Life of a footballer is a personal insight by Calder Cannons and Diamond Creek footballer Chloe Molloy. The Life of a Footballer series follows on from last year’s edition which saw Bendigo Pioneers’ midfielder Jamieson Sheahan provide us insights into the inner workings of a TAC Cup club. In 2017, Chloe Molloy has joined the AFL Draft Central team and will give readers an insight into how she juggles university studies with her football at Diamond Creek, and her pathway to follow her dream into the AFLW. You can find her last instalment here.

It is the pinnacle of any athletes’ sporting career to play in a grand final, to have one more chance to showcase the team’s talent, and the chance for all the seasons’ hard work to be rewarded. The girls at Diamond Creek Women’s Football Creek are nothing short of hard workers, with consistent numbers at training despite Melbourne’s bi-polar weather. To add to the grand final hype, chuck playing it on Etihad into the mix. Now it isn’t everyday that you play a grand final, let alone on the iconic Etihad Stadium, it’s a dream come true in itself.

Usual trainings on Tuesday and Thursday were made better with the feeling of the big dance coming up. Also it was actually quite warm weather. Nerves were evident during the sessions, but as always we came together to finish off the season with a strong final training session.

We had the normal Thursday dinners, carb loading of course! It had a different vibe though, a good one of course! One that would send shivers down the spines of the girls who had been at this club since day dot. But not to exclude the newbies, who were all made aware of the clubs history, and how much meaning this game had behind it.

Yes it was a grand final, but for a club like Diamond Creek Women’s Football Club, it was so much more. I can’t even explain how it felt to hear how many challenges that the club had been through and overcome to get where they are now. This game was so much more than just a grand final. The genuine care that players and committee members had for the club could be seen on their faces, and it just put fire in our bellies.

I cannot write this piece without mentioning the long tailed rivalry between Darebin and Diamond Creek. The last time the Creekers had their hands on the cup was back in 2012. And now we have been given the opportunity, it wasn’t out of luck; it was out of pure hard, teamwork that us girls have put in. We deserve to be in this game. 2017 is going to add another chapter to this famous rivalry, and I am hoping that this chapter will end in bringing home the premiership cup to Plenty Park.

The emotions are high, the feels are peaking, and the nerves are starting to sneak up on me. But I am so honoured to be running out onto the ground with the all the Creekers, and especially under the captaincy of Steph Chiocci, whose leadership is admirable and she has been a great mentor for me; and Tanya Hetherington, who has been outstanding, and stepped up when we needed her. Every single girl has made Diamond Creek proud, and no ones efforts have gone unnoticed throughout the season. It was team effort to get to where we are and it will take a huge team effort again, but I don’t doubt my girls for a second.

I personally have had so much support from everyone, and it really does make me want to play for my supporters as well as myself, it’s extra motivation. I have no doubt my mum will be there with bells on, and most likely even pom poms. So keep an eye out for her!

So for the last time of the 2017 Swisse VFLW season, I will run out alongside my skinny gals, with the full blown confidence that we will be returning to the rooms arm in arm, singing our song. If you nothing planned for your Sunday, then I highly recommend you make your way to Etihad and watch this historical match be played at 12pm. It’s a triple header with the VFL Men’s and TAC Cup Grand Final. Massive day, and as the Creeker girls would say, it’s a big day for the community.

Side note: If you can’t make it to the game, it will air live on Channel 7 from 11:30am.

DIAMOND CREEK v. DAREBIN 

Grand Final – 24/09/2017

Diamond Creek:

B: 4. T. Hetherington, 23. L. Morecroft, 10. R. Hicks
HB: 17. S. Chiocci, 7. K. Hicks, 13. E. Grant
C: 44. L.  Brazzale, 18. S.  Audley, 9. L.  Williams
HF: 38. A. Barden, 26. K. Harrington, 15. K. Loynes
F: 22. J. Kennedy, 2. B. Grech, 52. C. Molloy
R: 80. A. Downie, 5. K. Lamb, 42. A. Riddell
Int: 3. S. Abbatangelo, 1. L. Duryea, 25. J. Graham, 24. A. Saxton

VS

Darebin:

B: 8. E. Birch, 14. M. McDonald, 21. K. Roe
HB: 10. G. Lawson-Tavan, 40. L. Pearce, 4. K. Paxman
C: 2. N.  Callinan, 18. M.  Hickey, 11. K.  Tyndall
HF: 13. L. Arnell, 16. K. Brennan, 19. E. Marinoff
F: 30. E. O’Dea, 34. S. Egan, 17. S. Simpson
R: 41. A. O’Connor, 6. D. Pearce, 12. J. Dal Pos
Int: 27. S. Hogan, 43. A. Lister, 1. E. Oliver, 23. A. Reynolds