Morphettville Park meets West Adelaide in SA Women’s Football League grand final
UNLIKE her path to glory in SA’s most prestigious footrace, former sprinter Lauren Buchanan’s road to the SA Women’s Football League grand final has been in anything but a straight line.
UNLIKE her path to glory in SA’s most prestigious footrace two years ago, former sprinter Lauren Buchanan’s road to women’s football has been in anything but a straight line.
The 32-year-old swapped her spikes for football boots this year and will line-up for Morphettville Park against West Adelaide in this Saturday SA Women’s Football League grand final at Thebarton Oval (2.30pm).
But playing competitive football had always been a goal of Buchanan’s, she just had to do a bit of running around first to get there.
“I won the Bay Sheffield in 2014, but I have always been into footy,” Buchanan, of Sheidow Park, says.
“When I was younger, there wasn’t really any opportunity to play football.
“I went to a talent search event in February and they did a lot of testing.
“I did well, so I searched for a club and Morphettville Park was close to me and I knew a few people there so that was the club I chose.
“Athletics is very individual, even though you have a club, it’s all about you and your performance.
“It’s been a nice change for me to be part of a team and not have so much pressure on yourself.”
The winger hopes to help Morphettville Park, which is captained by one of the Adelaide Crows AFL women’s team marquee players, Courtney Cramey, claim its third premiership in a row.
Buchanan spent her childhood dreaming of playing in a football grand final after watching her older brothers, Cameron and Nathan, take to the field in deciders.
“I always had a footy in my hand and was constantly kicking with my brothers,” she says. “I played (Australian rules football) in primary school, but nothing else after that until playing for Morphettville Park.
“I watched my brothers play in plenty of grand finals, though, and I always thought I’d love to be part of that some day.”
Buchanan is excited for next year’s inaugural Women’s Australian Football League and plans to nominate for October’s national women’s draft, but concedes her age may work against her.
“For me to get a premiership in my first year would be amazing, it would really be the icing on the cake,” Buchanan says.
“We have worked so hard this season to put our structures and work together as a solid team and that's why we have played so well.”