Locals a step closer to AFLW dream
Local footballers Chandra Abrahams and Shanara Notman have moved a step closer to their dream of playing AFLW following selection for Gippsland Power team for the Youth Girl’s Shield.
The four-day premier regional junior carnival will be played in the Latrobe Valley during AFL grand final week, with eight female teams competing against the best in their age group from across regional Victoria.
With Chandra and Shanara picked in the Gippsland Power Shield team for the second consecutive year, AFLW talent scouts are sure to take notice.
Chandra, who has played the game ever since picking up a football at Auskick, said she was excited about the opportunities that had opened up through the creation of the AFLW competition.
“Hopefully I get drafted one day,” she said.
Having started playing for Neerim-Neerim South in what was then the fifths at age 10, Chandra’s football took another step last year.
Identified by coaches as one of the best tacklers in the side, Chandra took out the under 14 best and fairest at the club.
She backed that up with a second season with Power and her first Western Spurs.
Selected as one of the players of the carnival last year, Chandra said she was looking forward to the challenge of stepping up as a leader in this year’s side.
“I was surprised,” she said of the player of the carnival honour.
“There were older girls, up to 18, in that team.
“I usually play with older players, last year it was players from 13 to 18 so I’m usually one of the youngest.
“This year it is an under 15 side, so I will be one of the oldest.”
It comes as another representative cap for Chandra, who has also lined up in the School Sports Victoria team in Queensland last year and Perth this year.
“It was good experience,” she said.
Coming from an athletics background where she also represented Victoria, 100 metre sprint and long jump events have helped the athletic midfielder who also occasionally lines up across half back.
Chandra also played basketball, but had to give those sports away due to a hectic football schedule.
With the lowered age group, the Power set about going out to identify talent with 65 girls trying out for the Shield side. season at
Chandra said four training sessions were held to cut the squad to 25 players with four substitutes on standby in case of injury.
She said a lot of talent aged 13 made the cut for the side, boding well for the future of Gippsland Power girl’s football.
Having lined up alongside Shanara at last year’s carnival, Chandra is looking forward to the pair being able to lead the young side.
For Shanara, the emergence of the AFLW competition sparked interest as another potential pathway to playing at the elite level.
A versatile player, Shanara won the goal kicking for the Colts Youth Girls team off the wing and has been training as a ruck, key forward and midfielder at Power.
Shanara said while she was keen to see how far she can go with her basketball and netball next year, she might step up to play in the Colt’s women’s team.
Failing opportunities in her other sports, a career in football may be an option for Shanara to consider.
Local umpire Oliver Colman will officiate at the carnival, which will also include boy’s under 15 teams.
The Gippsland Power’s under 15 boy’s squad was yet to be finalised at time of going to print.
Following the Shield carnival, Chandra will turn her attention to the National Female Diversity championships to be played in Byron Bay in October.
Playing under former AFL players Aaron Davey and David Rodan, Chandra has already begun preparing for those championships with practice matches in North Melbourne and a training camp in Healesville.
Local goal umpire Issabella Sluga will also officiate at the championships.