Young St George Illawarra Dragons players are clearing the path to pro for incoming talent

Development programs and new competitions like the Tarsha Gale Cup and City Country are giving young women a clearer path to professional league.

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Jaime Chapman, 19, played Tarsha Gale Cup and is now a Dragons centre.

She's seen the culture around girl's footy change for the better as opportunities grow.

"I was actually brought up around footy, being the ball girl of my dad's footy team," she said.

Chapman played with the boys until under-12s, when girls weren't allowed. She had to resort to other sports like Oztag, touch football and netball.

Eventually, Chapman had to make her own opportunities by starting a local women's league team.

"Even though I'm only young and I started a few years ago, it's changed dramatically," Chapman said.

"There are young girls in footy teams already. And even if it's not tackle, it's touch league.

"All the girls are getting a feel of the game and it's only going to get better from here because there's so much experience in the young girls coming up."

Dragons reserve centre and Milton-Ulladulla Bulldog Keele Browne, 19, was part of the 2019 Tarsha Gale premiership team.

With teammates Teagan Berry who plays for the Stingrays of Shellharbour and Chantel Tugaga, they led the Steelers to the championship and have all found a home at the Dragons.

"I think our age group, in particular, have had incredible timing with the expansion of the comp and the sport in general for women," Browne said.

"The opportunities have opened up right in front of us. There's been the inaugural academy for the Dragons and the inaugural under-19s City Country, and they've put the Origin up for another year.

"For the girls coming through, even just one year below us, we know that that's there for them and they can take on that same path."

For the younger Dragons, the learning doesn't stop when they make the team, Browne said.

"You're always looking up to the players above you, whether that be age or experience.

"The girls, especially this year, have had so much to teach ... even just being introduced to what it's like to be taking it [league] on as a career path.

As the girl's find their feet, they're getting ready to take on mentoring roles themselves.

"Having new girls come into the team, I feel like it's my job to include them," Chapman said.

"I know what it feels like to be the young one, to always be a bit shy but confidence grows when you've got such good girls around you."

As the final looms, the young players said their wins at junior competitions have prepared them for the pressure of professional league, but the nerves and excitement of the final are a different story.

"Having had that grand final in those younger years showed me what the feelings are like in sport, how meaningful and exciting it can be," Browne said.

"There's so much to focus on and take in. It's such an experience, not only just the game, but everything that leads up to it. "

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