Carlton rookie Kate Shierlaw never gave up on longshot dream of playing in the AFLW

DRIVEN by her competitive instinct, Kate Shierlaw was never going to miss out being part of the inaugural women’s competition despite only playing the game competitively last year.

Carlton recruit Kate Shierlaw in her basketball days.

DRIVEN by her competitive instinct, Kate Shierlaw was never going to miss out being part of the inaugural women’s competition.

Despite only playing Australian football competitively since February last year — while working in the UK as an accountant — Shierlaw was excited when the AFLW was announced only a few months later.

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At the time Adelaide-born Shierlaw started playing for Wimbledon Hawks in AFL London’s women’s competition as a way to meet new people.

But her ambitions grew and Carlton took notice when a highlights video of Shierlaw was posted on YouTube.

Kate Shierlaw (right) with teammate Darcy Vescio during Carlton’s practice match against Melbourne last week. Picture: David Crosling

A Carlton supporter, Shierlaw said it was a special moment when the Blues offered her a rookie contract.

“I gave it a go and never looked back,” Shierlaw said.

“I couldn’t believe that they played footy over there.

“I started playing for social reasons but I’m pretty competitive. As soon as the league got announced I was pretty keen to get involved.

“I guess it was a longshot dream, I didn’t think it was ever a possibility. And it started to get stronger and stronger as a possibility and I guess the dream got a bit bigger as I got closer.”

The 186cm ruckman-forward is the tallest player on Carlton’s list.

Shierlaw, who played state league basketball in Adelaide and represented Australia at the IAAF World Junior Championships in javelin in 2008, said her height and competitiveness were the main reasons Carlton recruited her, while her “willingness to get from contest to contest and learn as much possible” also helped.

She won Wimbledon’s best-and-fairest as the club went through the season unbeaten.

Shierlaw said her experience at Wimbledon was “amazing” and was impressed by the standard of the women’s game in London.

“There’s some talented girls over there,” she said.

“It wouldn’t compare to standard over here but it’s competitive and people are there to win, not just to have a good time.”

“It’s quite a big group of girls that play and it’s getting bigger and bigger each year. It’s pretty awesome to watch actually.”

Shierlaw is also a talented basketballer.

Name: Kate Shierlaw

Club: Carlton

Position: Ruck/forward

Age: 27

From: Wimbledon Hawks

What do you love most about footy and being a woman football player?

I love the competitiveness, I love the team aspect, I love the winning feeling with your teammates.

What’s the biggest challenge about being a woman playing footy?

For me, personally, it would probably be the running, the aerobics side of it. I’ve never done so much running before but it’s all adapting quickly. You do the training and it’s fine.

What do you do when you’ve not playing footy?

Watching footy (laughs). I like to travel, I like to go to the beach, spend time with family and friends.

How much sledging happens in women’s football?

I haven’t heard much. Over in London everyone’s pretty well behaved. I'm looking forward to what the Aussies have got to give over here.

Shierlaw represented Australia in javelin at youth level. Picture: Neale Winter

Who was your sporting hero growing up?

(Anthony) Koutoufides was my favourite. I was a Carlton fan and he was my fav.

What is your greatest sporting memory?

I went to Poland, when I used to do athletics, and competed in the world junior championships for javelin. That would be my No.1 at the moment.

What’s your message to the non-supporters of the women’s league?

I can only speak for Carlton but I know all the girls see this as a massive opportunity for us to create something pretty special and the opportunity we’ve is not lost (on us). Each day we come into training everyone is working very hard, and just can’t wait for Round 1 to kick it off and hopefully the public get on board as well.