mattmacarthur

At just 11 and 12 years old, Ava Wall and Ayla Galea are proving that age is no barrier when it comes to passion, hard work, and footballing ambition. As teammates in the Camden Tigers U12 Girls team, the pair have enjoyed a season most young players only dream about, an undefeated campaign capped off with a Grand Final victory.

But what makes their story even more special is the pathway they’ve taken beyond club football, progressing step by step through the Macarthur Football Association’s development programs. In fact, they are now part of history — two of the first players to take part in the inaugural Talent Development Program (TDP).

Both Ava and Ayla come from football families, where weekends were often spent watching older siblings play or cheering on their favourite teams. That early exposure sparked their interest, but it was the fun of playing that truly hooked them.

Ava: “I grew up at the soccer field watching my older brother, and we’d spend hours kicking the ball around in the backyard. In 2021, when I was seven, I decided I wanted to play too, and I’ve loved it ever since.”

Ayla: “I also started in 2021, at eight years old. I loved watching my brother’s games, and I was always kicking the ball around with him and my dad at home. That’s when I knew I wanted to play competitively.”

For both girls, football quickly became more than just a hobby. It was about friendship, teamwork, and the joy of the game.

Ava: “I love turning up and playing with my team, and my twin sister Layla, and improving while scoring goals.”

Ayla: “I love spending time with my friends and teammates. Scoring and assisting goals makes it even better.”

This passion laid the foundation for their next big step, joining MFA’s development pathway to challenge themselves further.

In Term 1, 2025, both Ava and Ayla enrolled in MFA’s Association Development Program (ADP), seeking opportunities to train beyond their regular club sessions.

Ava: “I gave up circus to focus fully on football. When my parents saw the ADP program, I was excited to train an extra night each week and improve my skills. I loved the sessions; they helped with my fitness and ball control, and I really enjoyed working with the coaches.”

Ayla: “I joined ADP because I wanted more training and to really work on my development. My skills improved a lot, and I enjoyed meeting new coaches and players who love football like I do.”

ADP provided the structure, support, and challenge to help both players grow.

In Term 2, the girls took another step forward by joining ADP Elite, where the intensity increased, and players were pushed to perform at a higher standard.

Ava: “I wanted to step up again and push myself even more. ADP Elite really helped me improve my development. The sessions were harder, but I loved the challenge.”

Ayla: “It was a big step up from ADP. Training with and against stronger boys and girls made me sharper, and I had to make quicker decisions. It really improved my game.”

By Term 3, Ava and Ayla’s progress was rewarded with selection into MFA’s Talent Development Program (TDP), and not just any TDP intake, but the very first one.

The TDP is MFA’s highest-level development program, designed for players who have shown consistent ability and a strong commitment to improving their game. It provides an elite training environment led by highly experienced coaches, focusing on advanced technical skills, tactical awareness, fitness, and preparing players for the next steps in their football journey. For Ava and Ayla, being part of the inaugural intake means they are trailblazers, helping set the standard for the future of the program.

Ava: “I was so excited to be selected. I’ve loved the sessions with Coach Hayley; she really pushes us, and I’m looking forward to developing even more.”

Ayla: “The drills are fun and challenging, and I enjoy meeting new girls from other teams that I usually play against. It’s been amazing so far, and I feel like every week I’m learning something new.”

Being chosen for TDP is not only recognition of their talent, but also a reward for the hard work they’ve put in across ADP and ADP Elite. It marks an exciting new chapter in their football journey, one that could open doors to higher representative pathways in the future.

From their first kick in the backyard to their current experiences in the inaugural Talent Development Program, Ava and Ayla’s story shows just how powerful the right environment can be in helping young players grow. Each stage of MFA’s pathway, from ADP to ADP Elite, and now TDP, has challenged them to develop new skills, build resilience, and step up to higher levels of the game.

Their success is more than individual achievement; it reflects the strength of MFA’s vision to provide clear, structured opportunities for every player with the passion to progress. Ava and Ayla have embraced every challenge, and their hard work is proof that when talent meets dedication, the results can be extraordinary.

As trailblazers in the very first TDP intake, Ava and Ayla are not just developing their own abilities; they are setting the standard for future players who will follow in their footsteps. Their journey is a reminder to every young footballer in Macarthur that with commitment, belief, and the support of the MFA pathway, the possibilities in football are limitless.