From SOAR education sessions to Nightfields footy, the girls were actively involved in the local community with 250 kids of all ages getting to engage with them over the three-day visit.

Thomas and Johnson took part in a variety of different activities, with the girls visiting schools to discuss themes on leadership and resilience giving insight into their own personal journeys from junior footy to the AFLW before heading to the oval for practical football sessions.

In the after-school hours, the AFLW stars showed the next generation how it’s done with Nightfields Freestyle Footy and Women’s and Girls’ Academy sessions headlining various youth engagement clinics.

They worked alongside Hedland Youth Engagement Coordinator Claudia Bailey to total 11 football clinics and school-based sessions over the three days, highlighted by a session with youth from Warralong and Strelley who were in town after cyclone damage forced them and their families to evacuate their community.

Bailey mentioned how much it meant to the local community having the AFLW role models in town and the impact of the trip overall.

“The girls were so good with the students and were able to support me at various events, at times taking over and running the clinics and school sessions themselves which was really helpful and all the kids involved were thrilled to have them there,” she said.

“The girls being here with their plethora of knowledge during those education sessions was so valuable and their buy-in to support the community with the local visits was just as good.”

“I know all involved really appreciated the girls coming up here and the efforts they put in to support youth in Hedland.”

The role these regional visits play in supporting regional youth is crucial, with much of the youth particularly females lacking in consistent opportunities to play and develop their footballing abilities.

This was highlighted by the response from local female students who got to meet their role models firsthand and hear their football journeys, potentially providing a pathway for these regional girls to one day play AFLW.

“A lot of the upper-primary students were pretty inspired by their stories and to hear them talk about growing up playing with and against boys because they didn’t have junior footy opportunities was a great connection piece for the girls up here who are doing the same at times,” Bailey said.

“Being able to meet AFLW players in person and connect with them helps make their aspirations in football seem more attainable which is huge for female footy up here.”

Thanks to the ongoing support of Youth Engagement Partners in BHP for over 20 years, the club will continue to make a difference on youth and provide access to football opportunities across WA.