ADF women pursue excellence in the AFL

Three of the four Australian Defence Force members selected to play in the AFL national women’s competition have showcased their skills at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra today.

The Army’s Lieutenant Clare Lawton was selected by Greater Western Sydney, while Private Kate Lutkins was chosen to play for the Brisbane Lions.

Private Heather Anderson, together with the Royal Australian Navy’s Able Seaman Rhiannon Metcalfe, will join the Adelaide Crows squad.

Chair of the ADF Sports Council, Major General Simone Wilkie AO said the selection of the four women was a terrific outcome for both the ADF and the AFL.

”It will be great to see these four talented and inspirational women competing in the AFL’s inaugural women’s national competition. We are enormously proud of them,” Major General Wilkie said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the women use the leadership skills they have developed in the ADF at their AFL clubs,” MAJGEN Wilkie said.

The Australian Army’s AFL Patron Major General Fergus McLachlan, AM, said the women were joining a group of around 20 full time members of the Australian Army classified as elite athletes.

“The Army considers sport to be a very important part of service life,” Major General McLachlan said.

“Being able to serve in uniform and play footy at the national level is a fantastic example of how the Army encourages our members to enjoy a healthy, fit and balanced lifestyle.

“We are delighted these women have been selected to play at the top level of AFL. I’m sure they will continue to be an inspiration to the 150 other members of the Army and the ADF who play AFL in service and local competitions across the country.” 

Media note

Imagery of the event is available here:  http://images.defence.gov.au/S20162964