MEMBERS of the NAB AFLW Academy have been training with AFLW teams to give players an insight into the top level of women's football.
Players are allocated to clubs based on their location, with Vic Metro girls commonly training one day a week for a period of time.
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Girls in other locations, including Vic Country squad members, are doing week-long blocks of training to maximise their time and eliminate the need for constant travel.
This is the case at Geelong, where four Academy players who live in country Victoria – Lucy McEvoy, Millie Brown, Maggie Caris and Olivia Barber – recently spent a week at the club.
The quartet stayed together in an apartment at Deakin University, training alongside Geelong's AFLW side and will have another week at the club in January.
Three of the four already have links to the Cats: McEvoy is a local who trained with the club's VFLW side this year, Brown's father Paul was a forward for the Cats in the mid-1990s and Caris' sister Rene was drafted by the club this year.
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AFL.com.au caught up with the players at the end of their first training week.
Olivia Barber (Murray Bushrangers; draft-eligible in 2020)
Barber had been sidelined with a patella tendon issue in her knee, limiting her ability to train.
"It's been really good to have some independence and cook our own meals. I'd say I'm the head chef of the group – pasta's probably my specialty," Barber said.
Millie Brown on Barber:
"Liv is such an awesome overhead mark, I haven't seen anyone out-mark her. She's very agile and fast for a tall, so watch out for her."
Millie Brown (Murray Bushrangers; draft-eligible in 2020 as a father-daughter selection)
"It's been really good. The club has been really inclusive. The girls have been really nice so it's been enjoyable," Brown said.
"I grew up following the Cats because of my dad (former Geelong player Paul), so it's been pretty cool to be here. A couple of my friends are in the team as well and it's been great to hang around with them."
Barber on Brown:
"Millie is very strong … she has the ability to take someone out," Barber said with a laugh.
"She's got a really good kick and is a strong leader."
Maggie Caris (Greater Western Victoria Rebels; draft-eligible in 2020)
"The club has been very welcoming and it's a really good opportunity. It's good to train with [sister Rene] again. We played together at the Rebels in the TAC Cup and we've played in a few different teams," Caris said.
"It's been really helpful getting all the knowledge the coaches have shared with us. The players are such good leaders and role models to young footballers. It's been great to get to know them and train with them."
Lucy McEvoy on Caris:
"Maggie's a bit like her sister. She covers the ground really well and gets around to contests. She's a strong mark with good skills for a tall."
Lucy McEvoy (Geelong Falcons; draft-eligible in 2019)
"I live near Ocean Grove in Wallington. I still stayed with the girls (at Deakin), but I'm pretty close to the club, which is good," McEvoy said.
"I trained with the VFLW side earlier this year, which was a good experience.
"I've really noticed the professionalism … and their preparation before training. They all go back to the club and do their gym work and recovery. The way they switch on and focus for training is really impressive."
Caris on Lucy:
"What can't Lucy do? She can kick, tackle, mark, and she's just so strong. Anyone who comes up against her is scared. I know I was!"
