Heidi Kraak
AFLW
Gippsland local and Collingwood AFLW midfielder/forward Holly Whitford is keen to impress crowds at Morwell Recreation Reserve on Sunday when the Pies take on the GWS Giants in round 4.
Drafted as a rookie for Collingwood in 2017, the Sale City veteran’s life is completely different and “probably better in a sense”, as she takes her duty as “role model” seriously.
Whitford is passionate about meeting young footballers “excited to be AFL and AFLW stars” and “make an impact in the community” with words of wisdom to share.
“It’s a bit different with girls – they just need to give it a go,” she said.
“They can get a bit scared, but give it a go, don’t give up – if you want it enough, you’ll get it and you’ll find a way.”
With the marked rise of AFLW in recent years, Whitford said young female footballers now had role models to “kick like” – something which boys had had for a long time, but had been lacking for girls.
“[AFLW] creates a pathway for younger girls that are just starting out, somewhere to go from Auskick all the ay up to a professional league,” she said.
“I would have loved to have been apart of the girls football team [at Sale City] when I was playing [in Sale] – it makes me very happy that they’ve finally got one.”
Whitford said it was “pretty special” to be able to travel home to Gippsland to “play a game at home”.
“I’m from a rural area, I travel all over Australia and not everyone… gets to come back home and play in front of a home crowd, so it is pretty special in that way,” she said.
“[The game] could go either way – we’re feeling pretty good, but both teams are pretty hungry.
“We’ve been reviewing the last few weeks and looking forward to getting down there, having a crack and playing a bit of football.”
The game will be held on Sunday, February 24 at the Morwell Recreation Reserve.
Gates open at 11.30, the curtain raiser will be at noon and the game will start at 2.05pm.
