Eight Aussie Rules girls took the chance to learn from Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants AFLW player Cambridge McCormick, who conducted a clinic at Wolseley Park last Sunday morning.

With the AFL North West NSW seeking to enter a female U17 team in a representative carnival in Coffs Harbour during July, McCormick offered to run a session in Gunnedah for anyone interested in this representative selection possibility.

Inverell-based teen Mady Higgins made the trek to Gunnedah for last Sunday’s session while the other attendees were Macey Carlyon, Myah Gibson, Audrey Hannaford, Zoe Law, Lara Torrens, Jayla Woolaston and Mea Woolaston from the Gunnedah Poochettes.

McCormick displayed certain techniques for gripping the football, and kicking through the football rather than stab-kicking.

One training drill involved a back-and-forth sequence of handpassing with one’s preferred hand and one’s non-preferred hand.

One modified game involved handballing and no kicking, before another modified game included the kicking facet.

AFL Northern NSW competition manager Brad Greenshields said the Coffs Harbour-based representative carnival in July would feature teams from the North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast and Hunter regions, while North West would hopefully have a team.

Greenshields said there currently wasn’t a competition for North West-based Aussie Rules girls older than 14 years of age, in which case the plan was to offer them something to keep them involved and interested in the sport before they reached senior level.

“We would like to have options for them so they can continue their journey,” he said.

McCormick, meanwhile, said having a female U17 North West team in the Coffs Harbour carnival could help more country players get noticed and perhaps improve their chances of gaining higher honours.

“It can be tricky in areas where it’s travelling a long way and there’s lots of different commitments that take up your weekends,” she said.

“But even having the opportunity to play in these local teams gives the opportunity to get seen by other coaches from academies and the likes, and gives you an opportunity to get an idea of what the standard is like and if that’s something you want to keep working towards.”

With McCormick working in Sydney Swans territory, she said she had the opportunity to do clinics like these “in random areas around Australia” which had been pretty fun.

“When I was playing country footy up in the Mid North Coast, you’re sort of expected to have to travel a couple of hours to be able to take up these opportunities,” she said.

“It just brings a certain type of character that’s pretty motivated, so it’s great.”

McCormick said it was vital for players to have pathways to higher honours, including the AFLW.

“I think it is pretty tricky, particularly in this part of Australia as well where we know that rugby league and rugby union and touch (football) and all those other sports are pretty popular,” she said.

“But it’s great that the girls have the opportunity to trial for the (Sydney) Swans academy, and it’s the same in the Giants region.

“We have the opportunity to trial for our academies, but it’s still just making sure we have a really strong youth girls competition, so they get the opportunity to continue to grow and play.”

Back: Lara Torrens, Mea Woolaston, Audrey Hannaford, Cambridge McCormick, Jayla Woolaston, John Woolaston. Front: Mady Higgins, Myah Gibson, Zoe Law, Macey Carlyon.

Lara Torrens prepares to kick, under pressure from Mady Higgins.