NORWOOD teenager Jazmine Egan got a taste for the rigours of senior football last year in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s, and now she wants more. The 17-year-old cracked into the side for her debut in Round 6 after cutting her teeth at Development level, and played five of the last seven games to end the 2022 season.

Egan said it was an amazing experience to taste the top state level, and she enjoyed the challenges that came with it.

“Exciting, nerve-wracking, loved it,” she said. “Loved being around the girls. The tempo of the game was a lot quicker which I really enjoyed.”

Egan started her football journey at Hectorville in 2016 playing Under 12s. Like so many of her peers in modern times, Egan has been able to have plenty of football seasons under her belt. Enjoying the community feel of playing at Hectorville, she has risen up to earn a spot in Norwood’s senior team.

Though it took a while to crack in, she was keen to keep her spot, with endurance being her main strength, and always looking to improve every area of her game.

“I love running,” Egan said. “I love getting that handball out, and running and delivering it into the 50. “(I) just want to be the best footballer I can be, putting in all those hours out of training, during training, really listening, taking it all in.”

The Norwood top-ager said her family were her biggest supporters, with her mother, father and grandparents all supporting Egan in her journey to the senior level. As for a player at the elite level she looks up to, Egan named a recent AFL Women’s young gun just one year her senior.

“Jaz Fleming recently,” Egan said. “She’s come in, she’s a young gun, quick round the ball, really look up to her.”

A natural midfielder, Egan said she loved to play on-ball, but understood the difficulties with trying to crack into such a popular position. At training, she has worked on developing her outside ability and playing off a wing, as well as having spent time at half-back in the past. With the season now just over a month away, the 17-year-old has locked in her goals for 2023.

“Winning a premiership, being around my team and being the best footballer I can be and giving it my all,” Egan said.

Norwood hosts reigning SANFL Women’s champions North Adelaide in the season opener on Friday, February 17 from 7:30pm at Coopers Stadium.