Bombers, England get Lauren to chip in

CROSS-CODE athlete Lauren Theodore has helped prime the England netball team for their gold medalwinning performance at the Commonwealth Games before leading the Burleigh Bombers QWFA division one team to an opening round win.

The Golden South Jaguars division two netballer (pictured) helped England at training last week ahead of their final win over Australia yesterday.

On Saturday, Theodore, who played in the Netball Queensland premier league grand final with

South Coast last year, kicked three goals for the Bombers in their 9.9 (63) to 2.4 (16) win over Wilston Grange.

“I trained with England a couple of times last week,” Theodore said.

The 32-year-old Victoria is into her second year of Australian rules football and said she was enjoying the change of pace and position.

Theodore plays goal defence in netball but has starred as a centre-half forward for Burleigh in the QWFA.

“It’s a bit of a change. I must have been one of the bigger girls at the club when I turned up to training and that’s where I got put,” Theodore said.

“I enjoy the change of ends and getting to kick goals rather than defending everything.”

Theodore was encouraged to play footy by good friend and Demons AFLW player Shelley Scott and has since found a home in front of goal.

Theodore said her marking had improved but believed some of the traits used in netball had come in handy on the footy field.

“The different shape ball makes it a bit different,” Theodore said.

“It’s a complete change to have to be ready to mark the football.”

In another QWFA clash, Coolangatta-Tweed lost to Moreton Bay 1.4 (10) to 3.1 (19).