Former Bendigo Thunder players Elise Hogan and Emily Findlay joins Richmond's VFLW sideKieran Iles
Bendigo Advertiser
13 Feb 2018THE number of former Bendigo Thunder players to join Richmond’s VFLW side has swelled by two more.
And it might not end there, with the Tigers hinting at more possible signings in the months ahead before the start of the season in March.
The Tigers have added former Melbourne AFLW player Elise Hogan and Thunder midfielder Emily Finday.
They join marquee signing and former Carlton AFLW midfielder Jess Kennedy and 2017 Thunder premiership vice-captain Jac Louttit.
The quartet took part in a joint training session with select Bendigo Pioneers and AFL Central Victoria Academy players at the QEO on Monday afternoon.
Richmond AFLW football operations manager Kate Sheahan said Hogan and Findlay would each add their own attributes to the Tigers’ developing list.
“We are really rapt to have Elise Hogan over from Melbourne, who is a huge Tigers supporter,” she said.
“She’s brought a huge amount of experience and leadership to the group.”
Hogan played one game for Melbourne in the inaugural AFLW season in 2017.
With the final list certain to contain a mix of young and experienced players – and some with non-football backgrounds – Sheahan said the leadership of players like Louttit had been crucial in the team’s formative stages.
“We are going to have a pretty young side, so having one of those older girls based in Bendigo will give the younger girls like Emily Findlay some guidance,” he said.
“We have also spent a bit of time with (Thunder midfielder) Kodi Jacques, who isn’t listed, but she will be one of our TAC Cup players when we are allowed to play then, which won’t be until after June.”
Monday’s hour-long training session was run by Tigers AFLW coach Tom Hunter, with support from senior Richmond footballers, including young premiership forward Dan Butler.
For the Pioneers girls it was an opportunity to gain exposure on what was needed to take the next step in their careers to VFLW level, and ultimately the AFLW.
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