Sixteen year old Kahli Abbott is a person who thrives on a challenge. Kahli who is from Wagga will represent ACT/NSW at the inaugural  2010 AFL U18 Youth Girls National championships in Melbourne in September. A talented forward who has kicked 23 goals this season, Kahli plays for the Riverina Lions women’s football in the ACT women’s league.

Living in regional NSW has proved challenging as Kahli strives to make representative teams and play her weekly club football.

“The opportunities to perform in front of state selectors are very limited as are the facilities and the travel that my parents and I have to do to gain these chances is enormous. It is a six hour round trip to Canberra to attend training and representative games.”

Kahli has played for the Lions for two years and previously played footy against boys in the U15’s. Cricket also features strongly on Kahli’s radar and she matches it with the best boys in her age group where her pace bowling is used to great affect.

Watch out for Kahli bobbing up in the ACT/NSW forward line as she continues her goal kicking form. In recent weeks she has kicked bags of five and four goals and is a key member of the Lions forward line. The Lions are one win away from the Grand Final in the ACTWAFL and Kahli couldn’t be happier with her football saying;

“If we (The Lions) win this Sunday then we will be in the Grand Final. Then we are coming to Melbourne to play in the U18 Youth Girls championships and I am really excited about that”.

Follow Kahli's progress in the first ever National titles for U18 Youth Girls in Melbourne from September 6 with finals contested at Craigieburn Oval on the 11th. Check out the action at AFL Kicks for Chicks on Facebook or Twitter.