First year Bega Bombers player Amelie Gautier has joined an elite group of young athletes selected by the South East Sports Academy.
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Amelie, who had never kicked a football until this year, will now complete a 20-week training session backed by the AFL Female Development Program.
Her selection was based on her athleticism and potential to improve her skills and will encourage her to take a holistic approach to her athletic development.
She’ll join a group of 23 young women selected from eight local government areas and the ACT in weekly training sessions concluding in April next year and centred on Canberra.
Amelie had never played football until she joined the Bega Valley Bombers under 14 squad this year.
[Amelie is] one of the best raw talents I’ve seen.
- Bega coach John Turville
It wasn’t long before she was playing a leading role in the ruck where her athleticism proved more than a match for many of her male opponents.
Coach John Turville rated her as, “one of the best raw talents I’ve seen”.
While Amelie obviously had no idea of how to play the game, her natural ability meant that she improved every time she went on to the ground.
It’s this ability to accept coaching and to improve her skills that reportedly attracted the attention of coaches at the academy.
While clearly focusing on the skills of AFL football, the academy program takes a holistic approach to athletic training and includes lifestyle training necessary to see a young athlete advance to the elite level.
Bombers president Stephen Nicol said he was looking forward to the enthusiasm he’s certain Amelie will bring to the Bombers.
“She’s already demonstrated that she’s a leader among our young players and I can see her passing on the valuable lessons she’ll pick up from the top line coaches at the academy,” Nicol said.
Describing her as “not only a fine athlete but a fine young lady,” Nicol said the club had offered Amelie the role of women’s ambassador in 2019 and that she was quick to accept the challenge the role involved.
“The club’s primary focus is on developing its junior players,” he said, “and increasingly girls and young women are being attracted to the Bombers.
“We’re very fortunate in that we have a group of mature women who are excellent role models and mentors and we expect Amelie to become a valuable member of this group.
“She’s the ideal role model to attract girls and young women to the club. We’re very lucky to have her as a member and we’re delighted at the opportunity she’s been given,” Nicol said.
