Logan City pair Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw and Tori Groves Little playing in Brisbane Lions AFLW side.
Logan City pair Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw and Tori Groves Little are the latest from an extraordinary region of sporting riches to make it into the big league. The girls are playing in the Brisbane Lions AFLW top side.
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Logan City pair Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw and Tori Groves Little are the latest from an extraordinary region of sporting riches to make it into the big league.
The girls are playing in the Brisbane Lions AFLW top side.
Multi-talented Wardlaw, a product of Slacks Creek State School and John Paul College, was an elite netball player but last year opted to concentrate on Australian football.
Mum Toni said as much as she loved netball, she could no longer spread herself across both codes.
“So she jumped into her AFL trainings 110 per cent, even fitting in extra sessions when she can.’’
Last weekend against the Melbourne Demons, the former South Brisbane Wildcats netballer celebrated her first goal.
“It is an awesome milestone for Jesse to kick her first goal in AFLW,’’ Toni said.
“We can definitely see progress from Jesse every week.
“She has the support of some great leaders and veteran players, not too mention the coaching and management staff.
“In this environment we know Jesse will go from strength to strength. She loves her team and she loves the game.’’
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Beenleigh AFC vice-president Mick Jordan said the club was proud to have Groves-Little as one of its juniors.
“Tori started her Australian football career at the Beenleigh Buffs playing all her youth football with her local club,’’ he said.
“She only moved on last year to play QAFLW in the hope to be drafted.
“It makes me proud to see local talent making to the top level.’’
Jordan said she was a great example to youth of the district that they can achieve from their local clubs. “Tori played all her youth football at Beenleigh.
“There has always been a stigma that you can’t make it to the top if you don’t go to a bigger club.
“Tori has proved that theory wrong. We are excited with what the future holds for her.’’
Beenleigh State High School principal said Groves Little success at the Brisbane Lions had created a “real buzz in the air’’.
“Tori was an outstanding student at Beenleigh State High and was rewarded with the Caltex Medal when she completed year 12in 2017.
“I’m not a great AFL fan but I am watching on TV now to see Tori display her customary speed and athleticism in the national competition, and many students are following her as well.
He said she joined her OLD classmates Rahmat Akbari (Melbourne Victory A-League) and Akayla McQuire (NRL indigenous team) shining in sport.
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