahwang, Kitara Farrar and Shantel Miskin-Ripia are representing the region at the program, which is the national under-16 female indigenous development program.
The trio are part of the inaugural female intake into the Gold Cost Suns Academy and will be at the program along- side 50 indigenous and multicultural players from across the country participating in the six-day camp focusing on personal and cultural development, while also visiting AFL clubs and competing in two exhibition matches.
The Woomeras team mirrors the Rio Tinto AFL Flying Boomerangs pathway for the boys.
AFL head of multicultural and indigenous partnerships and programs Ali Fahour said the Woomeras program was a great way to encourage young women to aspire to reach the elite level and fast-track their football development.
“The young women will enjoy elite training environments with the aim of improving their football ability, enhancing their leadership po- tential and exploring their cultural identity,” he said.
The Woomeras were to play a match against the Medleys, national under-16 female multicultural development program, yesterday at the Essendon Football Club and on Sunday in Geelong.
It will be the first time an allindigenous girls team will play an all-multicultural girls side in an official match. Participants for both programs were selected following a three-stage process where hopefuls attended state tryouts.