Isabella Grant hopes to forge her own footy name as she eyes AFLW Draft
She’s the daughter of a Western Bulldogs great, but she wants to walk her own path to the big time. So much so that Isabella Grant is ditching Noosa for the gym — and the books.
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Isabella Grant is determined to make her own name.
The daughter of Bulldogs great Chris has this week opted out of a family holiday to Noosa, instead electing to stay home under the watchful eye of her grandmother with Year 12 studies and the AFL Women’s draft combine in full swing.
And while she might only be watching the participants of the latter be put through their paces in front of club officials, she said her 341-game father and current Western Bulldogs football boss had taken an active step back from her football pathway so as not to cast any shadow.
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“He’s always really encouraged me to be me, and be proud of who I am,” Isabella said.
“Don’t try to be somebody else. So I think that’s really helped me — not with just footy but with all of the other aspects in my life. It’s easy to get into that mindset of wanting to be somebody else and be somebody better, but being satisfied with who you are is almost more important.”
It was her choice to ditch the holiday, saying she would regret not throwing all of herself into her schoolwork and football commitments before her high school days are over.
“It’s the last holidays before exams,” she said.
“If I was unhappy with my exam results and thought ‘I could have done more’, I thought I would be disappointed, so just trying to make the most of all the little opportunities before footy might get a bit busier.”
Grant had played basketball before switching to Australian rules when the Western Bulldogs gained an AFLW licence, thinking “this is really happening”.
Naturally she is keen to be a Bulldog, but is hopeful of following her AFLW dream at any club after an impressive national championships campaign for Vic Metro under new Dogs coach Nathan Burke.
The 17-year-old — who is considering studying science next year — is currently building her back strength after being diagnosed with a sway-back, a curvature of the upper lumbar spine.
It’s meant lots of “gym stuff, lots of glute bridges” and “little muscle stuff”, she explained, and is hopeful to be at full fitness for the draft — scheduled for October 22 — and the 2020 AFL Women’s season.
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“The muscles in that part of my back have basically never been used, so they’re not super strong at all,” Grant said.
“Just even the smallest bit of movement compared to everyone else is really different. My body just doesn’t know how to turn them on.”
The AFLW hopefuls will be tested at the draft combine on Wednesday across a two-kilometre time trial, agility sessions and the famed “Yoyo” test.
“I’m just really excited for the experience and to see the girls again and to cheer everyone on and make sure everyone does their best,” Grant said.