PORT ADELAIDE has welcomed its latest crop of talented young footballers, kicking off its under 15 female Next Generation Academy with a four-week block of training and education sessions at Alberton.

Led by AFLW Academy coach Naomi Maidment, the NGA program this year includes 29 players from the four aligned SANFL clubs with the focus shifting to a younger group from the under 16 set-ups in recent years.

The group features the best talent from Norwood, South Adelaide, West Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens.

Work is underway to redevelop the changerooms under the Fos Williams Family Stand at Alberton to prepare it for Port Adelaide’s debut AFLW season, and Maidment says it is an exciting time in women’s football at the club.

“It’s the first year where we tangibly can talk about an AFLW program and really be able to recruit to our own team, now that we have the licence granted,” she explained.

“We are running the talent program in the under 15 age group and looking forward to then working with the 16- and 17-year-olds as we head into our first AFLW season.

“It’s a slight shift in the age group but it’s a really exciting time for the players coming through who can see the pathway and AFLW is getting closer.”

The program started in early November, giving the group a taste of the surrounds at Alberton along with some important lessons around being an elite athlete.

As well as access to the facilities, players have been able to learn from club staff about preparing for life in elite sport.

“It was about getting the group together in the early stages,” Maidment said. “But each of our sessions involves an education session to teach these talented young girls that it’s bigger than just footy.

“We cover a broad range of topics from media and wellbeing to fitness, nutrition and just general life skills about what it’s going to be like to balance full-time sport with work and life.”

Maidment is being ably assisted by Andrew Kemp from the Eagles, Luke Hartley from Victor Harbor and South Adelaide and Tim McMahon from Norwood and the state under 16 program.

Former Port Adelaide AFL player and NGA coach Justin Westhoff and the club’s SANFL captain Cam Sutcliffe are also involved.

There are also some family ties to previous NGA graduates in the playing ranks.

“Charlee Brooksby is the 13-year-old sister of Molly Brooksby who is in the under 18 state squad this year having come through our program over the last two years,” Maidment explained.

“We also have young Emma Charlton who the 13-year-old sister of Teah Charlton who is on the Adelaide AFLW list but came through our senior women’s program for a period.

“Emma is a real talent and we’ve seen her play in a trial game last week where she showed some class, so she’ll be one to look for in the future. They’re both very young still but it is exciting to have those families coming through our club.”

The group will now break over Christmas but return to prepare for some competitive hit-outs against Adelaide’s academy side.

“We’ve given the girls some programs they can follow over the Christmas break and then we’ll regroup in the new year with some more training and education sessions,” Maidment said.

“We’ll then play two games against the Adelaide academy side including one as a curtain raiser to an AFLW game if possible.

“Hopefully then we can play a second game at Alberton running out of a newly redeveloped facility.”

Port Adelaide Under 15 Female NGA 2022