Almanac Women’s Footy: New sport, new team and new boots

I bought my first pair of footy boots yesterday.

 

I’m 23, and halfway through my first pre-season. I’ve been privileged enough to be involved in covering the AFL Women’s, and spent most of my summer engrossed in team lists, frantically trying to learn over 200 new players. So I thought it was time to put my money where my mouth/keyboard is, and signed up for my first season of football.

 

There are about 20 of us now, all new players but one. For a while, a new player would show up nearly every training session – sisters, cousins, school friends, co-workers and girls who found the team on facebook. And all have caught the AFLW buzz.

 

When I was little, I had a recurring daydream of filling in for Richmond, as a 10-year-old girl. Somehow, I had scored a spot in the coach’s box for the day. Then, disaster would strike, and for some reason, Danny Frawley or Terry Wallace would need an emergency player. And they’d pluck me out of the box, find a kid-size kit somewhere, and send me on to the field, just in time for me to kick the ball to Richo, who’d kick the winning goal.

 

As unrealistic as that sounds, until this year, that was the most likely way a girl could play AFL. Even playing local footy just wasn’t really an option – none of my friends did, so I stuck to netball. For 15 years.

 

It shows in my footy “skills”. When I mark, I land on my right foot; lock it to the ground, ready to step forward on my left. I think I always will. Marks are taken on my right shoulder, because that’s where I catch a netball, ready for the next pass. I struggle to remember to run backwards from the mark, expecting the defender to jump back instead. Netball, played in such a limited area, has taught me the value of space. Now, I relish seeing space and being able to run into it. With the ball. Freedom.

 

Tackling is a whole new experience.

 

The girls show up to training every few days, comparing new bruises and scratches from the last session. Knees, elbows, arms, legs and fingers have all come under attack from ovals baked under a January sun, as well as our own over-enthusiasm.

 

Our kicking skills are slowly improving. We can kick further, but that usually means more running to chase down loose kicks. We joke we’re fitter than the senior men’s team, because of our missed kicks.

 

I haven’t trained for any sports for six years. Local netball is different to footy – we thought nothing of showing up two minutes before the starting siren. We felt we’d play badly if we even warmed up. And we won three premierships in six years on that logic. So my first footy training session was a wake-up call. A 2km time trial, run with the men, in 30-degree heat. I managed four out of the five laps, and spent the rest of training trying desperately not to throw up.

 

I’ve always thought the most satisfying feeling in an AFL match must be running down an opponent, and winning a free kick for holding the ball. And now I know it is. I’m the shortest in the team, and all I really have going for me is a few quick steps when I get the ball, or chasing down players.

 

I scoop the ball off the ground, and I’m Dusty Martin. One, two, three steps, and I’m out in space. But more wonderfully, I scoop the ball off the ground, and now I’m Steph Chiocci. When I concentrate on kicking the ball – head down, drop the ball down on my foot (don’t throw it up in the air and hope it lands on my foot) and take a few steps after kicking through the ball – I’m Tayla Harris, straight as an arrow (but not quite as flexible). I stick my hip into my opponent, protecting the flight of the ball as it drops into my hands, and I’m Sarah Perkins.

 

There was talk of jumper numbers at training recently, and one girl started begging for number 23.

 

Not because of Buddy.

 

Because of Moana.

 

About Sarah Black

I'm a freelance sports journalist, primarily covering AFLW for AFL Media, but I have a passion for all sports. (Except rugby. Someone needs to explain the point of that game to me.) Having never grown past 5 foot tall, I've given up my dream of being the first professional dual netball/football player and I'm doing the next best thing - writing about it.

Comments

  1. Sarah – I think you’ve nailed it. Footy is about space; about running into open space. You should read J. Harms’ “Loose Men Everywhere”. Maybe you have?

    You should also barrack for Geelong.

    Good luck.

  2. That’s a beauty, Sarah.
    Run on, run on. Go. You’re clear.

  3. There’s something very special about the first set of footy boots, Sarah. Enjoy the season – I expect we will see a massive boom in female participation at all levels this year.

  4. Very enjoyable read, Sarah.

    Make the most of it and enjoy!

  5. Go Tiges. Can’t wait until we do the double next year. Maybe you can improve outta sight and make the team.

    (I did the reverse, played a bit of footy growing up – not much, but enough – and then gave mixed netball a go in a work team in my late 30s. It was great. I played Goal Attack as if CHF, Royce making space and bringing others into the game. I couldn’t shoot for shit but reveled in the intercepts and the assists. Great game!)

  6. Yvette Wroby says

    Great read Sarah. Who are you playing for locally? It’s great that you are inspired to play and inspired to write. Well done.

  7. Sarah Black says

    Thanks for the lovely comments, everyone!

    Dips – Mum gave up long ago trying to get me to barrack for the Cats! (Saying that, Jimmy was one of my favourite players). I will track down Loose Men Everywhere, thanks for the recommendation.

    E.regans – I’m sure I’ll get called for holding the ball numerous times, being too ambitious with my running. But I’ll absolutely love it.

    Dave – our team have entered the first VAFA women’s division. 30 registered teams, 24 of them are brand new. And that’s just one competition in Melbourne!

    Peter – the dream is still there. Ange Gogos, the shortest AFLW player, is only 3cm taller than me. Netball’s in my blood, I’m a WA. Nothing better than a perfectly weighted lob pass into a goaler.

    Yvette – I’m playing for Oakleigh Krushers (very feminine name!) in the VAFA. Thanks for the support, it’s going to be a wonderful season.

  8. Sarah – if you get “Play On” which you purchase on this site, “Loose Men Everywhere” is included in that collection of stories. Recommend.

  9. I know I’m a soft touch Sarah, as the father of a young girl (I keep saying that, and now she’s 22) … but jumper numbers, begging for 23 because of Moana, made me tear up.

    Keep having a red hot go Sarah, and enjoy every minute.

    All power to you.

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