Nikki to represent North Coast in AFLW Grand Final

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 11: Nikki Wallace of the Lions signs autographs after winning the round six AFL Women's match between the Brisbane Lions and the Western Bulldogs at South Pine Sports Complex on March 11, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Former North Coast athlete Nikki Wallace will play for the Brisbane Lions vs the Adelaide Crows in the inaugural AFL Women (AFLW) Grand Final on Saturday 25th March. It’s not everyday one of our own makes it to a Grand Final of an elite National sporting competition.

Nikki is jumping out of her skin, ready for the biggest moment in her sporting life. “We’re all so excited to have made the Grand Final, we’ve gone through the season undefeated and now just need to reproduce our best form to win the Premiership Cup” Wallace said.

Starting her footy on the North Coast, Nikki played with the Sawtell Toormina Saints and loved her time playing locally.

Just like Nikki, a large number of girls will start their footy careers in the AFL North Coast Junior Competition in 2017. Teams will be entered from the Grafton Tigers, Coffs Harbour Breakers, Macleay Valley Eagles, and Port Macquarie Magpies in the AFL North Coast competition this year with lots of aspiring teenage girls hoping to progress through the grades to be drafted to a club within the AFL Women’s league one day.

Like footy fans all over the country AFL Northern NSW Development Manager Matt Crawley has enjoyed the AFLW inaugural season. “I’ve loved watching the AFLW matches over the last couple of months, the women are so fast and fit and throw everything at the contest” Crawley explained eagerly.

“It’s been fantastic to see women participating who’ve had a background in a variety of different sports. Women with experience in soccer, cricket, basketball, netball, touch football, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, baseball and hockey have all played well throughout the season. It seems that whatever your previous sporting experience the skills are transferable to AFL” Crawley said.

Like many young sportswomen Wallace played a variety of sports growing up but decided to focus on AFL when she didn’t grow as much as she would have liked. “There’s a role for players of all shapes and sizes in AFL, that’s one of the things that makes it a great game”, Wallace said.

The AFLW Grand Final will be played at 2:00pm this Saturday and be broadcast live on 7mate.

The AFL North Coast Youth Girls competition will be a fantastic way for girls aged 13-17 to try a new sport which is one of the fastest growing markets in the country. Girls of all standards from beginners through to experienced players are most welcome and will be supported in their development by experienced coaches.