GIANTS ruck Cambridge McCormick beams when she speaks of her second home in Canberra, “I’m really excited, I’m so stoked to be back in Canberra.”

The 23-year-old spent two years working as a physiotherapist at Canberra Hospital prior to being called up to the GIANTS.

“It’s a lovely city, it’s a really great place to start a career because there’s so many people who move here looking to start their careers. It’s obviously beautiful and really easy to get around,” McCormick said.

McCormick grew up on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, and started playing football at the age of five, “My brother was doing Auskick and I was really jealous so of course I wanted to do it as well.”

“I played alongside my brother for most of my junior games. I finished up in under 12s, when it was difficult to keep playing as a girl.” 

Later in her teen years, McCormick’s dad Adrian and a few other dads on the Sunshine Coast brought together multiple teams to create a youth girls’ competition.

She continued playing throughout her university studies, before joining the Eastlake Demons in Canberra. It was a call from GIANTS recruiter Tyson Bourke that changed it all for McCormick.

“I think if you spoke to me six months ago and asked me if I was going to be playing AFLW I would’ve laughed – I didn’t think it was an opportunity that was going to come my way…I thought it [AFLW] was an opportunity that had slipped out of my grasp,” McCormick said.

It was dad Adrian who was there to watch McCormick receive her first GIANTS jumper, “It was a really special moment, having my dad there who has been my biggest supporter when it comes to football.”

“It’s made me really grateful for the journey that it has been and all the opportunities that have come my way because of football.”

GIANTS midfield coach Lloyd Perris has been impressed by McCormick’s seamless entry into the team following her debut in round one against the Bulldogs, “’Cambo’ is a pleasure to coach; she approaches her training with a great intensity and willingness to learn.”

“If she can continue to approach her game with such professionalism, she will have a long and successful career at the GIANTS,” Perris said.

McCormick looks forward to the challenge of taking on the in-form Lions, “Having played with a number of the Lions players at UQ, it will be really exciting to play against them and our game style will really pick them apart if we execute.”

The GIANTS take on the Brisbane Lions at Manuka Oval at 3.10pm on Sunday afternoon.