North Albany star Mabel Markey plays in West Coast Eagles academy fixture

Budding Albany football star Mabel Markey featured in a combined West Coast Eagles academy side as a curtain raiser for the NGAW Program at Mineral Resources Park last month.

Markey had a superb season in the Great Southern Football League women’s competition for North Albany to earn selection in the curtain raiser game for the Eagles next-generation academy fixture.

The game had 34 girls who had excelled in their leagues across the State filter into two sides and face off, showcasing their skills before their superiors stepped on to the field.

West Coast Eagles regional community coordinator of Albany Brad Nisbett said it was exciting for a Great Southern player to be recognised for their talents.

“She has got some serious talent so West Coast wanted to bring her up and that’s why she was invited,” Nisbett said.

“This year we ran a women’s academy in Albany which was for any girls who want to participate and if they were talented enough we sent them up for these types of games.

“We will run the program again next year in April to try and encourage the growth of women’s footballers in Albany.

“Anyone in the Great Southern who is available to come will be encouraged to come to the academy.”

West Coast Eagles academies coordinator Chad Morrison said the program would help promote opportunities for aspiring regional footballers in the future.

“It was a ground-breaking day for our program, it is a great reward for our regional and metro academies to come together and provide these great opportunities for females in our areas,” Morrison said.

“It’s very important for our club to connect our regional players with these metro opportunities.

“We want to provide our regional families good local programs so they can trust our academies and don’t have to travel far and wide across WA to get these regular opportunities.”