WHILE the majority of her Gold Coast Suns teammates live in the aforementioned region, North Cairns talent Heidi Talbot has had quite the array of obstacles to overcome. The trek from Cairns to the Gold Coast is arduous in itself, but juggling that with school, and needing to find work made it all the more difficult for the teenager.

Though the challenges have been tough, Talbot has done well to juggle her sporting love with a Certificate II she can study while chasing he AFLW dream. Now the frequent flyer miles will at least become infrequent, with Talbot settling on the Gold Coast with a host family.

I was travelling by myself, that was hard,” Talbot said. “I did get on the phone to dad a couple of times being lost. He told me to figure it out and find my way through, and I thought that was a big help because I’m now good at doing it myself. I think he was trying to set me up to be independent and I think he did a good job at.

“I completed Grade 10 and then last year I couldn’t do Grade 11 because I was travelling a lot, I wouldn’t have passed Grade 11 so last year I did a Cert II in Health and Safety whilst travelling and this year finding a job to be able to help myself live on the Gold Coast.”

Well adapted to life on the road or in the air, Talbot said she has got used to not being homesick, with last year’s audition for her top-age year the ultimate test. Though tough, Talbot is confident she has made the best choice for her football career.

“I’ve taken small steps, the girls here are obviously much bigger and better and more skilful so every time I came down here and learnt a lot and learnt a lot like on the gym, on the field and took it back home and then did that there at my own club,” she said.

“I’ve tried to better myself to be ready to come back here and I feel like every time I did come back here I was improving and that’s how I got to finally stay down here which I love because it’s full training and not bits and pieces.”

Talbot thanks her dad in particular for his help and support in making her transition from life in Far North Queensland, to the Gold Coast.

“He’s taught me a lot, like life skills, footy skills, speaking, public speaking, just a lot and he’s always like telling me to stick through it when I doubt myself,” she said.

With the travelling largely in the rearview mirror – at least comparatively to her bottom-age year – Talbot now might be at an advantage to her teammates, having finished school and will instead juggle her studies and work.

On the field, Talbot is a speedy forward who can also play through the midfield with an outstanding endurance base. She finished in the top five players for the yo-yo at the recent Queensland testing event, and though the midfield is where she sees herself in the future, admits she has work to do.

“Last year Sammy (Iles, Gold Coast Suns Academy coach) said that I’d be a good forward so he chucked me in the forwards,” Talbot said. “I found it hard at first but then started to get the hang of it being a crumber because I’m small, fast. I do normally play midfield but that’s in Cairns, I don’t think I’m ready to play midfield down here, I’ve got to work a bit more harder.”

Looking to further improve her footy smarts, Talbot has enjoyed working alongside new Academy coach ad former AFLW player, Jess Sedunary. Talbot said the preseason has been tough, which is unsurprising considering Sedunary’s emphasise on fitness.

“She’s a very disciplined person and I think that really put me into place and makes me to want to work harder. Preseason was really good,” she said. “I really do look up to her, and she really is one of my best coaches.”

Gold Coast Suns Academy will once again play a handful of games at Talent League level against Victorian sides, before merging talent with the Brisbane Lions Academy to fill the Queensland state side for the AFLW Under 18 Championships later in the year.