GWS Giants AFLW player Chloe Dalton meets pioneer Lynn Smith

GWS Giant Chloe Dalton has been one of the modern faces of women’s sport in Australia. And, a recent experience taught her just how far female athletes and the resources available to them have come.

Chloe Dalton has forged a successful part in women’s sport she didn’t always think would be possible. Picture: Phil Hillyard

When Chloe Dalton sat down with women’s football pioneer Lynn Smith, she was stunned by the lengths she had to go through to play the sport she loved.

“Lynn was telling us that she didn’t even know what brand her boots were,” Dalton said.

“She’d gone down to the local markets to buy them. And then she put this ad in the newspaper because she had this feeling there were other women like her that wanted to play footy.”

Dalton is one of many athletes who get to build on the work that Smith and many others put in years ago.

The 30-year-old is a star of the Giants’ AFLW side and is better equipped than most to understand just how far women’s sport has progressed in recent years.

The rebound defender has played every game for the Giants in 2023. Picture: Phil Hillyard

She was a gold medallist at the Rio Olympics as part of the Australian rugby sevens team, as well as forging impressive careers in both basketball and now footy.

Off the field, Dalton is also a host of The Female Athlete Project podcast and has penned a book on the rise of women’s sport.

“I feel fortunate to be a part of the generation that started to see a real shift in the professionalism of a number of codes across the country,” Dalton said.

“It’s been incredible to be given the opportunity to play at the top level across a number of sports, and overtime to be able to make that my sole career.

“I think what that can do for an athlete, the ability to make your sport a full-time job just means you can invest all of your time and energy into being the very best athlete you can be.”

But now she has been given a chance to walk in Smith’s shoes. As part of a partnership with the AFLW and Johnnie Walker, Dalton was gifted one of four boots crafted out of shoes worn by Smith and 20 other legacy players of women’s footy.

Dalton is presented with the special boots by Smith. Picture: Supplied

“It was one of the things that drew me to play AFLW in the first place,” Dalton said. “I was amazed by the storytelling element of so many of these incredible women who wanted to play at the top level but hadn’t been given the chance.

“But I now have a chance to play it semi-professionally because of these incredible women.”

In the space of a decade, Dalton has gone from barely being paid enough to cover the petrol needed to drive to and from basketball training to becoming one of the most recognisable names in the AFLW.

There is still a long way to go in the growth of the competition, but Dalton is already noticing differences this season.

Running alongside a teenage teammate in Zarlie Goldsworthy who can kick five goals in a game gives her even more reason to be optimistic.

“I think as the pathways continue to improve as well, it means that we get players like Zarlie who are almost ready to hit the ground running when they get into the program,” Dalton said.

“I think there’s been a real shift in the respect shown to a lot of female athletes.

“Unfortunately, as players, you can’t really avoid reading a lot of the comments on social media in past seasons around scorelines and things. But I think the quality of competition this year has been incredible, and I think really shows what continued investment in the game can look like.

“The recent CBA that’s been negotiated is moving in the right direction towards increasing that minimum salary to make sure the players by 2026 can basically have a full-time job.”

The talented athlete started in basketball, including the NSW under-18 rep team. Picture: Braden Fastier

Dalton as part of the gold medal-winning rugby sevens team at the 2016 Olympics. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Dalton is determined to continue using her voice in the space to break down barriers for young girls dreaming of a career in sport.

And as attitudes change, she wants to ensure the trailblazers who went before her are never forgotten.

“People love seeing women succeeding … and I really am a firm believer in the power of sport to change people’s attitudes,” Dalton said.

“Australia as a whole, we have some of the best athletes in the world. It’s had that even without the best type of investment. It’s cool to think of what the future possibilities could look like.

“I look forward to the day when I get to hand these boots on to someone from the next generation to carry on the process.”

Originally published as GWS Giants AFLW player Chloe Dalton meets pioneer Lynn Smith