Bradfield overcomes setbacks to run into state side
FORMER field hockey player, Annise Bradfield heeded her neighbour’s advice to take up Australian rules football and has never looked back. The talented 172cm player managed a couple of games at last year’s AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships in her bottom-age year, having overcome plenty in her short career. “I started my footy journey when I […]
Phineasa thrives on family support for Aussie rules dream
REPRESENTING her state in the game she loves was a “proud” moment for both Allanah Phineasa and her family. She was able use her natural athletic talent to run and tackle opponents, something she describes as her best traits. In speaking to the Queenslander at the AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships last year, the then bottom-ager […]
Barba tackles any challenge thrown her way
DEFENSIVE pressure has been the barometer that Calder Cannons’ Alana Barba sets every week, with the ferocious midfielder striking fear into the hearts of opposition players when they have the ball in her area. The tenacious talent from Roxburgh Park averaged 7.1 tackles per game for the Cannons in the NAB League Girls competition, and […]
Newcomer Viney grows in short space of time
EIGHTEEN months ago, Rebecca Viney was running around for North Beach Football Club in Western Australia. While the Tigers are considered Western Australia’s most successful amateur team, it was a far cry from the AFL Women’s competition which at that stage was in its second season. It is hard to believe just two years later, […]
Theodore hoping to emulate Prespakis’ journey to AFLW
CALDER Cannons product, Felicity Theodore proved to be a lynchpin in defence using her nimbleness and speed to evade players and burst away from the pack time and time again. Signed with Essendon VFLW, Theodore aspires to follow the same path of those before her in particular, NAB Rising Star Maddy Prespakis who introduced her […]
Late bloomer O’Driscoll eyes elite level
ONLY still new to footy Emma O’Driscoll is taking each moment as it comes and enjoying the ride despite being an overager. O’Driscoll was a late bloomer to the sport and has not put a foot wrong since her inception into the game, steadily developing and posing a dominant threat credit to her skill. “So […]
“Natural footballer” Vella determined to succeed
DESPITE standing at about 156cm, Geelong Falcons’ Elise Vella has a big impact every time she is out on the field thanks to her ability to think through plays quickly and move nimbly around the ground. Vella showed she is adaptable this year, playing across three different levels with Geelong and Vic Country. “We started […]
Jolliffe bouncing back from injury
FOR Bendigo Pioneers’ Jordyn Jolliffe, it has been a rocky road to success with plenty of bumps along the way. Halted in her Aussie rules tracks as an 11-year-old, Jolliffe made the switch to netball before finding her way back to the sport. “I started in Auskick, wasn’t really a fan of netball and most […]
Chapman’s unassuming rise to success
“STAND there and don’t touch the ball.” They were the first words uttered to Geelong Falcons’ Abbey Chapman when she stepped onto a football ground for the first time. It might have been a bit abrupt and imposing had the words not come from a familiar face. “My sister told me to stand there and […]
Tarrant taking GIANT strides ahead of draft
BRENNA Tarrant is no stranger to the limelight, earning herself a spot in the AFL Women’s Under-18 All-Australian side credit to her impressive season and ball winning ability – but she did not start off playing Australian rules football. Despite encouragement from her father, Tarrant did not follow in her father’s rugby footsteps, instead initially […]
