Last month Nick Budicin spoke with new Carlton marquee player Darcy Vescio about her football journey so far.
Darcy Vescio was always going to be successful. Those years spent trying to out-kick, mark and handball her older brother fostered a love for Australian Rules Football that still burns to this day.
And now, from those humble beginnings kicking the footy in the backyard, to running out onto Etihad Stadium with the Western Bulldogs, Vescio’s attitude – along with her desire to achieve – have paved the way for her footballing career to take off.
“From what I remember, I was very competitive growing up with them,” Vescio said of the sibling rivalry.
“I used to play tennis as well, so I love Serena Williams. Her power, and the fact that she just doesn’t care what people say about her. She’s just so dominant, and gets on with it,” Vescio said.
Vescio has adapted that powerful and dominant attitude into her own game. As a forward with the Darebin Falcons she has become one of many trailblazing players in the 2016 Swisse VFL Women’s league; Vescio has booted 30 goals from 13 games to see her sitting fifth in the VFL Women’s goal kicking.
The looming arrival of the new national competition – the AFL women’s league – coupled with the burgeoning interest in women’s football as a whole, has sparked excitement within the 22-year-old at the prospect of a career as a professional footballer.
“It’s never been something I’ve been able to consider. So now that the opportunity is going to develop over the next couple of years, I’m in a good position and a good age bracket to seriously consider it.
“I want to take the opportunity with both hands and see how it goes,” she said.
Vescio, who was named as one of the AFL Multicultural Player Ambassadors in early 2016, is of Chinese-Italian heritage, something that was never a problem when choosing to play Aussie rules football as a child.
“Well, my dad played footy, so he loves footy, he’s a big Saints supporter.
“Mum’s…not very sporty at all, but they were always supportive of whatever we wanted to do, and so I was lucky in that regard.
“My older brother started playing Auskick and my parents didn’t have any concerns with me just following on from him,“ she said.
Vescio’s selection as an ambassador for athletes from culturally diverse backgrounds, along with Melbourne’s Sabrina Frederick-Traub, shows a real commitment by the AFL to become a leader amongst national sporting organisations in growing women’s sport in Australia.
“The step the AFL has taken in including women in these areas, that could’ve come a few years from now, after the league has developed…it shows that they care about that and they see it as an area of importance.
“I feel like I’m in a really privileged position to be able to…hopefully bring about some change,“ she said.
Australia’s first look at the AFL women’s competition is likely to be in the form of an eight-week season in early 2017, allowing for the VFL women’s competition to continue as normal, which Vescio says is vital to continue to build the momentum of the leagues.
“It doesn’t destroy local footy. That’s really important…the people who are working at the AFL that have put together the league, they’re considering everything, so I feel like we’re in good hands,“ she said.
Darcy Vescio is just at the beginning of what is sure to be a successful footy career, and whether it’s for the Darebin Falcons or the Western Bulldogs, the future of women’s football is in good hands.
Photo: Cameron Grimes
Last Modified on 27/07/2016 12:29