Peel Thunder women head to South West for talent showcase

Reigning WAFLW premiers Peel Thunder will head to Brunswick Oval on Saturday for a dedicated training and information session with SWFL women’s players. Along with gaining some tips from the Thunder’s experienced coaching hierarchy, local players will get the opportunity to play in a scratch match alongside premiership stars. The South West has been a happy hunting ground for the Thunder, with several SWFL products dominating for them over the past few years — including Tanisha Anderson (South Bunbury), Ebony Bilcich (South Bunbury), Beth Schilling (Carey Park) and Lauren Quaife (Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault). Thunder WAFLW co-ordinator Rachael Hayes is hopeful of a positive turn out and believes a WAFLW experience could be rewarding for up-and-coming female footballers. “We try to be as flexible as we can with the South West girls,” he said. “We only expect them to come up once a week given they have additional commitments along with work and things like that. “We are trying to work on a once-a-week session in the region as well this year, to make it a bit easier for them to have a session down there with Peel players.” For Bilcich, a dual WAFLW premiership player, any chance for a SWFL player to have a taste of how the Thunder do things should be embraced. “They (Thunder) have given us the opportunity to play at a higher level, providing the facilities and being very professional,” she said. “They are committed to helping us in any way they can — especially as we are still travelling — and we have all been lucky enough to have been a part of the last two premierships in one way or another.” The session begins at 9am on Saturday.