Next Generation Academies to help NT Thunder develop pathways in VFL Women's
- Nov 15, 2017
- 2 min read
Following the announcement that the NT Thunder will become the thirteenth team in the new-look VFL Women’s competition in 2018, the development of women’s football in the Northern Territory is set to receive an extra boost.
The NT Thunder will look to host AFL-aligned VFLW clubs who have Next Generation Academies based out of the Northern Territory in six matches.
AFLNT High Performance Manager Wally Gallio says the additional presence of clubs boasting AFL Women’s players would only assist the development of women’s football in the Northern Territory.
“After we spoke to AFL Victoria about licences, we suggested that it would be good for them to come to the Territory to play in their regions so they have a bit more presence,” says Gallio.
“We believe that we’re finally getting the pathway right in the Northern Territory with the women’s league and the way we go about getting the men drafted in the NEAFL. We feel that the AFL-aligned teams playing against our VFLW team would show our up and coming girls in the Territory that the pathway is really there to develop their football and hopefully lead to the national competition.”
Next Generation Academies are programs focused on participation, skill and education run by AFL clubs to expand upon talent development of youth within specified zones. Between Hawthorn, Essendon, Collingwood, Geelong and Melbourne, five of the AFL clubs fielding sides in the 2018 VFL Women’s competition have Next Generation Academies based out of the Northern Territory.
The Thunder will become the first non-Victorian team to play in VFL Women’s, with Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, the Melbourne affiliated Casey Demons, Richmond, Williamstown, the Western Bulldogs (having assumed the licence of the VU Western Spurs) and St Kilda (under the name the Southern Saints) also set to make their debut in the competition founded in 2016. Foundation clubs Darebin and Melbourne Uni and AFL-aligned 2017 entrants Geelong and Hawthorn affiliates Box Hill round out the competition.
Nine Northern Territory players were drafted to Adelaide for the inaugural AFL Women’s season earlier this year with a further two added to the lists of the eight-team competition in October draft including Stirling North-born Jasmyn Hewett, who was taken by the Crows with pick 16.
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