Despite being a die-hard Canterbury Bulldogs fan, Haneen Zreika is determined to make the most of her opportunity with the GWS Giants
Haneen Zreika’s journey to the AFLW has been anything but normal
Parramatta
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If you had asked 12-year-old Haneen Zreika if she thought she would be part of the GWS Giants AFLW squad at 18, her answer would have been simple.
“No way.”
For one thing, the Chester Hill girl had never even watched the sport.
Haneen, now 18, grew up as a massive rugby league and Canterbury Bulldogs fan, playing junior league until she had to stop because of her gender.
It was only by chance that a school teacher recommended she attend an AFL clinic several years ago.
She fell in love with the sport and started playing for the Auburn Giants.
Fast forward to 2017 and the Giants midfielder and NSW/ACT under-18s representative was selected by GWS with the first pick in the AFLW Rookie Draft.
“I never thought I would be playing AFL,” Haneen said.
“I was actually very nervous when I first started going to training but the playing group has been very helpful and I’m very confident now with everything.”
While Haneen will spend the upcoming AFLW season on standby as a replacement for a senior-listed player it will not be her first taste of elite sport, having played hooker for the Bulldogs’ Tarsha Gale Cup under-18s side.
It is this experience which Haneen believes will hold her in good stead when she does eventually make her on-field AFL debut.
“My kicking had to be changed but agility is definitely something I have a bonus in,” she said.
After a dominant 50 point win over Brisbane in a practice match on Saturday, the Giants have their first hit-out of the AFLW season against Melbourne on Saturday, February 3 at Casey Fields in Victoria.