When Cecilia McIntosh takes the field in Sunday's AFL Women’s Exhibition Match at the MCG, it will add another chapter to an amazing sporting career, writes Bess Keaney.
When the 35-year old Melbourne recruit runs out onto Etihad Stadium later this year in the second of two AFL women’s exhibition matches, it will be on familiar turf. Just a few drop punts from the Docklands stadium is the warehouse where she spent months training in a rickety bobsled for the Sochi Winter Olympics.
But when she makes her AFL debut this Sunday in front of an MCG crowd, she’ll be relying on instinct.
That shouldn’t prove too hard either: the memory of the Commonwealth Games podium where she won javelin silver still fresh in her mind.
Despite her incredible list of achievements, running out in the Melbourne guernsey for the first time will mean the world to McIntosh.
“It rates up there with the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics,” McIntosh said of her AFL selection.
“But this was by far the hardest one to achieve.”
That’s a big statement from the athlete who was forced through injury to miss the 2004 Athens Olympics, despite having already qualified.
Add to that the disappointment on realising that her dream of back-to-back Winter Olympics would have to give, after the 2010 bobsled season alone cost her $20,000.
Not that her football career has been smooth sailing either. Since pulling on the boots for Melbourne University in 2006 she’s battled shoulder, back, knee and hamstring injuries.
The turbulence of the last few seasons has been such that McIntosh was unsure of her selection chances. “To hear my name called out, I don’t know if it was the relief, or the excitement or what. I was just happy.”
McIntosh’s AFL success comes as no surprise to her former throwing coach, Gus Puopolo, of Ringwood Athletics Club.
“She works really, really hard,” he said.
“Whatever she does she does with passion, with 100% effort.” Melbourne University Football Coach Andrew Jago agrees.
“She’s single-minded and purpose driven… and very physical.”
Hearing it in McIntosh’s own words, the dedication makes sense.
“People find what job they like to do, the thing that gets them through. I love competing.”
Depressed after game day, McIntosh waits the whole week to get back out there and do it all again. “It’s such a high for me,” she says. “It’s the adrenaline.”
Not known as one to go soft, McIntosh has some concerns for this Sunday’s clash, which will pit her against a Bulldogs side comprising current Melbourne University teammates.
“I hope that I don’t hurt one of them,” she joked.
“I don’t want to hurt our chances for the season. But I won’t be holding back either.
“It’s not game on until we cross that line on the day."
At 35 years old, McIntosh is showing no signs of slowing down.
“With the draft, the possible state selection, the way our team is playing: I’m not going anywhere. I don’t want to give up.”
Luckily for her, while sport seems to come naturally, giving up doesn’t.
Last Modified on 19/05/2015 15:46