Building a strong foundation in the fundamentals is essential. Developing core techniques and an understanding of game sense creates the building blocks for every player’s growth and long-term success.

This section of the curriculum focuses on those foundations and will be continually reinforced as players progress through their football journey.

By breaking down each skill into layers, athletes can clearly see how improvement is achieved. Progress is built through high repetition and by learning to balance speed with accuracy.

Skills

Each year, players will focus on mastering the fundamental skills of the game, including:

• Kicking

• Handballing

• Ball handling

• Combat safety

Australian Rules football is a dynamic and constantly evolving sport. Developing Game Sense helps players read the play, recognise critical moments, and make effective decisions under pressure.

Working within the framework of the Three Phases of the Game—attacking, defending, and contesting—athletes will explore:

• Defending an opponent and space

• Positional craft

• Pressure defence

• Using an outnumber

• Ball movement

• Supporting the ball carrier

• Scoring opportunities

The 2025 Game Sense modules place particular emphasis on:

• Optimising attack when teams have extra players.

• Applying pressure on the ball carrier to delay, deny, and dispossess.

• Strengthening core midfield craft.

Key topics include:

• Using an outnumber

• Pressure defence

• Midfield craft

At the youth level, it is essential to build a strong foundation in the fundamentals of high performance. Understanding how to prepare your body and mind—both on and off the field—sets the tone for your physical journey as an athlete.

Performance preparation and awareness of your physical characteristics are key building blocks that support long-term development. This area of the curriculum will continue to grow with each stage of your football journey.

Warming Up

Preparing your body before training or competition is a vital part of performance. A proper warm-up allows players to:

• Maximise performance.

• Reduce the risk of unnecessary injuries.

• Begin training at a higher intensity from the start.

Learning how to warm up effectively ensures you get the most out of every session while protecting your body for the long term.

Preparation is critical for every footballer. Both physical and mental readiness impact performance, consistency, and long-term growth. Athletes will explore how preparation routines support focus, resilience, and game-day performance.

Key focus areas include:

• Pre- and post-game nutrition

• Game-day routines

• Sports psychology for mental health

• Prehab training

• Concussion awareness and management

The 2025 Preparation modules will highlight the importance of head and brain health, ensuring young athletes understand how to protect themselves for long and healthy careers.

Developing consistent game-day routines—including nutrition, hydration, stimulation, and mindset—positions players to perform at their best when it matters most.

Core topics include:

• Dealing with concussion

• Game-day routines

Strength and conditioning form a major piece of the footballer’s puzzle. Developing your physical attributes is just as important as refining kicking or handballing skills. By learning correct techniques and training concepts, athletes can continually progress in their physical development.

Key focus areas include:

• Strength training

• Speed and agility development for AFL

• Endurance training for AFL

• Injuries, rehabilitation training, and overtraining

In 2025, the Strength & Conditioning modules will place a strong emphasis on:

• Listening to your body.

• Managing injuries effectively.

• Understanding recovery methods to return fitter and stronger.

• Recognising and avoiding the risks of overtraining.

Core topic: Injuries / Rehabilitation training / Overtraining

These modules are designed to help players strengthen their mindset and personal growth as athletes. Key areas include:

• Identifying support networks

• Dealing with adversity

• Choices and consequences

• Showing gratitude

• Building motivation

• Developing individuality

In 2025, the focus of the Personal Leadership modules will be on building coping mechanisms to manage setbacks or periods of poor form, and learning how to turn these challenges into growth opportunities.

It’s important to be aware of your strengths and abilities as a footballer—but equally critical to learn how to apply those attributes effectively in game situations.

Core topics:

• Dealing with adversity

• Developing individuality

Australian Rules football is a team sport, and success relies on trust, connection, and a shared commitment to one another. Team leadership modules emphasise the importance of building strong relationships and creating a positive team culture.

Key areas include:

• Effective communication

• Giving and receiving feedback

• Teamwork makes the dream work

The 2025 Team Leadership modules will explore the dynamics of working within a team sport environment. Players will learn how to foster a culture of collaboration, adapt to challenges together, and understand that collective effort is far more powerful than individual ability alone.

Core topic:

• Teamwork makes the dream work

To enrich the curriculum, athletes will have the opportunity to learn directly from module experts whose knowledge and experience align with the focus areas of Football, Leadership, and High Performance.

These experts may include:

• Recruiters

• Past and current AFL/AFLW & VFL/ VFLW players

• Experts in the fields of Nutrition, S&C, Mindset etc…

By hearing from these special guests, players gain valuable insights into the realities of high-level performance. Guests share their stories, lessons learned, and importantly, what they were doing at the same age to set themselves on the path to achieving their goals.

Precision. Power. Purpose.

Our Kicking Analysis module is a deep dive into the mechanics and impact of every kick. We breakdown the kick into measurable components—empowering players to refine their technique and elevate their on-field performance.

How It Works:

• Science-Backed Technique Dissection
  We remove uncertainty by analyzing the kick in layers—from foot placement and body alignment to follow-through mechanics. Players learn to harness both speed and accuracy.

• Visual Feedback & Video Review
  Using video technology, each athlete can see exactly how they execute a kick. This mirrors the Rookie Me approach of building insight through breakdown and repetition

• Targeted Improvement Plans
  With insight in hand, we craft focused drills to elevate each athlete’s weakest links—whether it's consistency under pressure, longer-distance kicking, or refined ball drop technique.