COME AND PLAY for Port Adelaide.
That's the message Travis Boak and Hamish Hartlett delivered to over 60 women at the AFL Female Talent Search at Prince Alfred College on Sunday.
The Power captain Boak and superboot Hartlett attended the testing session for female athletes from outside the Australian Football system to share some helpful hints and advice on the standards of elite football.
The Talent Search put participants through a series of physical and skills-based tests in an extensive session run by the AFL Female football development program.
Port Adelaide last week announced it would field a team in the SA Women's Football League by running the local women's club under its banner.
Hartlett says the rise of women's football means football clubs throughout the country need to sit up and take notice.
Travis Boak gets involved in testing drills with SA's talent trial candidates [pic: Kane Chenoweth/PAFC]
"The evolution of women's football over the last couple of years has been really exciting and its an opportunity for everyone now - not just males - to get involved in the game," Hartlett said.
"Clearly we need to engage girls who are interested in the game as soon as we possibly can, from grassroots levels right through to senior level.
"If we can get them involved in Auskick and junior level that's great, once they reach the Under-16, Under-18 level there needs to be more opportunity for them again.
"Lots of these girls are from different sporting backgrounds - some are very reward and have never kicked the ball before today, others have played a bit of junior football before and are quite advanced."
Port Adelaide will field a team in the SA Women's Football League in 2016 and has plans to set up a talented female academy by the end of the year.
It is also supporting the South Australia Under-18 team with development and facility access at Alberton Oval.
Hartlett said the provision of a clear pathway for female players is critical for the future of football.
"At Port Adelaide we're building an Under-18 academy program for girls over the next year or so, which will help fast track their progress," Hartlett said.
"I think there's a real gap of seven or eight years that they can improve the pathways.
"My sister played a lot of junior football until she was about nine or 10, and then there wasn't really a clean path for her.
"The scope for women's football in Adelaide is huge, there's lots of women and girls involved
"The more football people we can get in the football club the better, if there's lots of young girls and women who want to get involved in playing football we can help.
"We've got lots of young female members who come to our games who'd love to play in a curtain-raiser before one of our games.
"We want to provide them with that opportunity."
Port Adelaide opened registrations of interest from prospective footballers on Tuesday at its official women's football channel: http://portadelaidefc.com.au/female.
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