NORWOOD top-ager Elle Lineage is determined to make 2023 a big year. The teenager not only wanted to impress at Redlegs preseason training, but go above and beyond to put herself in the frame for South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s consideration. Focusing on her fitness, and then skills once she joined the senior group, Lineage is hoping it will be enough to make her debut in the red and navy blue.

“Prior to preseason I started my own little preseason, I went to F45 everyday to be fit going into preseason and then get fitter over preseason,” Lineage said. “I found myself pushing really hard on my fitness so hopefully my fitness and my skills over those preseasons pushing me into that main team.”

A dual-sport player, Lineage was a high level basketball, moving through the pathways as football took a back seat. In the last two years, it was becoming clear to the 171cm utility that she had started to “fall out of love” with basketball, and opted to just focus her resources on her junior football career.

“Originally I started playing basketball about since I was three or so,” Lineage said. “Footy was always my second sport so I started about 2016 so Year 6ish so it was always my second sport so basketball would take over. I would have basketball game and a footy game and I would choose basketball over it.

“Within the Under 18s last year I started to fall out of love with it, I pushed up to Premier League with basketball, and it wasn’t the girls just weren’t as inviting, it wasn’t a good environment for me personally that I enjoyed.”

In early 2021, Lineage was all-in with Norwood and was selected for the Under 18s program having come through the Redlegs’ junior ranks as young as the Under 14s. Prior to that, she had played for Hectorville while splitting time with her basketball commitments.

When it came to her football, Lineage admitted she was not one to take a backwards step. A fierce player who packs a punch, she has played both through the midfield and in defence. While she hopes to improve a number of areas of her game, she showed enough in the Development League to earn a place in the State Academy.

“I’m pretty physical, I love getting the ball off the ground, I love physicality, I love pushing people, I love tackling,” Lineage said. “I love really getting amongst it as a midfielder or a backman.

“I would love to more so improve on my quicker decision making. It’s there, but I haven’t played properly at the high, high level yet so it’s what I want to be is be quicker with my decision making, make sure I can hit that in front of someone on a lead.”

Looking up to Season 6 W Medal winner Emily Bates, Lineage said she loved watching her decision making, attack at the ball and her ability to dispose of the pill on her left side. Closer to home, she credited her dad with having the most influence on her individual career.

“He’s the one that was my football coach at local level, my basketball coach at primary school, but he’s always pushed me and helped me get to where I am now and be my best,” Lineage said.

While many might set goals that are out of their control, Lineage’s goals for 2023 are simple, and within her own abilities.

“Honestly is one of them is really a mindset thing,” Lineage said. “Just to stay positive, last year was a really rough year because I got really sick, but it’s just staying positive and focus on what I’m good at and just working and building on that as well. But also just enjoying the football I play.”

Norwood opens the SANFL Women’s season against reigning premiers North Adelaide at Coopers Stadium from 7:30pm, with the Development League side playing at the earlier timeslot of 5:40pm.