PORT ADELAIDE Women’s Aboriginal AFL Academy member Tesharna Maher has be selected in the South Australian Under 18 Girls squad.

Tesharna is a Year 11 Student at Mount Carmel College and an inaugural member of the WAAA.

The industry-leading Academy follows the success over the past four years of the club’s Aboriginal AFL Academy for young men.

The new program started in February with 29 girls in years 11 and 12 taking part in the weekly sessions.

Participants will each complete a Certificate III in Fitness, which provides 100 SACE credits, as well as having access to leading health, fitness, leadership and wellbeing training.

Tesharna has displayed natural talent on the field as well as maturity beyond her years which has seen her rewarded with selection in the WAAA Leadership group.

The 16-year-old plays club football for West Adelaide Football Club in the SANFLW and recently went to Melbourne as a part of the 2018 AFL Woomera’s and Medleys camp. 

This camp was the next phase of the AFL Indigenous and multicultural programs, with players being selected from the 2017 National Championships held last year in Byron Bay. 

At those championships in October, Tesharna was awarded the Most Valuable Player for the South Australian Kickstart team. 

Last week Tesharna was picked in a 24-girl state squad to play against the Northern Territory in two matches at TIO Stadium in Darwin on Friday and Sunday. 

South Australia and the Northern Territory will then combine to become the Central Allies to take part in the 2018 AFL Under 18 National Championships on the Gold Coast from July 9 to 13. 

Coached by Bill Economou, the SA girls came together for a two-day camp at Warradale in late April to make the most of a rare opportunity to train together.

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