When Kendra Heil was introduced to Australian Rules Football a few years ago, she instantly fell in love with it.
Challenge makes the Simcoe native thrive. It motivates her to compete at her highest level.
And there's no higher level in the sport than the Australian Football League's 2014 International Cup. As a member of the Canada Northern Lights team, Heil got a taste of gold on Aug. 23 when Canada defeated Ireland in the Grand Final with a 5.8 to 2.0 (38-12) to claim the International Cup Women's Championship.
In an exhausting battle at the Punt Road Oval in Melbourne, Australia, Canada assumed control slowly and kicked the lone goal of the opening half and running away in the second to avenge a loss suffered at the hands of Ireland just three years prior.
Heil was a standout at the Grand Final, contributing two goals which proved to be crucial in the match.
“My goal in the first half felt pivotal for the game; until then it was a hard slog with no reward,” Heil said during an e-mail interview from Australia after the game.”We were working well as a team but unfortunately it didn't show on the scoreboard until the second half.
“Personally, I was pleased as it twas a long kick and I had been working hard on it over the past year. It was definitely a turning point as it gave us momentum into the second half.”
Twenty five teams from 18 countries competed in 62 matches over a 15-day period during the AFL International Cup, which took place Aug. 9-23 Canada competed against the likes of United States of America, Fiji and Tonga before facing Ireland in the finals.
Heil said competing at the Grand Final was a nerve wracking experience. Ireland had won the previous International Cup and were the odds on favourites to capture the title again.
“It was hard to get a test of their metal during the round-robin as they (Ireland) had an easy job being first seat, so we really didn't know what we were up against,” Heil said. “I played in the VWFL (Victorian Women's Football League) against their star player, Laura Corrigan, so I knew they had experience.
So what was going through my mind was mostly just nerves — I was hoping I would play my best and I was hoping for a win. I was also excited to play on that particular oval - Punt Road, home of the Richmond Tigers. That might not mean much to Canadians who don't know the sport but it's a beautiful ground that the best players play and train on.”
Winning the women's title was fitting of an epic celebration. The traditional celebration ritual for Australian Rules Football is to sing the team song in a big circle with the fans crowding around.
Not only did the Canada Northern Lights do that, they also sang the song again in the change room with Champagne spraying.
“I think we sang our song five or six times that night between the bus ride to the hotel and at a party held at a local bar,” Heil said. “We had the trophy with us as well that we each took turns drinking out of it.”
After winning the International Cup, what's next for Heil? The Simcoe native has the 2017 International Cup in her sights, but before that there are two Parallel Cups against the United States and local leagues to compete in.
Heil said she's also love to have another crack at the women's AFL draft. She was nominated last year but didn't make the cut due to her inexperience — Heil has three years under her belt.
“Some women have played for over 20 years compared to my three,” Heil said. “So I'd love to give that another go. But that would mean an extended stay in Australia. So it'll be one or the other.”
If Heil decides to stay in Australia to compete, she'll play alongside the Eastern Devils Football Club. Should she return to Canada, she'll be part of the Hamilton Wildcats.”
Eddie Chau
519-426-3528 ext. 134
eddie.chau@sunmedia.ca
twitter.com/eddiereformer
Source:
http://www.simcoereformer.ca/2014/08/28/heils-golden-rule
Last Modified on 22/07/2015 04:17