Junior Sport inside
RUGBY LEAGUE: In a day and age where girls can do anything and everything, Emily Dolley is doing just that.
The 11-year-old is excelling in a number of sports, with two of her pet activities completely contrasting each other.
Dolley represented the Darling Downs in netball last month, but the sport’s lack of contact was not enough for the physical activity junky.
Next month it will be out with the netball uniform and time to lace up the boots as Dolley heads to Mackay to represent the region in rugby league.
She will have a go at anything. If you put something in front of her she’s got that kind of attitude which is really great. — Paul Dolley
The Gold Coast Titans supporter only played footy for a few months before getting the call-up, but it didn’t take much convincing from her dad Paul to get on the field.
“I wasn’t a real fan of it at the start to to tell the truth, especially thinking about your daughter getting knocked around,” he said.
“But it is coming leaps and bounds and then watching her trial was easy because she did really well.
“It didn’t (take too much convincing).”
An age champion in swimming and a gun on the track in multiple disciplines of athletics, Dolley is not afraid to take on a new challenge.
The latest one in rugby league adds another expertise to her quickly-growing sporting repertoire.
“She will have a go at anything if you put something in front of her. She’s got that kind of attitude which is really great,” dad Paul said.
While Dolley has been playing rugby league for a matter of months, it is netball where she boasts the most knowledge.
Firebirds Laura Geitz, Laura Clemesha and Clare McMeniman all forged their talents in the region and Dolley wants to follow in their footsteps.
“I like Laura (Geitz). She plays the same positions as me and she was the captain too,” she said.
And it’s not a hard choice when it comes to choosing between the Firebirds and the Titans for Dolley.
“I’d choose the Firebirds, probably because I know more about netball than I do about footy at the moment,” she said.