Words Trevor Jackson Interview Jason Wallace
AFTER the perfect start to the women’s AFL competition last year, the Adelaide Crows recruited well to ensure a chance at further success in 2018.
Premiership players from the Limestone Coast Sarah Allan and Jenna McCormick remained on the list, while Allan’s sister Jess was also recruited.
The Allan sisters hail from Beachport originally, later calling Millicent home, while McCormick was born and bred in Mount Gambier, before moving to Adelaide to finish her secondary school.
The three add interest to the AFLW competition for fans in the region, with the chance of back-to-back premierships a reality.
The Allan’s played junior football for Hatherleigh, enjoying their time with the club.
“Jess and I both played there,” Sarah recalled.
“We would play a game of footy then go over and play netball.”
Back then women’s football was not on the radar in the region, but all that has changed, with a fully-fledged women’s competition now up and running.
“Hopefully now there is a pathway, more girls will play football,” Sarah said.
“I know a lot of people who are now playing in Mount Gambier in the women’s comp who would never have thought of playing.”
Sarah’s attraction to football dates back to her early years, where family photographs reveal a love for the game.
“I think I always had a footy in my hand because of dad,” she said.
“There are pictures of me as a toddler holding a footy in a footy guernsey.
“We were watching home videos and I went as a footballer to a school disco when I was about five.
“Back then you never would have thought then there was a possibility of being a footballer, but mum and dad never told me it was not possible.”
Sarah said her first season with the Crows was an amazing experience and to have her sister on board this year took it to a new level.
She said Jess had certainly proved her worth to the coaching staff at the Crows, despite the family connection.
“We probably did not even think about being on the same team because you do not really think you are going to make it, let alone have your sister in the team as well,” she said.
“It is exciting.
“Jess was the number one draft pick this year and I think she proved the point herself.
“She put herself in the best position to get picked.”
Sarah said she hopes to continue her football career as long as possible.
For Jess, the new season brings a whole new focus, despite her time playing the game back in Hatherleigh.
“It is pretty different,” she said.
“I have played footy my whole life, but it is different to go to training almost every night and when the season starts, to play every weekend, flying around the country and travelling.
“It is completely different to anything I am used to.”
The work load has picked up, with a month of pre-season training before Christmas, but even with a couple of weeks back at home, Jess said she was able to keep up her fitness level.
“Back home in Millicent I still had to train every couple of days and stick to our program,” she said.
“To have Sarah there was pretty handy.
“Once we were home we could not train with any of the other girls, but with gym and running, we could do it all together.”
A trial game against Fremantle in Darwin was Jess’s first taste of the competition, with the season to kick off with a grand final re-match against Brisbane.
“My first official game will be against Brisbane,” she said.
“About six girls will not get picked each week, so I still have to make the team, but hopefully I will get selected.
“It would be a pretty cool game to play.”
While Jess has finally made the AFLW list, it was not always going to be the case, with her ability on the basketball court also impressive.
“When I was younger I was more keen on basketball because there was more of a career path,” she said.
“Even Sarah used to say I was better at basketball and should stick to that, but this year with Glenelg in the SANFL I had a good year, then through to State and luckily got to play with Bec (Goddard) as the coach, which is how I got noticed.
“I ended up here which has been pretty surreal.
“I’m happy I went with footy rather than basketball.”
Meanwhile McCormick is still caught up in a soccer season with Adelaide United, but after tasting success last season with the Crows, is keen to pull the Australian Rules boots on again.
“It was very nice to win the premiership, a good way to end the year,” she said.
“Doing all the firsts in the first year was good – there will never be another first champions, so it made it extra special.”
After moving from Tenison Woods College to finish her schooling in Adeliade, McCormick began to play Australian Rules, along with her beloved soccer.
“I did not play football in the South East, because there was no pathway or any teams when I was growing up there,” she said.
“I played my first club games when I moved up to Adelaide.
“It is really awesome that its growing and exciting to see so many girls are doing it and wanting to play.
“Last year it was good to see the South East league with everyone getting out and giving it a crack.
“I would love to go down and watch a game.”
McCormick will have little time to make the change from the round ball to the Sherrin, but is looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m full time soccer and full time footy – I try to be anyway,” she said.
“We are in season at the moment with Adelaide United and have a couple of games left.
“Our last game actually falls the day before the first AFL game.”
