Morphettville Park trio selected for women’s AFL exhibition match
A TRIO of Morphettville Park footballers have been selected for the final women’s AFL exhibition clash before the national competition starts next year.
MORPHETTVILLE Park captain Courtney Cramey has carried around a football ever since she can remember.
“I grew up in a football family and I was always on the sidelines kicking the footy into a wheelie bin while my dad coached and my brother played at Unley Oval,” Cramey, 30, says.
“I always had a footy in my hand and I wasn’t any different to any other football-loving kid.”
Cramey’s hard work and dedication has led to her playing on the national stage after being selected in Melbourne squad for the 10th and final AFL women’s series exhibition game against Western Bulldogs next month.
She hopes her selection will boost her chances of being picked up by one of the eight clubs in the new AFL women’s competition, which will begin in 2017.
The midfielder will nominate herself in October’s national women’s draft.
“Being selected with Melbourne is really exciting, especially with the national women’s league starting,” Cramey says.
“I’m just hoping to play well in the local league and cement my spot and hopefully get selected by one of the eight clubs.”
Cramey is one of three South Australians selected by Melbourne for the exhibition game.
She will be joined by her Morphettville Park teammates Kellie Gibson and Ebony Marinoff.
Marinoff, 18, booted the winning goal in a match between SA and NSW/ACT earlier this year.
The strong-bodied midfielder will also nominate for the draft.
“Being selected by Melbourne was mind-blowing, especially considering how strong the WA and Victorian girls are,” Marinoff, of Royal Park, says.
“I’ve been playing football since I was five years old.
“Back in the day, our dreams of playing AFL were crushed because there was no women’s league, so it’s great we have a pathway to a national league now.”
Gibson, who was last week announced as one of the Adelaide’s two marquee signings for the inaugural women’s AFL campaign, began playing with Morphettville Park after moving to SA from WA earlier this year.
The 20-year-old forward/midfielder says flying the flag for her local club is a “massive honour”.
“Any AFL jumper I wear it with pride and I’m just happy to be out there and around the elite level helping to showcase what we have to offer,” Gibson says.
“It’s really nice to have Courtney and young Eb out there with me.”
Morphettville Park coach Rick Watts is proud of the girls’ achievements.
“They are fantastic role models, not only within the club, but for female footballers in South Australia,” Watts says.
The Melbourne v Western Bulldogs exhibition match is at Whitten Oval, Melbourne, on Saturday, September 3, at 7.20pm.