TRAVELLING long distances has never been an issue for the talented Chantelle Mitchell, who balances her loves of Australian rules football and art. The Woodville-West Torrens youngster joined the Eagles midway through the 2022 South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s season, having played for Bendigo Pioneers previously, and opting for Adelaide over Melbourne to further her career.

Mitchell’s name might ring a bell for Richmond fans, with the passionate artist designing the club’s Indigenous jumper last season. From designing football jumpers to boots, canvases and much more, the teenager has been working hard off the field to build her business, Channy Mitchell Art. On the field, Mitchell has always gone off her gut feeling, and is pleased to be playing in Adelaide.

“I’ve been playing footy about four, five years now,” Mitchell said. “I first started back home in Mildura playing with my home club Nangiloc footy club and then once I started playing I got a bit noticed so then I went over to Bendigo Pioneers reached out. Just for a couple of sessions. Then I played two seasons there Under 16s and then Under 19s, so that was a pretty good experience there.

“I started going to a few VFL clubs and just doing some trainings,” Mitchell said. “That was in Melbourne. Melbourne’s pretty big for me moving from Mildura, and I was like ‘it’s not for me’ so I came over to Adelaide for a try and had a go at the SANFL and this is where I am, with the Woodville-West Torrens.”

Mitchell admitted entering the Eagles’ program midway through the season had left her feeling apprehensive, but her fears soon dissipated once she got into the swing of things.

“I felt a bit scared or ‘how I am I going to go at the club?’ or ‘how am I going to go in the league?’, it was a big step up from back home,” Mitchell said. “I think I went pretty good. My first game hit me pretty hard, this is like a whole new level, but the girls got around me, the coaches and the club. It’s a great team and great club to be a part of.”

When Richmond ran out in its Indigenous jumper on television, Mitchell admitted it was “probably one of the most emotional moments” of her life. She was also able to present the jumpers to the players and share her story behind the artwork, which was “pretty special. For the Sunraysia local, her art helps her remain connected to her culture.

“All my family’s back home, that’s where I grew up,” Mitchell said. “When I first started artwork, not anyone in my family did art that I knew of. I started something, I did a lot of research and spoke to a lot of my aunties and uncles about Aboriginal art, and just the culture and connection and I get to share with Aboriginal art we get to share our stories through artwork so that’s one thing I’m really passionate about.”

On the field, Mitchell lists her strengths as her skills and smarts, able to get into the right spots, read the play and then find a way to take grass. As for her improvement, the teenager is constantly looking at building her fitness and being able to run at speed for longer periods of time. Additionally, building extra muscle onto her lighter frame will help her compete with opposition defenders.

“I’ve actually asked to be put in the forwards,” Mitchell said. “Last season I played mid most of the time, but this season I’ll be forward, but also a little bit of mid as well, but majority forward.

“My main goal is just getting a bit fit and more muscle and getting to that AFLW level. My dream is to get there one day, and that’s my big goal and that’s what I’m focusing on, and playing my role and helping out with the team as well.”

Though there have been plenty of people who have helped Mitchell along the way in her football journey, she said her grandfather had a special connection.

“There’s a lot of special people who have helped me through my footy career,” Mitchell said. “I’m going to say probably my pop. He was pretty big in my life, he didn’t get to see me play footy, but he will always be special to me.”