Words: Garry McKenzie
Image supplied by Palm Beach SC

PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland Women Finals are just the start of a hectic few months for Palm Beach SC Women's Rosie Malone as she prepares for international fixtures in both football and hockey.

Malone is set to travel to Argentina for a competitive tour in October with the Australian Under 21 Hockey team, before returning to play football for the Queensland Girls team at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide in November.

Malone will participate at the Pacific School Games two years after declining a call-up to the Australian FIFA Under 17 World Cup football team and a place in the Queensland Academy of Sport Women’s football program in order to continue to compete in school sports and hockey.

“I know football wants that 100% commitment if I want to go down the higher representative route, but right now I’m just not ready to stop doing all my other sports,” Malone said.

“I’m in the QAS for hockey, and they are okay about me playing football with Sharks so it’s still keeping all my dreams alive.”

Malone credits Palm Beach SC Senior Women's coach Gary French for keeping her love of football alive while supporting her hockey ambitions.

Malone first met French as a bored 11 year old watching from the sidelines at her brother’s football trial.

Her concerned mother approached French who agreed Malone could join in his Under 13 girl’s trials for a kick, though warned she would be too young for selection.

However French saw enough in Malone by the end of the session to invite her back the next week.  

Malone was soon picked for the Queensland Under 13 team before being named in the FFA Under 13 team for the 2010 AFC Youth Tournament in Vietnam.

Malone also gained a rising profile in hockey, embarking on an Australian Under 16 Schoolgirls tour of South Africa in 2013.

The Gold Coast teen’s recent selection to the Australian Under 21 hockey team at only 17 has allowed her to dream of playing for the Hockeyroos at a home Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Meanwhile Brisbane Roar and QAS Women’s football coach Belinda Wilson has continued to keep tabs on Malone.

“We know about Rosie and have been keeping an eye on her over the years,” Wilson said.

“She is a talented athlete who has many opportunities ahead of her.”

Malone knows she cannot commit to both sports long term, citing Ellyse Perry’s recent difficulties balancing football and cricket.

“Ellyse Perry is so lucky she managed to find a way to play both, but maybe things weren’t as strict when she was my age about not playing other sports,” Malone said.

“Of course I’d love to play for the Matildas one day, but at the same time I feel like I’d love playing for the Hockeyroos too.”

Malone is currently dreaming of a possible PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women Grand Final appearance should Palm Beach Women overcome Sunshine Coast Women  this Sunday at Mallawa Complex.

Malone has scored one goal in nine appearances for Palm Beach in a season interrupted by representative school sports and an ankle injury.

“The whole team is so supportive and understanding about my other commitments and never make me feel bad about missing training,” Malone said.

“I feel so grateful to be counted as part of the team," she concluded.

PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women's Qualifying Final

Palm Beach SC Women v Sunshine Coast FC Women
Mallawa Complex, Gold Coast
Sunday, September 6
Kick-off at 4:00PM