MELBOURNE has tested 65 athletes at a club women’s talent search, held at AAMI Park and Gosch’s Paddock on Wednesday night.

AFL Women’s football operations manager Debbie Lee said Melbourne had 470 applicants, before it cut the number back to 65. She said it was a great opportunity to look for further talent, as the club prepares for its second AFL Women’s season in early 2018.

“We did various drills, some speed and endurance, and it was a great opportunity for the girls to show their skills,” she told melbournefc.com.au.  

“We had a number of different athletes from different sports, including Ultimate Frisbee, Commonwealth Games sprinters, basketballers, hockey players, netballers and also a fair few soccer players.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to have a look at some new talent – certainly a lot of these girls haven’t played before, so it gave us an opportunity to look at them.

“It also gave us an opportunity to look at some regional girls, who have been playing community footy, but may not get the opportunity to show their wares in Melbourne.”

Lee said Melbourne gained Harriet Cordner and Aliesha Newman – both from a soccer background – via its talent search program last year.

“Moving forward, what we’ll do now is review the list, the footage and the fitness testing and we’ll then select another 20 to come back and assess those athletes,” she said.   

“We’ll go into phase two now and we’ll invite a smaller group back and have an assessment of them.

“We’re just being diligent in our process and if we see an athlete that we think can fill that position – we’ll certainly engage with them. But we’re really open-minded at the moment.”