MEMBERS of Melbourne’s football department have provided an insight into the modern principles of defensive and forward line play, stoppages, clearances and opposition analysis on day one of the inaugural AFL women’s high performance academy camp in Melbourne.

The Demons were invited to spend an afternoon with the squad on Thursday.

Chris Connolly, Sean Wellman, Josh Mahoney, Mark Williams, Scott West and David Dunbar all spoke at the five-day camp, along with club nutritionist Jo Shinewell, who discussed how athletes can increase their competitive edge through food intake.

The camp will conclude on Monday June 14 when the participants play in a curtain-raiser before the Queen’s Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood at the MCG.

The players aged between 16 and 34 years will also receive four days of specialist coaching from the AFL’s high performance staff, AFL coaches’ ambassador David Parkin and former Demon Stan Alves. Sessions include fitness and skill testing, kicking analysis, positional play and tactics, leadership and media training.

The camp is made up of 40 of the most talented players in Australia, with selection coming from the 2009 AFL’s women national championships.

To be selected as an All-Australian or as a member of the AFL’s women’s high performance academy is the highest accolade available to the nation’s talented female players.

AFL Female Football Development Manager Jan Cooper said the camp will be a challenging football and personal development program similar to the AIS-AFL Academy program.

“The camp’s objective is to not only to develop skills, but to also help create role models for female participants,” she said.

“As youth girl’s and women’s leagues throughout Australia grow in professionalism, we want female participants to aspire to attend this camp.

“The most talented female players have been invited to attend and we hope to encourage and retain them in the game.

Many of the Academy program participants have excelled in sports a state or national level including volleyball, tennis, badminton, soccer, athletics and Gaelic football.

At the conclusion of the academy, the players will nominate a player of their choice for the Shannon McFerran Medal, which is presented to the academy member who scores the most votes for their football performance and personal development during the academy program.

There are more than 81,000 female football participants throughout Australia from NAB AFL Auskick to senior women’s leagues.