By Alex Karavas
While many footballers have their eyes firmly set on September, two WRFL junior products had their eyes set on July 22 when the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne Football Clubs announced its selections for the AFL Women’s Mini Draft.
To their delight, former Port Colts junior player Brianna Davey and St.Albans youth girl Brittany Bonnici’s lives changed forever, when their names were called out for picks #1 and #2.
Hanging up the boots in 2006 after playing 61 games for the Colts as a junior, 20-year-old Brianna Davey has returned to Aussie Rules after missing out on the Matilda’s final squad in the SoccerWorld Cup last month.
Despite the omission, the eight-time Australian international keeper and Melbourne Victory’s number one is excited for the new opportunities she has on the horizon with the Western Bulldogs.
“It was disappointing to miss out on going to Canada, but at the same time picking up the footy again has been really good for me in terms of doing something different,” Davey said.
Standing in Davey’s way of victory with the Bulldogs is fellow St.Kilda Shark teammate Brittany Bonnici who went to Melbourne at pick number two.
Chalking up 121 games and taking home the 2013 WRFL Youth Girls Best and Fairest while she was at the St Albans Football Club, Bonnici said being selected was a dream come true.
“It hasn’t sunk it to be completely honest. It’s so surreal until someone brings it up.”
A keen Port Adelaide supporter due to them wearing her favourite colours, Bonnici has always been around footy, watching her dad run around the field on those cold, wintery Saturdays.
“I got involved in Auskick when I was little and when I was old enough I started playing with the boys myself,” she said.
“I started playing in Under 11’s and it was a bit hard sometimes being a girl as I was constantly questioned on field as to why I’m a girl playing football, but eventually after I played for a few yearsI felt like I gained a bit of respect.”
In the lead up to the Women’s match played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 16, Bonnici hopes that the wider football community can come along and show their support.
“Unless you barrack for Melbourne or the Bulldogs, you probably wouldn’t know much about this game, so the more publicity we can get the better.
“Eventually I would love to see all AFL clubs have a women’s football team associated with it, so more girls have the same opportunity as I have been lucky to receive.”
See the girls in action on Sunday August 16 when the pair will go head-to-head in the curtain raiser before the AFL’s Round 20 clash between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
Follow me on Twitter @Alex_Karra
Last Modified on 30/07/2015 16:31