RISING young talent Sarah Branford is determined to get the most out of herself, be it at AFL Women’s level or in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s competition. The Norwood midfielder is a former soccer player who made her way through the State Academy, thrust into the talent programs and then earned her place in the Redlegs’ side. Still a relatively new player with a handful of seasons under her belt, Branford is consistently learning and improving.

“I didn’t start actually playing footy until about 2020 so it would have been my Year 12 year,” Branford said. “I was playing high level soccer before that, so I was in through the State programs with Football South Australia and did a bit of train-on stuff with Adelaide United and just decided I’d burnt out of that completely and made the switch over and have just loved it ever since.”

That year of 2020, Branford played school football and then moved to Old Ignatians Football Club in 2021, coinciding with her Norwood career. In that year, she made the South Australian state squad, playing one game against Western Australia, which she was “grateful” for the opportunity. After still finding her place in the Redlegs’ senior side in 2021, she cemented her place last season.

“I clicked a little bit more with it and not being in my head about structures and that kind of thing, and just played,” Branford said. “I think I’ve just been improving ever since then. Had the little run with the State program which I think was really, really helpful with my development. I’m really grateful for that opportunity. I only got the one game but I was pretty happy with where I was at at that point.”

Having played on both the inside and outside of midfield, Branford’s traditional wing role at the Redlegs is set to move further behind the ball in 2023.

“This year I’m hoping to go into a running half-back role instead, with a little bit of wing here and there and potentially some midfield when it come,” Branford said. “Brad‘s (Snell) now our coach and has decided I’m quite a quick outside player and with my ball use I can get it on the outside running on the half-back and get those rebound 50s and that’s what I’m looking to develop into.”

Over the off-season, Branford looked to add some extra match fitness to her preseason, playing up in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL), describing it as a “different sort of game” but she “absolutely loved it”.

“The reason I love footy so much is its so physical and demanding and that kind of thing, so I think with the heat and that the way with the NT girls play, I absolutely thrived up there, got a lot of outside ball, a lot more ball than I’m typically used to getting and just had a fun time up there, it was great,” Branford said.

“I think I’m quite quick and getting those outside balls and the run and taking the game on, that’s what I love to do. I think I’m also quite an intelligent sportswoman and footballer and playing the past three years at that State level and also at Norwood, it’s really helped me develop my football intelligence as well. I’d like to think I’m a pretty good leader as well, I was in the Norwood leadership group last year hoping to continue in that this year. I think that outside voice is a really big part of my game.”

Branford is a high-impact player who does not need to win much of the ball to influence a game. In 2022, she averaged 11.2 disposals across her 12 games in the SANFL Women’s. Turning 20 next month, the 159cm talent is hoping to improve those production numbers to lift her value to AFLW clubs.

“I’d really like to improve with getting more of the footy,” Branford said. “I tend to kind of sit on the outskirts and get the outside ball which is one of my strengths, but finding those positions to get more of the ball and get … obviously stats aren’t everything but they do tell a fair bit about the game. Getting a lot more of that ball would be a huge improvement to my game I think.”

From a team perspective, Branford has her sights set on the ultimate goal – a premiership. From a personal perspective, she wants to continue leading by example and cementing her spot in a role such as half-back. Though how far she can get in her football is unknown, Branford said she would leave no stone unturned in order to get as far as she could in the code.

“I have always been quite an achievement-oriented person, so obviously if that opportunity was going to come up, and I’m going to keep trying and developing my game into that, then 100 per cent I’d take that with both hands and absolutely take that opportunity,” Branford said. “If it doesn’t come, I love Norwood, I love playing local football. Sport has always been a huge part of my life. AFLW would be the ideal situation, but if that doesn’t come, then that’s okay I’m just going to keep pushing myself to develop and improve.”