GEORGIA Garnett went from her first game of footy to representing New South Wales in the space of a handful of matches.
The Sydney local, now a member of the NAB AFLW Academy who recently tested at the NAB AFLW Draft Combine, was a little bemused when asked to look back at her footy journey.
“This is my third year playing for NSW/ACT. The first year was probably one of my first couple of games, I didn’t realise how big that is until looking back now,” Garnett told womens.afl .
“My PE teacher (at Castle Hill High, in the city’s north-west) told me to trial for a school under-15s team. I’d never played before, I gave it a crack and got in. I didn’t know the rules or how to play, so I joined a club, which was Kellyville Magpies and it kicked off from there.
“I didn’t play much in the first season because I was playing soccer, but I played one or two games just so I knew the rules for school championships.”
Having previously played soccer, touch football and Oztag, defender Garnett found her niche in Australian rules football.
The aspect all three have in common? A lot of running.
“[My preferred position is] probably centre half-back or the wing, I love to run. Anywhere with a bit of grass, I like to play,” Garnett said.
“I loved watching Sally Pearson run in hurdles, every time the Commonwealth or Olympic Games were on, our family would be watching. I love watching Usain Bolt. I wouldn’t have an exact sporting hero, but anyone who does what they do and train hard, I love to watch.”
The grounded Garnett is realistic about the challenges of AFLW.
“It’d be nice to be on an AFLW list, but I know that doesn’t happen to everyone. If it doesn’t happen now, I’d really like to work towards it in a couple of years,” she said.
“Obviously getting drafted is one thing, but playing a game is another, so if [being drafted] was to happen, there’s still steps to go after that. It’d be very nice, but you still have to work hard.
“I’ve had a bit to do with the Giants so far. Over summer I trained with them every Saturday, that was part of the Academy. Through this winter, I’ve been part of the VFLW program with them, training every Monday and Wednesday and I played a game down in Melbourne (against Richmond).”
When asked about her pre-match routine and emotions, Garnett was very definite about one thing: Pitbull is on her playlist.
“It’s good hype,” she said with a laugh.
“I’m not really a nervous person, I just go with the flow. I like to get everyone pumped up [though].
“If I’m pumped up, I know I’ll have a good game. I don’t think the nerves get to me much, which I’m happy about.”
Away from footy, Garnett is completing year 12 – studying English, PE, legal studies, hospitality and community and family studies – with an eye on potentially teaching PE herself.
“[I don’t want] an office job, I couldn’t sit down all day. I get so bored so easily,” she said.
“I love the beach, so any time I get, I go. I like to think I can surf, but anything to do with the water, really. In summer, I find it so therapeutic.
“In winter, I’ll chuck the footy on when the Swans and Giants are playing, but not too much, you don’t want footy overload.”
