AFTER getting a taste for the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s last year, Norwood teenager Tamsyn Nation is ready for more. The top-age talent was born just four days away from being classified as a bottom-ager in 2023, but the latecomer to the oblong game is making strides in the League. With a determination to reach the top level, Nation said she had a set goal for this season.

“I think I really need to play really good League football, that’s one thing to get people to have a look at me to see what I’m like because obviously I haven’t been playing footy for that long now,” Nation said. “Just really growing as a player throughout the season but also getting better in my games, getting my touches up and my disposals and disposal efficiency as well.”

Nation only spent two seasons at local level before stepping up to the senior state league, where she fitted in seamlessly among a host of other young Redlegs at The Parade last year. Managing the eight games and averaging the 6.9 disposals, Nation said she is always looking to improve given her late arrival to the code.

“I’ve played footy for three seasons so I came from a netball background,” she said. “I was really big in netball but my brother grew up playing footy so I trained with the boys at my local club and I’ve been playing footy ever since. Then got the shot at Norwood last year and played a few League games which was good.”

Not one to shy away from a contest, Nation emulates her game from Melbourne defender Libby Birch, particularly with her competitiveness in the air and her determination to take grass when rebounding out of the back 50.

“I think I can be very aggressive for the ball, I just have a want for the ball,” Nation said. “Very contested, I love going up for the big grabs and everything like that and just like my pace of the game and everything and my decision making.”

The defender is also self-aware of her improvements that need to advance in order for her to take the next step in her career.

“Definitely my fitness and my consistency with my kicking and also being able to kick on my right foot as well, getting better at that as a left footer,” Nation said.

A strong overhead mark and a competitive player one-on-one, Nation is a medium defender at 169cm, but has pace to go with her strength. If she can improve that fitness and consistency, which in turn would life her production rate, she could fill an even more important role in Norwood’s defensive setup.

“I played eight League games last year so I think getting a full season in, just getting away from the Covid era,” Nation said. “Obviously potentially getting drafted would be good and just taking every opportunity.”

Norwood opens the season at Coopers Stadium on Friday, February 17 with the toughest of opponents to start, taking on reigning premiers North Adelaide from 7:30pm.