Tara Murray
Four Western Jets players have been named in the initial Vic Metro girl’s squad of next year’s National Championships.
An initial squad of 18 girls has been named, with others to be added after performances in the NAB League competition which gets underway in January.
Keilor’s Montana Ham and Aberfeldie’s Charlotte Baskaran were no surprises to be named in the squad.
Ham played for Vic Metro this year as a bottom age player, while making her senior debut for Keilor.
Baskaran finished top 10 in the league best and fairest this year, averaging 23 possessions a game. despite being a bottom age player.
They are joined in the squad by Caroline Springs’ Kiera Whiley and Yarraville-Seddon’s Krystal Russell.
There were no Jets players named in the boys Vic Metro squad, while the Vic Country squads were also named.
For the boys and girls Vic Metro squads, work will get underway this weekend.
They will both be at Essendon’s home ground, The Hangar, for their first camp, which includes training sessions, medicals, footy wellbeing seminars, recruiter interviews and the chance to watch Essendon train.
The squads will return for a second three-day camp in January to learn about preparation and recovery, GPS and training loads, and football-life balance.
They will take part in two full training sessions, another craft-based training program and have first official interviews with AFL and AFLW club recruiters.
Ongoing support will be provided in injury and load management and reporting and online education, as well as preparing for the national championships and creating links between schools and NAB League clubs.
