ZIMM LIVES OUT AFLW DREAM
Dalby teen ready for the bright lights after being drafted
ES: Zimmorlei Farquharson will live out a decade-long dream after being the latest Downs talent to be drafted into the elite AFLW competition.
The Dalby Swans junior and Concordia Lutheran College student was taken with the Brisbane Lions’ first pick in Tuesday night’s draft.
Watching at home with family and friends in Dalby, Farquharson was chosen with the eighth overall pick, bringing a girlhood dream to life.
“It was pretty nerveracking seeing my future that I’ve tried to build for the past 10 years can finally happen,” she said.
“I woke up in the morning and dad gave me some inspirational words of wisdom. I got to school and kept it to myself.
“I had the nerves there. It was hard to concentrate at school, but I did what I had to do.
“It’s a relief that my name got called out, and everything went to plan.
“When I was 13 and 14, I was at home going to the footy ground and kicking with my mates.”
As Farquharson started making her way through the grades, including playing in a senior AFLDD grand final at just 13 and as a member of the Brisbane Lions Academy, the pathway progressively opened up to play at the elite level.
“When they announced there would be an AFL women’s league starting up, my heart started pounding,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe that females could put the effort in and create something for the new generations to come.
“There was a stage where I was not really wanting to go that further step because I just wanted to see football as a fun experience.
“As I got older and started developing my own football technology, I believed in myself that I could make it.
“I’ve had my ups and downs but I’ve finally achieved what I thought I could achieve when I was younger.”
Farquharson will move to Brisbane to be closer to her teammates, ahead of the start of the AFLW season in February.