For the second-straight season Strathfieldsaye's Tara Slender will be part of the AFLW Academy program, while Colbinabbin's Cooper Hamilton steps into the AFL Academy.

The COVID-19 pandemic cut short Slender's time in the AFLW Academy earlier in 2020, so she can't wait for another opportunity to train with 19 of the best young female footballers in Australia.

"I learned so much about myself as a person rather than football last year,'' Slender said.

"Being able to understand the way I play and understand the way I feel about how I play was really good.

"Most girls go into football and it's all about football. They don't understand themselves in football."

Slender said the cancellation of the football season turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

While she was disappointed she didn't get to play after having a big pre-season, Slender said the opportunity to sit back and think about her life cemented what she wants to do post the Pioneers.

"The break helped me figure out that I really want to make football a career for myself,'' she said.

"It really opened my eyes to what I want to do. Now I'm taking the steps to, hopefully, make AFLW."

Slender has trained with the Pioneers girls program for the past month and new coach Damian Truslove has made a big impression.

"All the coaches are great and I'm really enjoying the training,'' Slender said.

"It's ridiculous how much the Pioneers girls have improved even in the last month or so."

Throughout her under-age footy career Slender has worked closely with Pioneers' assistant coach Danny O'Bree.

"He's just a lovely bloke,'' Slender said of O'Bree.

"He's so wise with everything he tells me and you can still have a laugh with him at the same time.

"He's been such a great help for me."

Meanwhile, Hamilton said his selection in the AFL Academy had come as a surprise.

The smooth-moving wingman-half-back is one of 21 players in the Tarkyn Lockyer-coached program.

"I found out two days ago and I'm still shocked,'' he said.

"Having no footy this year was tough, so it's great to get some recognition for some hard work."

Cooper and his twin brother, Hugh, were meant to spend all of 2020 boarding at Caulfield Grammar.

The pandemic forced them home for a large chunk of the school year, but it didn't stop them from working on their football skills.

"Me and my brothers would go to the (Colbo) oval every second day and basically turned the whole year into a pre-season,'' Cooper said.

"Hugh and I love being at Caulfield Grammar. We weren't there for as long as we would have liked, but it's the best place to be."

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