With two weeks to go until the Darling Downs debut as a standalone team in the AFL Queensland Youth Girls Under-17 State Championships at Yeronga, we start our series of player profiles.
Amelia “Mill” Cooke
Despite having only taken up Australian football this year Coolaroo key position player Amelia “Mill” Cooke has already made a big impression, playing nine games for the Roos, including the Blackchrome Cup Preliminary Final.
A talented soccer player, Mill’s transition to AFL has been seamless, in part due to the relationships she’s developed with her teammates.
"As cliché as it sounds, I've really loved getting to know and be a part of such a great group of girls," said Cooke.
"I never would have pictured myself coming this far in AFL, and to be able to say I'm a part of this team makes me so proud."
When it comes to the Championships, Cooke has two goals.
"I would really like to win. What a statement that would make,” she said.
“But more importantly, I want to enjoy myself, have a great time with a great bunch of girls, and play some footy. Put all our hard work over the past few months into action and prove to people that girls can be just as good as guys.”
Cooke, who is quite heavily involved in soccer programs throughout the region, said she was impressed with how the AFL representative program is run.
"For me, this program has been pretty unique compared to others," she said.
"The organisation and how its run is heaps different to other sports I'm involved in, like soccer.
"For soccer, we have to do pretty much everything ourselves, especially at the state championships. This is organised and it actually feels like there is time and effort being put into the program for us, and it feels like people actually care if we go on and continue developing as footballers.
Cooke said she is also surprised by the commitment of the coaching staff
"I haven't had the experience of having 5 coaches who are willing to get in and do some work and actually involve themselves with the team,” she said.
"Our team dinner was great, getting to know them personally and hear about their lives outside of AFL, it's great to see the relationships forming between coaches and players," the full forward and number 17 Amelia Cooke said.
Cooke said she draws her inspiration from Mia Hamm, a professional soccer player based in America, and her best friend Ryan.
"Mia Hamm, I first heard of her when I was 7 or 8 and I watched her play and she scored a hat trick and that made me fell in love with soccer," she said.
"She played in America and scored 158 goals in her professional career, that's more than any other player, male or female and that's pretty fantastic.
"She's in a truckload of hall of fames and she accomplished so much just through pure hard work and dedication to something she loved."
"My hero is one of my best friends Ryan, who I met in grade 9.
"He has experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows but through adversity he succeeded, he stayed positive though sacrificed a-lot to reach his dream.
"From going to playing soccer in Germany in the Bundesliga League to coming home and facing the toughest of times with family and friends, Ryan pushed through and was able to sign a contract with an elite soccer team here in Australia.
"I'm so proud of him and I wish I could be as resilient and strong willed as him, I'm proud to be his friend and I really admire him.”
Cooke further showed her credentials at Monday's training session, voted by her peers as one of the five person Darling Downs Youth Girls leadership group.
PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Amelia Cooke
Jersey Number: 17
Club: Coolaroo AFC
Career Games: 9
Position: Forward/Ruck
Additional: One of five members of the leadership group.
Last Modified on 04/11/2014 11:58
