Author: Eliza Bain
Transcript:
You said, “I got told,” I think, and correct me if I’ve got this wrong- Yeah … line wrong. I got, yeah. You got told that you probably wouldn’t have the chance to play footy like this. Yeah. And now you do. Yeah. So tell me what you mean by that. Yeah. ‘Cause, like, how cool. Yeah, yeah. So how long, let’s start from the start.
Tell me about the start of this year. We’ve started, well, last year She Can Play, wasn’t it? Yeah, last year, yeah. Wow, tell me about how that started. How’d you hear about it? I heard about it through my club, and then I thought it was such a good opportunity because, like, I wanted to learn about how to be, like, how to be included more in football and, like, having girls, being in with the girls made it feel more inclusive and like we could all play with the girls as well.
Yeah. And then before that, you were playing footy at a different club? I was playing for Kelmscott in mixed integrated. That’s right. And have you found that you have enjoyed it a bit more playing with- Yeah … females only? I love it. Yeah. Aw. I love… Yeah. What do you love about it? I just love the inclusiveness and, like, making sure other girls have a chance at footy that, like, they would, they would never think that they could play footy, ’cause I feel like growing up, I got told because of my, um, ongoing, with my physical disability, that I would never be able to be- 100%.
Yeah. And then what is your physical disability? It’s cerebral palsy. Yeah. But it’s gone, it’s getting, like, it’ll never get cured, but it’s, like, it’s getting, like, it’s stronger, like, my legs, like, with physiotherapy- Yeah … and stuff, my legs are getting stronger. Yeah. And, yeah. Do you know how much of an inspiration you are?
Because we stood there- Yeah … at Grand Final day, Sue and I, and you said your speech. Mm. And everything you said, I was like, oh my God, you’re so empowering. And- Yeah … you sometimes have to remind yourself that other females living with a disability might be watching you and thinking- Yeah … hey, because did you ever have a time when you thought, “I’m not gonna be able to play- Yeah
sport with others?” Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then people will be watching you going, “Oh my God, now I know I can do that.” Yeah, yeah. Tell me what your favorite part about this state program has been, ’cause this is the first time ever. Probably just, um, enjoying playing with the girls and, like, um, learning new skills as well and getting to know people as well and, like- Yeah
enjoying being around people as well. Do you think, um, your actual, like, footy skills themselves have really developed over the last two years? Yeah. I feel like, yeah, they’ve definitely devel- um, developed a lot the last two years. Yeah. Yeah. 100%, and how cool. And then what’s, ’cause you seem like someone that really enjoys lifting other people up.
Yeah. You’re a really positive person. Yeah. I notice really, that really shines through with you. Yeah. Why do you like lifting other people up so much and being so positive all the time? Because I wanna show people that they can do anything and that they’re, I just feel like giving them encouragement will g- g- get them to become, like, become, like they believe in themselves a bit more and they can have pr- full potential to become football- Yeah
players as well, and- Yeah. And that, like, sort of leans into why you’re such a good leader too. Yeah. Why do you think you’re such a good leader? Um, because I include everyone, and I know people’s strengths and weak- weaknesses, and I make sure, like, I know there’s always a way on the field if, like, someone’s struggling, I, if they’re struggling, I always wanna make sure people are okay and- Yeah 100%.
And if you had a message to any other, let’s do female, any other female that was watching this that was a bit on the brink of like, “Ooh, I don’t know if I wanna try footy,” ’cause it’s, it is contact-y- Yeah … and people get scared. Yeah. Even I get scared. Um, what would be your piece of advice? I would say that come and play footy.
There is always a way you can play footy. Like for instance, um, in um, the girls integrated this year we played AFL nine, so there’s no tackling. So there’s always gonna be a way that you can play footy and like all abilities always will find a way for you can feel safe in the welcoming environment as well.
Yeah. Amazing. Oh, well, thank you, Lizzie. It’s actually-
