‘It’s been difficult’: AFLW star Sophie Alexander’s juggle playing footy with paramedic career

For Essendon player Sophie Alexander, the sound of a siren means different things depending on the time and place.

As a young girl, Sophie Alexander’s nickname was Bomber and she would sleep with her footy tucked under one arm and her teddy in the other.

She dreamt of playing footy and would often be found in the backyard in Horsham, in regional Victoria, kicking the ball around.

As well as her fanatic love of footy, Alexander was also curious about medicine and helping people as she watched her mum Mandy work as a midwife.

Now, the 29-year-old is following her two passions: playing football at Essendon and helping others as a paramedic with Ambulance Victoria.

“I’m just about to finish my graduate year at Ambulance Victoria,” Alexander said.

Working as a paramedic for a year, she entered the profession at a time when the pandemic placed a huge surge on the workload of our frontline health workers, and ambulance ramping at hospitals has been common.

“With Covid, I’ve come in at the worst time. It’s good that in a way, things can only get better and there are a lot of things that have been put in place to improve paramedic conditions, but coming in around Covid has been very difficult.”

Sophie Alexander works night shifts at a paramedic in addition to playing for the new AFLW expansion club. Picture: Essendon Football Club.

Alexander often trains for football in the evening before heading to a night shift.

“On its own, it’s a very challenging job. Mix it with footy and things get a little bit hectic – working night shifts every week and trying to balance training,” she said.

“But both parties have been incredible helping me out with that. I’m doing both my dream careers at the same time, so it’s pretty insane.”

When the seventh AFLW season kicks off on August 25, Alexander will take to the field in the red and black after she switched from Collingwood to expansion club Essendon.

“I’m a very loyal person and I was very torn choosing to leave Collingwood,” Alexander said.

“[But] growing up an Essendon supporter, it was a very hard deal to say no to. The club and the way they put things forward was a really positive environment, and it was a very exciting opportunity.”

Alexander is keen to see the fans at the grounds when Essendon makes its debut in the competition.

“The perception of women in sport has changed and I think a lot more people take us seriously now,” she said.

“When people find out that I play footy, I’m met with excitement and everyone is really proud, whereas a few years ago that might have been a different story. It’s been an important change in culture and people are so excited for us and happy to see us play.”

Originally published as ‘It’s been difficult’: AFLW star Sophie Alexander’s juggle playing footy with paramedic career