Amelia Velardo

Australian rules footballer

Australian rules footballer
Amelia Velardo
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-05-28) 28 May 2002 (age 21)
Original team(s) Western Jets (NAB League Girls)
Draft No. 25, 2020 AFLW draft
Debut Round 1, 2020, Collingwood vs. Carlton, at Ikon Park
Height 176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Ruck/midfielder
Club information
Current club Carlton
Number 1
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2020–2022 (S6) Collingwood 11 (2)
2022 (S7)– Carlton 08 (0)
Total 19 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2022 (S7) season.
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Amelia Velardo (born 28 May 2002) is an Australian rules footballer playing for Carlton in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She has previously played for Collingwood.

As a junior, Velardo initially played basketball for the Keilor Thunder in the Big V competition.[1] She switched to football in 2020, citing her lack of passion for basketball after having played the sport for so long. Velardo began playing for her local team, Keilor, alongside friends, and later joined the Western Jets in the NAB League Girls.[2] She only managed to play three matches before the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[3] but was still selected to trial at the Victorian AFLW draft combine.[4]

Despite her lack of football experience, Velardo was selected by Collingwood with pick 25 in the 2020 AFLW draft, the club's second selection.[1] She made her AFLW debut in the opening round of the 2021 season against Carlton,[3] donning the number 5 worn by club captains Nick Maxwell and Nathan Buckley.[1]

In June 2022, Velardo was traded to Carlton in exchange for Lauren Brazzale.[5]

Standing at 176 cm (5 ft 9 in), Velardo has been variously described as an undersized ruck or a midfielder, though she has admitted she is "yet to lock down a position".[2] Collingwood trialled her as a half-forward during the 2021 pre-season.[1]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2022 (S6) season.[6]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2021 Collingwood 5 2 0 1 3 3 6 1 3 0.0 0.5 1.5 1.5 3.0 0.5 1.5
2022 (S6) Collingwood 5 9 2 1 48 36 84 22 16 0.2 0.1 5.3 4.0 9.3 2.4 1.8
Career 11 2 2 51 39 90 23 19 0.2 0.2 4.6 3.5 8.2 2.1 1.7

References

  1. ^ a b c d Mullan, Alana (25 January 2021). "Velardo keen to make her mark". collingwoodfc.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b Murray, Tara (12 October 2020). "Velardo stunned with football rise". Brimbank & Northwest Star Weekly. Star News Group. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b Black, Sarah (28 January 2021). "Five years on, inaugural Pie excited by growth of AFLW". womens.afl. Telstra Media. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Who will be the next AFLW superstar? Prospects announced for state Combines". womens.afl. Telstra Media. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Velardo to join the Game Changers". Carlton. Telstra. 2 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Amelia Velardo - Player Stats By Season". Australian Football. Retrieved 3 May 2022.

External links

  • Amelia Velardo's profile on the official website of the Collingwood Football Club
  • Amelia Velardo at AustralianFootball.com
  • v
  • t
  • e
Carlton Football Club (AFL Women's) – current squad
  • Coach: Buck

* denotes rookie listed players

  • v
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2020 AFL Women's draft
First round
Second round
Third round
Fourth round
Fifth round
Sixth round
Seventh round
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