GIRL POWER
STUDENTS from Ryan Catholic College are proving that girls are a force to be reckoned with, following the success of the school’s AFL Academy.
The academy is open to boys and girls in Years 5 to 12, with a focus on using fitness and physical activity to enhance focus in the classroom.
Teachers Andrew Grubba and Rosie Cianciullo lead the teams, and said the academy had been a huge hit.
“In the Year 7 to 9 academy we’ve got 65 students involved, so we’re entering three teams into the Townsville competition,” Mr Grubba said.
“It’s taken off, particularly for the girls, in the primary girls we’ve got nearly 80 (students) and they start next term.”
Ms Cianciullo said having a separate allgirls team encouraged young female players to get involved with the sport.
“Especially with the AFL Women kicking off as well, they’re getting a lot more exposure to the sport, and starting younger as an all-female squad you really are there for your teammates and I feel like they’re more into it,” she said. “You’re meant to be really close with your teammates, you form this bond as a team which will take you through each grade.”
Mr Grubba said one of the biggest aims of the program was to allow any student who wanted to be able to have a go.
“The reason we introduced the AFL Academy is because it can be for boys and girls, and it’s not about being elite,” he said.
“It’s about participation and it benefits their social, mental, health and wellbeing.”
The Year 7 to 9 girls AFL team has been training together since the beginning of the year, and will compete in the Townsville finals this term with the hopes of progressing further in the state competition.
Year 9 student and player Brianna Skipp, 14, said she first started playing AFL in primary school for fun and returned to the sport this year.
“It’s fun because you make new friends, and you get to go away with friends and learn stuff,” she said.
“It’s good because it’s not that hard to learn and you can easily pick up the skills to kick and throw balls.”
Brianna, who also plays netball and is involved with rowing, said it was beneficial to have all-girls teams available, rather than being thrown in with their male classmates.
“Sometimes boys and girls can’t play together, and girls need to learn how to be in a team together and learn how to play,” she said.
Teammate and Year 9 student Kate Todd, 13, said she decided to give the sport a try this year after seeing it advertised in the school notices.
“This is my first time playing AFL,” she said.
“It’s been really good, I’ve developed a lot of skills like my kicking and my passing, and it’s been really fun doing it with other friends and making new friendships.
“I have a couple of friends in Year 8 now, the grade below me, and I’ve actually created a lot of new friendships.”
Kate said she much preferred having the choice to play in an all-girls team.
“If it was with boys I probably wouldn’t put in as much effort,” she said.
“We train every Monday morning and Friday lunch time, and we’re leading up to a competition where all the schools get together and have a fun day of AFL.”