Tomkins makes transition to AFL

THE AFL has invested heavily in western Sydney during the past five years and one of its results is Renee Tomkins.

GWS Giants player Renee Tomkins will debut for the club this season.

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THE AFL has invested heavily in western Sydney during the past five years and one of its results is Renee Tomkins.

The 30-year-old had never kicked a football until two years ago when she signed up to play for the Penrith Ramettes. This weekend she makes her debut for the GWS Giants in the NAB Women’s AFL competition.

“A mate convinced me to come and watch her then I thought I’d give it a go,” she said.

Tomkins picked the game up quickly before she was picked up in the AFL Women’s draft by her local club and was quickly sounded out to play centre half back by coaching staff.

It’s been a huge learning curve for the Cranebrook resident.

“I’m working on my defence. I’ve come from being in the ruck to defence and it’s a whole new ball game there so I’ve got to get that right,” she said.

GWS Giants player Renee Tomkins.

“I’ve had to learn how to play a different style of footy compared to club footy. It’s so much faster and you’re constantly training to lift your skills.

“Training’s been great and I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Tomkins, who has also played representative futsal and soccer of the Western Sydney Wanderers in the W-League, will take on the Adelaide Crows on Saturday away from home.

She said the squad coame together very well during a tough few months of pre-season training.

“I’m so pumped and ready to go. Everything’s been done really well and the girls are gelling together very quickly,” Tomkins said.

“We’ve got players from all over the country so it’s been good to get together. We’ve been training since November and the combinations are looking pretty good at moment.

“We’ve got a couple of little things to fix up, but it’s nothing too stressful and we’re all looking forward to our first game.”

Tomkins said she hoped the Women’s AFL competition would inspire the best athletes to take up the game knowing the fact they’ll be part of a sport that’s becoming more professional by the year and fans will be able to watch it on television.

“The young girls in western Sydney who play AFL have something to aim for now,” Tomkins said.

“Hopefully we can take the comp out, but we’ll have to wait and see about that one.”

The Giants will play their first home match at Blacktown International Sportspark on February 18.