Teenage AFLW player Jasmine McAllister learned a good lesson last year – not to take things for granted.
Covid-19 meant the cancellation of the 2020 Academy Games very close to the event, something the Camden youngster wasn’t happy about.
A member of the South West Sydney Academy of Sport, Jasmine says the cancellation was “very upsetting’’.
“That experience really changed my mindset on what could happen, it changed my mentality.
“Previously I had thought that everything would be set in place and would be handed to me.
“Now I know that’s not true, so I have trained harder this year, and not taken anything for granted.
“And here we are, I am ready for the Games.”
The Academy Games are going ahead this year in the Hunter region, starting from tomorrow, April 16, and continue until April 18.
Almost 100 athletes and 25 coaching and support staff members from the South West Sydney Academy of Sport will be at the 2021 Clubs NSW Your Local Club Academy Games.
SWSAS will be one of 11 NSW regional academies of sport competing at the Games in basketball, golf, netball, triathlon and AFLW.
“I am very excited to go to the Academy Games this year,” said Jasmine, who is in her second year with the SWSAS AFLW program.
She is also as a member of the GWS Giants Academy program.
“I first started playing AFL five years ago and was fortunate enough to be a part of the first AFL women’s competition in Western Sydney,’’ Jasmine said.
“To be honest, I was 11 playing against 15 year olds, so I got smashed.
“That experience however toughened me up and bit, and the rest is nothing compared to that experience.
“Being a part of SWSAS has helped me develop more leadership, team and relationship building skills.
“You can be the best player in the comp, but unless you have good people around you, there is no point playing at all.”
