ONE of the Northern Territory’s top AFL Women’s draft hopes for 2023 will run out for Norwood in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s, with Grace Whittaker landing at The Parade. Having been linked with the Redlegs previously but only getting the chance to make a SANFL Women’s debut in 2023, Whittaker is looking forward to playing a different style of game to the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL).

Whittaker said at the SANFL Women’s Preseason Testing Day that the weather had been noticeably cooler, but she had enjoyed training with the experienced Norwood players.

“(It’s) cold, but it’s been nice,” Whittaker said. “Coming from NT transitioning to down here is different, different style of footy, it’s been good. I got asked to come down to play for Norwood, so I was just like ‘yeah why not?’

The catalyst for the move was to play in a more competitive state league in what previously had been an off-season for Whittaker – the NTFL play from October until March – though the teenager has already noticed the step up at training.

“I think that it’s better competition playing for SANFL,” Whittaker said. “A lot of the girls down here are taller and older than me. The intensity’s always up, and to be able to kick to someone who can kick it back to you is really good.”

Whittaker is not without her credentials, having grown through the Northern Territory’s junior pathway program, representing the state at national championships, and even earning a gig for the Allies as a bottom-ager.

“That was an experience, that was really good,” Whittaker said of the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. “The girls were really good as well, all nice too.”

The talented utility – who is set to play as a midfield/forward rotation swap – values her overhead marking as her greatest strength, while she is hoping to improve her running game and courage. She looks up to Western Bulldogs skipper Ellie Blackburn and will be juggling her top-age year with her Year 12 studies.

Though Whittaker conceded that moving schools – to coincide with the relocation into the SANFL Women’s – was tough, she has still had the feeling of home given her mother and little sister have also relocated to the City of Churches. As for her main goal in 2023, it was simple.

“For now to get a League game in SANFL, that would be really cool,” Whittaker said.