Ex-Australian ice hockey player to feature with inaugural Woodville-West Torrens SANFLW team

A former Australian ice hockey player is swapping her skates and stick for football boots.

Former Australian ice hockey player Tash Farrier will line up with Woodville-West Torrens in its inaugural SANFLW campaign next year. Picture: Tom Huntley

TASH Farrier is swapping her skates and hockey stick for football boots as she prepares to lace up for the Woodville-West Torrens inaugural state league women’s team next year.

The former Australian ice hockey player joins other code-hoppers, like ex-Australian and state basketballer Jo Hill, looking to cash in on the growth of women’s football.

Farrier, 28, first made an Australian ice hockey team when she was 15 and was part of the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation world championship winning team.

But she quit the national side in 2015.

Farrier then took up football two years ago and featured with North Haven in the Adelaide Footy League women’s division five, before moving to the now-defunct Port Adelaide to play in the top tier this year.

Former Australian ice hockey player Tash Farrier will line up with Woodville-West Torrens in its inaugural SANFLW campaign next year. Picture: Tom Huntley

“I initially just wanted to go have a bit of a run around and a kick,” Farrier, of Morphett Vale, says.

“I’m so used to having a hockey stick in my hand (and) getting used to marking and kicking a ball took me a while.

“But I am enjoying the challenge.

“It’s an exciting time with lots of girls playing, and AFLW is growing.”

The SANFL announced in July Central District and Woodville-West Torrens would join the women’s state league in 2019, bringing the competition to eight teams.

Farrier, who plays mostly on-ball, says the Eagles’ new team is coming together well and she is keen for the new SANFLW season, which is set to kick off in February.

New Woodville-West Torrens recruit Tash Farrier is excited to play under Tess Baxter (pictured) who will coach the Eagles in their inaugural SANFLW campaign next year.
Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens

“We’ve got a good set up with Tess (Baxter) as coach and she’s really highly regarded,” Farrier says.

“It is a little bit of an unknown, but there’s a lot of excitement for us being one of the new teams.

“It’s a clean slate and we get to build or own team culture from scratch.

“We are ready for the development journey and we are ready to make a start together.”

But Farrier has not thrown away her skates completely and will represent Australia in inline hockey at the World Roller Games in Barcelona in July.