It was a bike ride around Melbourne’s surrounding suburbs that started Pepa Randall on her journey to 50 AFLW games.
During her ride, the then former footballer – who stopped playing at 13 because she thought that was the end for girls – saw an all-female team training. A familiar face was spotted, a quick text message was sent off and three days later Randall had a new pair of boots and was part of the team.
Fast forward a few years, paying special mention to VFLW and exhibition matches, Randall found herself in the room for the inaugural draft of the newly created AFL Women’s competition.
“It was the most perfect beginning to hook someone super hard into footy,” she said.
“It just evolved; I was just like pushed along on this journey.
“I feel like it all just happened really quickly.”
Drafted to the Melbourne Football Club at pick number 121 in the 2016 AFLW draft, Randall landed herself at an AFLW club.
The dogged defender suffered the first of her two major injuries prior to round one of the 2017 season, forcing her to miss not only the iconic opening round of the competition but the entire first season.
“I don’t think it registered what I was missing out on,” the former Demon reflected.
“People were climbing on the roof to get in. It was the most epic atmosphere and moment when the first siren went and all I could think was my god I have to be on the field. I have to be part of this.
“It was at that moment I realised what it [AFLW] was going to be.”
At the end of the inaugural season, Randall was somewhat unwillingly traded north to the GIANTS, having yet to play a game of AFLW.
“That first trade period was like the wild west,” she said.
“I was under the assumption that I had a contract again but then my name was suddenly linked to being traded and I didn’t have a say.
“I was hungry to play, so I said yes.
“It was the greatest split decision I have made, and I wouldn’t change it and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
The hard-working defender made her AFLW debut as a GIANT in the opening round match of the 2018 season, against her former side [Melbourne Demons], at her former VFLW home ground [Casey Fields].
She went on to play every game for the GIANTS to date, until suffering her second of two major injuries in round two last season.
Throughout her seven seasons in the orange and charcoal, the former Tom Wills Oval curator has established herself as one of the competition’s best defenders.
It hasn’t just been on the field where the 27-year-old has made an impact, with the five-time peer-voted leader speaking most proudly of what she’s contributed off the field.
“Off the field I think it’s that culture piece,” she said.
“That is something that is really, really important to me.
“It was pretty rough in those first couple of years. There were a lot of us that had put our lives on hold, moved interstate, were ill-equipped and pretty lonely but we banded together and looked after each other.
“It was really special and something that I have never felt at any other club. They say football clubs are like family, but this was, and is, on a level I have never felt before.
“I’ve seen poor culture and where that gets you and I’ve seen amazing culture and connection and where that can get you and how it can carry you through both the good and times.
“Winning with a team you love is so important and there is no feeling quite like it.”
It’s that feeling that Randall will be searching for this round when she runs out alongside her teammates on Friday night.
“I don’t think we have a great track record with milestone matches but it’s time to rewrite the history books.”
The GIANTS take on the Gold Coast Suns on Friday night at Heritage Bank Stadium at 7:45pm EDT.
