By Tara Murray
A permanent move to the backline has paid off for Calder Cannons’ Felicity Theodore.
After an up and down start to the NAB League season, Theodore was moved to the backline, where she has felt right at home.
“I started the year off roughly,” she said.
“I had played a couple of games in the backline in my first year with the Cannons and then moved to forward and in the middle.
“I find the backline easier … everything just clicked.”
It was in the backline that Theodore proved to be a key plank in the Cannons run to the NAB League grand final.
“It was such an exciting experience for the younger girls [playing in the grand final],” she said.
“It was an opportunity to play a few more games together.”
The grand final signalled the end of four years at the Cannons for Theodore.
She said it was bittersweet to finish her time there.
“I was with them when it was a youth girls academy,” she said.
“When I first started, the talent was nuts and it has grown and grown. It’s more professional.”
Theodore, who also plays for the Sunbury Lions, has earned a spot in the initial Vic Metro squad for the under-18s championships.
She said she was already seeing the difference in skill level being with the best Vic Metro players.
“The training has stepped up.
“The intensity is a lot quicker and I’m already feeling myself improve.”
Theodore said it would be an amazing experience to make the final squad, which will be announced next week.
With her Cannons time over, Theodore is training with the Essendon VFLW side.
She had her first proper training session with the side last week.
“They definitely have bigger bodies and are so much smarter, I can’t wait.
“I’ll see what happens and I’ll really push myself.”
Football wasn’t always Theodore’s number one sport, having come from a basketball family.
It was actually a basketball teammate, Carlton young gun Madison Prespakis, who suggested that Theodore try football.
“Maddy used to play with me and she said I should come across to football for one session.
“Mum didn’t like it at first. I did one session and I loved it, football is a better sport for me.”
Theodore looks up to Prespakis on the football field.
“She is amazing and playing with her was just inspiring. You never knew what she could do.”
Theodore said it would be awesome to join Prespakis in the AFLW next year.
“I’m looking forward to improving my game and that would be amazing if it was to happen.”
MORE NAB LEAGUE NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/hard-work-pays-off-for-alana-barba/
