This article first appeared on Players Voice on October 3, 2018 titled Pick 132 to All Australian.
I wanted to be an Opal growing up – a member of the Australian basketball team.
That was back when the WNBL was on TV all the time. Watching those elite women players was inspiring. They became my role models.
I started playing basketball in primary school and I was very passionate about the sport through my teens. I planned to go to college in the US and chase my dream of playing for Australia.
Then, when I was 18, I did my left ACL. College went on the backburner as I did my rehab and by the time that opportunity arose again, I found my interest had waned.
That was lucky, in a way. I ended up finding footy.
I started playing when I was
A few uni mates, including Steph, were also playing with Diamond Creek, the
I loved that first season of footy, but I needed another left knee surgery
My biggest challenge as a player has been self-belief. I’m a big doubter of myself and my ability, and injury played a major part in that during my first season in the AFLW.
TALE OF TWO SEASONS
I almost didn’t put my name
As the draft unfolded, I watched quite a few girls I’d played against get selected. That made me think I had a chance, but it was getting tight towards the end and I was very nervous.
Collingwood was the only club that had spoken to me and our discussion went well. I thought, ‘Maybe that’s a chance’. I was absolutely ecstatic when I got picked up by the Pies.
Pick No.132, of 145 players selected.
But that self-doubt got to me in season one. I thought I was out of my depth, and my injury history also played on my mind.
I was shocked to be picked as an All Australian after that second season. I did not see that coming … I’m just glad I was able to improve so much.
That’s one problem with the short AFLW fixture we currently have: even a semi-serious injury puts your entire season in jeopardy. It can wipe out your entire campaign and all that pre-season work in one go, or it can put you out for a few games and leave you fighting to regain your spot.
I had a concussion that first season which put me out for one game during 2017. I was lucky enough to get back into the team, but the risk of injury played on my mind a lot. I’d be running into contests and in the back of my mind, I was
I ended that first season feeling that I’d wasted my opportunity. Collingwood felt similar – I was told that they didn’t know if they had a spot for me in 2018.
They told me that I needed to work on the mental side of things. I saw a sports psychologist, plus the well-being staff at Collingwood.
Our coach, Wayne Siekman, spent a lot of one-on-one time with me, fixing my kicking and other skills. Talking strategy. He was a big support in all areas of my game, including the mental stuff.
Season two was so much different. My mindset was far better. I guess I just got better at dealing with certain
I was shocked to be picked as an All Australian after that second season. I did not see that coming and it wasn’t something I aspired to. I’m just glad I was able to improve so much.
I really wanted to be a player who my teammates wanted to play with, not a girl who was making up the numbers.
A MISSED GF & THREE TOWNSHIP KIDS
Before our Diamond
Our Creekers had a great game to get
I tried to get out of the trip, but it wasn’t to be – luckily, as it turned out. I’m very thankful I went. And I got to watch the GF...
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