The Fremantle AFL Women’s Next Generation Academy is in full swing as Freo look towards the development of new talents rising through the ranks.
In week four of the six-week academy, an aspiring group of 16-year-olds have spent the past month learning and developing side-by-side with Fremantle’s senior AFLW squad.
Fremantle midfielder/half-back Hayley Miller is one of those senior members who is impressed with the advancement of the academy girls.
“The progression now from session one is really great,” Miller said.
“They are definitely better than when I was 16!”
“The academy girls are really getting around each other so it’s a great vibe and I’m really glad to be out there.”
Miller played seven games for Fremantle in 2019 including a standout performance in Freo’s round six win against Geelong with 15 disposals, eight tackles and a goal.
She believes the academy group is benefiting from training in a professional environment.
“Their skills are actually pretty good, so I think it’s more about teaching how to be in that elite environment,” Miller said.
“The intensity that we bring to training ourselves is being instilled in them so that they have that for the rest of their footy career.
“Some of them have got some serious talent so it will be exciting to see what they can produce in the future.”
Miller said her coaches and fellow teammates are keeping an eye on academy talents who are impressing on the training track each week.
“We have a couple joining us that could potentially be in our side come next year,” Miller said.
“To have them join us now it sets us up in good stead for next year and they will feel like they’ve already done a year with the club already.
“Integrating the girls around the club is fantastic.”
Freo’s AFLW squad’s involvement with the NGA program also means the full team is back at the club on a regular basis, training and preparing together.
“We’re like a little family here so to be around everyone again is great fun,” Miller said.
“It’s a really exciting season coming up and all the girls are showing really good signs so far.”
