Four Tasmania Devils rising stars have been selected to join the national academy pathway, with Claire Ransom (North Hobart) and Brooke Barwick (Glenorchy) joining the NAB AFLW Academy, and Ryley Sanders (North Launceston) and Lachlan Cowan (Devonport) joining the NAB AFL Academy.
All four have excelled with both their community clubs and the Devils program, with their performances placing them among the best young players in the country. Ransom and Cowan join their respective academies as top-age players, while Barwick and Sanders are among a select few bottom-age selections.
National academy manager and coach Tarkyn Lockyer said selection would serve as early recognition for 2022’s top crop and that the program will seek to develop prospects off the field as well as on it.
“Selection into these squads is great recognition for all the players and continues to highlight the AFL and AFLW as the first-choice sport for our most talented athletes,” Lockyer said.
“Members of the NAB AFL and AFLW Academy will be given the opportunity to develop themselves as people and players under the guidance of expert coaching, high performance and wellbeing staff.
“The program is aligned with the National Talent Pathways philosophy of ‘Developing Better People, Better Players’ by using a holistic development approach to focus on the growth of the individual, on and off the field, and their ability to contribute to a team environment.
“The program content will be delivered through a mixture of face-to-face and online modules. Each of the squads will also get the opportunity to showcase their talents in a high-performance camp and representative game.”