Average at both or excel at one?
As an 18-year-old watching the first season of AFLW from the regional NSW town of Albury, I dreamt of a long career as an elite footballer. I was labelled a ‘rare talent’ on the football field and as a result I had prioritised training instead of my senior years of school. Shortly after the 2017 nationals on the Gold Coast, Collingwood came out to meet me in Wangaratta, they were interested in picking me up in the draft, along with a few other AFLW clubs who had reached out to me. I was told it was really only a matter of what pick I would go in the draft, but I couldn’t help but second guess if this was real or just something they tell everyone?
Credit: She Scores
Draft day finally rolled around, the day before my Year 12 exams were due to begin. I was invited to attend the draft and made the journey to Melbourne with my strength and conditioning coach/mentor. It was a surreal feeling walking into the building and seeing all the high profile AFLW players and coaches walking around, I just wanted the draft to start. My hands were sweating and I was so anxious to know if and where I would be going. When my name was finally read out as “Pick 13 to the Collingwood Football Club,” I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders and the hard work had finally paid off. I was officially an AFLW player. This was what every young female footballer dreamed to hear.
Within a whirlwind four weeks I had moved from Albury to Melbourne, with the idea that I would have a long, successful career at one of Australia’s biggest sporting clubs. Unfortunately, it hasn’t turned out exactly as I had expected. Four days prior to moving to Melbourne the excitement I had felt over the past few weeks, quickly turned to confusion and anxiety.
“I was forced to travel back to Albury after training and on my days off to work in my family’s pub to support my dream of playing AFLW. ”
I had no accommodation, despite the promise of it being organised before my arrival. Instead, I ended up having to live with a friend's uncle. Once arriving in Melbourne I also realised I had no job and no support network. I was forced to travel back to Albury after training and on my days off to work in my family’s pub in order to have enough money to be able to live in Melbourne and support my dream of playing AFLW.
Following my first season, I learnt very quickly AFLW wasn’t what I had thought it would be. I knew I wouldn’t be a full time athlete at this stage but I thought AFLW would be my main priority and I would only be required to complete some casual work on the side. I thought we, as athletes would be compensated for the work we put in, but to this day many AFLW athletes continue to work long days and then force themselves to complete “voluntarily” running sessions in the dark, with limited access to club facilities.
I have realised the constant sacrifices players continue to make in order to play AFLW and the growing disappointment felt by many players because of this. After three seasons in the AFLW, it is becoming clear that being a full-time professional athlete, which I so desperately wanted to be, and encouraged to be, is not quite the reality for an AFLW player.
Following the 2019 season, I made the decision to move from Collingwood to Richmond after signing a two-year contract with the club. That same year, the AFLW players signed a three-year AFLW Collective Bargaining Agreement that stated by 2022, players would still only be contracted for 6 months of the year and all training would continue to be from 5PM onwards.
It has forced me to reflect on my life and my long term goals. It cemented the feeling that having a career as a full-time athlete is not going to be my reality and highlighted the need to reevaluate my priorities. My career outside of football, which had taken a back seat since I left school now needed to be my focus. With my peers beginning their careers I knew I needed to concentrate on opportunities outside of football to create a sustainable future.
Fortunately for me, Richmond could see that I was struggling with this dilemma and supported me to find a career pathway outside of football. I was asked to develop a series of off-field goals and the club connected me with Fulton Hogan who have given me opportunities to develop a career within civil construction.
Currently, I am completing my traineeship at Fulton Hogan which has helped me discover my passion for the industry, learn and develop my skills whilst also supporting me in my football aspirations. As time goes on however, it is becoming clear to further progress my career in civil construction, I need to be available to work longer hours and weekends which is not achievable whilst playing AFLW.
“How long should I put my life on hold for a dream with a sporting institution that is yet to implement a clear strategic plan for the long term future of its players?”
This leaves me in a challenging situation - either progress my career in civil construction or continue to play AFLW. I love playing AFLW and don’t want to give it up. I love the connections you make with your teammates and the competitive drive to push each other to be our best. Getting to pull on an AFLW jumper and play the game I love in front of crowds and inspire people is one of the most rewarding things I will achieve in my life.
However, choosing to continue to play AFLW in its current structure comes with a cost to both my personal and financial growth. I can't help but ponder how long should I put my life on hold for a dream with a sporting institution that is yet to implement a clear strategic plan for the long term future of its players?
As a player all I want is to support and encourage young female athletes, but as it stands is the AFLW allowing them to thrive or putting them behind? It is sobering to realise that as a young female in 2021, playing at the most elite level of women’s sport, I am faced with the decision to either prioritise my professional career or my career as an elite athlete. I am limited in my choices; be average at both or excel at one? A decision I never imagined having to make at the age of 21.
