Former North Coast athlete Nikki Wallace will represent the Brisbane Lions in the inaugural AFL Women's grand final against the Adelaide Crows this Saturday March 25.
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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, Maleah Holten started her footy career in the AFL North Coast junior competition.
In Maleah’s case, she started with the Macleay Valley Eagles, a club she proudly continues to represent to this day. Maleah is hoping to follow in Nikki’s footsteps by progressing through the grades to be drafted to a club within the AFL Women’s league one day, having already represented NSW/ACT at the Kickstart under 15 National Championships last season.
The next step for Maleah will be playing for the Macleay Valley Eagles in the AFL North Coast Youth Girls competition which will run for the first time in 2017.
“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, I can’t wait to pull the boots on this year” Holten explained.
“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, 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” Holten 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 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 will participate in the Macleay Valley Eagles team and will be supported in their development by experienced coaches.
The AFLW Grand Final will be broadcast live on 7mate.
