A pair of up-and-coming Peel Thunderbirds will have the chance to make their mark on elite level programs after being selected to the 2019 NAB AFL Women’s Academy squads.
Courtney Hodder, 18, and Sarah Verrier, 16, were both named in the squads among some of the most talented young women’s footballers in the country, and will each receive a scholarship that provides high performance camps and personal development opportunities over a 12-month period.
The first of three camps will be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from December 16, while the pair will also get the chance to experience AFLW club training sessions throughout the pre-season.
AFLW Talent Manager Aasta O’Connor said after just two years the NAB AFLW Academy is achieving great results.
“At the recent NAB AFLW Draft, 19 Academy players joined AFLW clubs,” Ms O’Connor said.
“With four further expansion teams entering the AFLW competition in 2020, the high performance coaching we provide these players is even more important.”
The Peel duo have impressed mightily during their time at the Thunderbirds.
Hodder took out the club’s league best and fairest award in 2017, the same year she managed to finish fourth in the WA Women’s Football League for their top honour despite missing six games.
Meanwhile Verrier has helped the club to premierships in the youth girls division while representing the state on several occasions.
The pair will join eight fellow WA products on their Academy squads, which were selected on the back of the 2018 NAB AFLW Under 18 Championships.
