Athlete charts her own path
Athletic prospect carving own path
With two track and field Olympian parents, kicking and chasing the Sherrin around was not meant to be on the agenda for Cairns’ Poppy Boltz (above). But the Centrals Trinity Beach youngster has taken to the game like a duck to water and will be one of the Far North’s emerging talent on show tonight for the Cairns Post AFLCW All Stars. The player has just returned from representing Queensland at the National under-18s championships.
WITH two track and field Olympian parents, kicking and chasing the Sherrin around was not meant to be on the agenda for Cairns’ Poppy Boltz.
But, the Centrals Trinity Beach youngster has taken to the game like a duck to water and will be one of the Far North’s emerging talent on show tonight for the Cairns Post AFLCW All Stars.
Mum Jill was a distance runner who represented Great Britain in the 1998 Seoul Olympic Games and the 1992 Games in Barcelona and won a silver medal in the 10,000m event at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, while dad Danny competed for Switzerland in the marathon at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
The 2016 AFLC Women’s Rising Star has just returned from representing Queensland at the National under-18s championships and was included in the inaugural female intake into the Gold Coast Suns Academy.
AFLCW All Stars coach Jo Butland is more than happy Boltz has settled into Aussie rules and will look for her to play a role across half back tonight against Townsville.
“She is one of those athletes that we have managed to get across to AFL and she has picked up the game very well,” Butland said.
“Hopefully she can show what she has learnt during her time with the Queensland under-18s.
“That is what we want, we want the girls like Poppy and the others in the squad that have experienced higher level footy like Kitara Farrar, to come back to this level and really take it on. That will be the message to these young girls, really take it on, test yourself and challenge yourself.
“They are playing at the highest level they can, they need to dominate.”
Jennifer Robinson and Sodyla Kris have been installed as co-captains for the game that will be four x 15-minute quarters with no time on.
North Cairns Tiger Luana Healey will miss the game with injury but Butland has recruited her to be a development coach for the game, with Bev Speed and Tyson Lane her assistants.
“The message is keep it simple, just enjoy the experience,” Butland said. “We have only had a few training sessions and we are bringing the girls in from different clubs so that will be the message.
“The younger girls bring freshness to the team while the experienced heads will be able to pull everything into line and calm things down.”
Rhiannon Bush, who trialled with the Brisbane Lions last year, will be one to watch for the visitors tonight.