Amelia Velardo Explained

Amelia Velardo
Birth Date:28 May 2002
Originalteam:Western Jets (NAB League Girls)
Draftpick:No. 25, 2020 AFLW draft
Debutdate:Round 1, 2020
Debutstadium:Ikon Park
Height:176 cm
Position:Ruck/midfielder
Guernsey:1
Years1:2020–2022 (S6)
Games Goals1:11 (2)
Years2:2022 (S7)–
Games Goals2:8 (0)
Games Goalstotal:19 (2)
Statsend:the 2022 (S7) season

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. She made her AFLW debut in the opening round of the 2021 season against, donning the number 5 worn by club captains Nick Maxwell and Nathan Buckley.

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

Standing at 176cm (69inches), Velardo has been variously described as an undersized ruck or a midfielder, though she has admitted she is "yet to lock down a position". Collingwood trialled her as a half-forward during the 2021 pre-season.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2022 (S6) season.[6] |- style="background-color: #eaeaea"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2021|style="text-align:center;"|| 5 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 3 || 3 || 6 || 1 || 3 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 1.5 || 1.5 || 3.0 || 0.5 || 1.5|- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2022 (S6)|style="text-align:center;"|| 5 || 9 || 2 || 1 || 48 || 36 || 84 || 22 || 16 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 5.3 || 4.0 || 9.3 || 2.4 || 1.8|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 11! 2! 2! 51! 39! 90! 23! 19! 0.2! 0.2! 4.6! 3.5! 8.2! 2.1! 1.7|}

Notes and References

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