Peel Thunderbirds recognised with state under 18s selections

Courtney Fabry, Sabreena Duffy, Ava Muir, Kira Morrison, Kate Bartlett, Mikaela Schoenfeld, Courtney Hodder and Jessica Hamilton will represent both Peel and the state when they compete in the championships in May and July.

The group was selected following a tryout process and stellar starts to the 2017 season.

In particular, Duffy and Bartlett have impressed mightily in Peel’s league team this season.

Bartlett has booted six goals from just two games on the year, including a bag of five against East Perth.

Duffy has nailed at least one goal in each of her first four matches at league level and sits with a total of seven on the season.

Peel Thunderbirds youth girls coach Steve Markham said the eight selections were the perfect reward for each players’ effort.

“It’s fantastic to see these girls recognised for all the hard work they put in,” he said.

“Not only do they train and play with us but they also attend state squad training and other development programs.

“Some of them are on the training track four or five times a week and then will play four quarters on the weekend.”

Markham said the selections speak volumes of the Thunderbirds’ development pathways.

“Obviously Peel are doing something right to have more than a quarter of the squad come from the club,” he said.

“We’re all about making sure these girls have a path to take them to the next level and I think in the future you will see a few of them in AFL Women’s jumpers.”

Being part of the state team will include playing in a trial match against the state under 23 women’s team as a curtain-raiser to the West Coast Eagles v Western Bulldogs game at Domain Stadium on Friday, May 12 and a hit-out against East Fremantle’s senior women’s team on July 2.

The players will return to the Thunderbirds following these games and then resume U18s squad training on June 26 before departing for Queensland on July 9 for another three national championship games in the space of five days.