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BENDIGO Pioneers' duo Elizabeth Snell and Tara Slender will have the chance to showcase their wares in front of recruiters at the upcoming AFL Women's Draft Combine.
Snell and Slender - who both represented Victoria Country earlier this year at the Under-19 National Championships - are among 35 players who have been invited to the state-based Victorian Draft Combine.
"It's great Tara and Elizabeth have both earned this opportunity," Bendigo Pioneers coach Danny O'Bree said this week.
"I've worked with Tara for a number of years now going back to the Bendigo South East College Athlete Development Program and was fortunate enough to be able to coach her in the NAB League this year, which I really enjoyed.
"And it was great to be able to work with Elizabeth as well this year. As a 19-year-old she really brought into the program and earning an invite to the Draft Combine is a great reward for effort."
Slender, an AFL Women's Academy member, captained the Pioneers' girls this year.
"Tara is a very versatile player. She can play at any end of the ground and can also go through the midfield," O'Bree said.
"She had a bit of a mixed year in terms of injuries, including a concussion, but she was always able to work through it and have an impact on game day and that's what she has got to offer a team in the AFLW.
"Then you look at Elizabeth and she's just a fiery little pocket rocket.
"She's just so aggressive at the footy and explosive in and around the contest. And she has really good skills with the potential in time to be a really good AFLW midfielder.
"In the meantime she could play that role as a high pressure forward with the way she tackles."
Snell has played four VFLW games with Essendon this year as part of the Pioneers' pathway partnership with the Bombers.
Details of the AFLW Draft Combine are still to be confirmed, while the AFLW Draft will be held on Tuesday, July 27, from 6.45pm.
"We look forward to recognising and celebrating the many talented footballers who will be selected as part of the AFLW Draft next month," AFL women's football general manager Nicole Livingstone said.
"What we're seeing year on year is great talent coming through women's football pathways across the country and I can't wait for football fans to witness the next generation of talent to impact the AFLW."
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