{"id":152522,"date":"2024-03-11T11:54:39","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T01:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=152522"},"modified":"2024-03-11T11:54:41","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T01:54:41","slug":"multi-talented-matser-has-not-given-up-on-big-time-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/03\/11\/multi-talented-matser-has-not-given-up-on-big-time-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Multi talented Matser has not given up on big time return"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BOX Hill\u2019s Grace Matser<\/a> may only be 21 years-old, but has had plenty to put on her football resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her home at Box Hill City Oval is a far cry from where it all began from her in the tiny of Korumburra in Victoria\u2019s Gippsland region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When she was first starting out Matser said it was \u201cpretty scary at first, because when I was starting we were the first ever Korumburra Youth Girls team\u201d but that she \u201cgrew a love for it and was lucky enough to be able to continue through to the Gippsland Power pathway and it just kind of took off from there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It did not always go to plan for Matser, who missed out on being drafted in her top-age year, but instead waited a year to get her opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said it was \u201cpretty tough\u201c to not get drafted as an 18 year-old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou go in as an 18 year-old and your hope is to get drafted and go from there, so it was pretty tough,” Matser said. “I can say I probably had my fair share of tears probably the week after, but you\u2019ve just got to put it in perspective, not everyone\u2019s journey is going to start at 18 and go the way through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“So that put it into perspective in that way and keep the motivation going and know that I you keep trying hopefully I\u2019ll get there, and I was lucky enough to get picked up in that 2022 draft.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that setback it was time for a stint at Collingwood before getting picked up by North Melbourne in the 2022 AFLW Draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI loved it\u201d Matser said, speaking about her time at Arden St.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cObviously getting to play with rucks likes Emma King <\/strong>and Kim Rennie<\/strong> was really amazing. I learnt a lot and obviously they\u2019re such a great team in AFLW at the moment. I loved it, just learning off everyone and the environment was great, so I really enjoyed my time there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After getting a taste of the AFLW, Matser has not given up hope of returning to the big time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope so! I’m never going to shut that door,” she said. Always hopeful that I might be able to make it back there, but I guess I\u2019m still trying to just enjoy my footy and as along as I\u2019m enjoying my footy then hopefully I might be able to make it back up there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After her time in the AFLW, she decided to head to Box Hill because \u201cit was just more of a fresh start\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt just sounded really good when I talked to the coaching staff and I was just keen to get started down there,” Matser said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, Matser said her second year at Box Hill is \u201cgoing good, I\u2019ve really enjoyed it”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a really good group, and I\u2019m keen to just get to the season and see how we go this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year did end in a frustrating manner for the Hawks, not progressing very far in the finals series, and Matser does believe that frustration is a driving force for them in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a really new group as well, so yeah a lot of new, fresh faces and we\u2019re just keen to get into the year and see how we go so,” Matser said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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