TOP WOMEN SET STAGE

Q On the outside looking in, AFLW has grown in terms of interest from the public and standard of play year on year so far. How have you seen the progression of AFLW being inside the game?

A With elite training and access to elite facilities, which we have, and the quality of coaching and support staff we have, it is only natural that there will be progression and skills will get better. Plus, the competition for spots on a team and the opportunities we are presented with, that is something that a lot of people want to get a hold of. There is a real competitive nature now. We are the ones that are here in the game and we need to make the most of it. We are lucky to have what we have. Q I have heard you speak about Kat Pender from Centrals Trinity Beach before as an inspiration for your career. Can you tell me a little about her? A She was a superstar at basketball and football. When I look at her now, I think of people like Erin Phillips and athletes like that, those kind of players that are really clever and clean with the ball. She really understood the game and that is in both sports she played. She played for Centrals as well but I met her through basketball and then she eventually got me down to footy. She was probably a role model to me as I was beginning my career. I think of her when I am playing these days because of how fortunate I am to be playing AFLW in the time of my career. If AFLW was going on back then, I am sure Kat Pender (right) would have been one of the stars of the competition. I was fortunate enough to play with Jo Butland, who is in a similar boat there. For myself, I have just managed to keep my body going long enough to be able to play AFLW. We are lucky that the women’s game has gone pro now and we can play it.