Sturt’s Zoe Prowse is the SANFLW round four Player of the Week
A Sturt ruck – with 20 hit-outs and 10 clearances – has been named round four’s Player of the Week. It could be the last women’s football played for some time due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- SANFL women’s season postponed, under-16s cancelled
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
As Sturt rising star Zoe Prowse hurriedly got her temperature checked before running on to the oval last Friday night she had no idea how much things would change as the country grappled with the coronavirus pandemic.
Nor did she know the clash against Central District at Elizabeth would be her last SANFLW game with the Double Blues until at least the end of May.
Watch every match of the 2020 NAB AFLW Season LIVE & On-Demand on KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
But the 16-year-old sure did play like it was her final game, amassing 23 possessions, 20 hit-outs, 10 clearances, four marks, two inside-50s and kicking a goal.
Prowse’s performance helped Sturt claim a 4.2 (26) to 2.3 (15) victory over the Bulldogs.
It also led to the ruck being named The Advertiser/SANFLW Player of the Week for round four.
“It was a very weird feeling (pre-game),” Prowse, of Oakbank, said.
“We walked into the changerooms and had to get our temperature checked straight away.
“The whole vibe was different, everyone was confused and didn’t know what was going on.
“It was just so different but it was good to come out with the win.”
At 177cm Prowse plays in the ruck and has lined up in all four of Sturt’s matches this season, averaging 13.8 disposals, 12.5 hit-outs, 10.5 kicks and 1.8 tackles.
But the Mercedes College Year 11’s football career almost never kicked off.
She has two West Adelaide SANFL premiership stars — Logan Hill and Daniel Caire — who also happen to be her school teachers to thank for giving her the nudge she needed.
“I started playing footy in Year 8 and I originally wasn’t going to really play,” she said.
“But they got me out and it kind of all started from there.
“They have always been so supportive and always trying to push me to get the best I can out of it.
“Before the game (against Central) they were hyping me up and trying to make sure I didn’t let all the fuss about coronavirus get in the way.”
Prowse was almost halfway through her second campaign with Sturt before the league made the decision to postpone the season until at least May 31 in a bid to stop the coronavirus spread.
The youngster hopes to continue playing if and when the season restarts.