Eastern Devils midfielder Sophie Alexander hoping to be selected in AFLW draft

CODE-HOPPER Sophie Alexander’s decision to give away basketball and chase her football dream could be vindicated at this week’s AFLW draft.

Sophie Alexander, pictured in action for Ballarat Rush in 2013, is hoping to be selected in the AFLW draft. Picture Lawrence Pinder

CODE-HOPPER Sophie Alexander’s decision to give away basketball and chase her football dream could be vindicated at this week’s AFLW draft.

Alexander has travelled thousands of kilometres this year to pursue her childhood ambition of playing football, making the 280km round trek from Ballarat to the Eastern Devils’ Mulgrave Reserve headquarters twice a week for training and again on weekends for games.

The 24-year-old midfielder had played with South East Australian Basketball League outfit Ballarat Rush for five years, but called time on her hoops career to take up football.

She was one of two Eastern Devils players invited to test at the AFLW draft combine, with fellow Ballarat product Tahni Nestor, who debuted for Carlton earlier this year, also testing at the inaugural women’s camp.

Tahni Nestor at the AFLW combine. Picture: Michael Dodge

The nursing and paramedicine university student only made the decision to take up football last year, playing six games with Redan in the Victorian Women’s Football League before joining the Eastern Devils this year.

“I honestly always wanted to play footy,” Alexander said.

“That was the dream growing up but, as I said, there was no pathway.”

Alexander would often stay with friends and family in Melbourne to help ease the burden of travelling from Ballarat, but she did not expect to be in contention in the AFLW draft.

“I think it helps that I went to quite a good club to develop my game,” Alexander said.

“I’ve done all I can so we’ll just wait and see what happens.”

She started up forward for the Devils before being moved into the midfield, finishing the season with 13 games.

Jessica Trend lays a tackle in 2014. Picture: Paul Loughnan

“She’s a booming kick, kicks left and right, kicked multiple goals from outside 50 this year, which is very rare in women’s footy,” Eastern Devils coach Brendan Major said.

“From a blueprint standpoint, she is pretty much the prototype footballer that you want — moves well, big body, uses both sides and doesn’t have that many bad habits.”

Jessica Trend also looms as a potential selection in the draft despite not playing this season due to a knee injury, which cruelled her hopes of being recruited last year.

“She’s gradually developed into this really well-rounded footballer — she tackles well, she’s really fit, moves well and (is a) good ball user,” Major said.

“Her injury (last year), I 100 per cent think she would have got drafted last year.”

The AFLW draft will be held on Wednesday.