Sarah Perkins was overlooked in the AFLW draft but is now the Crows’ new cult figure

NICKNAMED “Tex’’ — after Adelaide’s men’s skipper Taylor Walker — Sarah Perkins has revealed she has lost a remarkable 40kg in 18 months to fulfil her AFLW dream.

Sarah Perkins mobbed by jubilant teammates after kicking a goal. Picture: Sarah Reed

ADELAIDE’S Sarah Perkins has revealed she has lost a remarkable 40kg in 18 months to fulfil her AFLW dream.

Already nicknamed “Tex’’ - after powerhouse Adelaide’s men’s skipper and key forward Taylor “Tex’’ Walker – following her strong debut against GWS at Thebarton Oval on Saturday, new cult figure Perkins has shed nearly a third of her body weight to become a Crows trailblazer.

“I changed the way I ate and the way I saw life to get to this point,’’ she told The Advertiser at the team’s recovery session yesterday following the historic 36-point win against the Giants.

“I’ve had some pretty inspirational ladies drive me to keep going to get a chance to play in the AFLW and to be a part of the Crows’ first team, a winning one, is a bit like a dream for me and a massive pinch-yourself moment.’’

Popular teammate Perkins, who now stands at 173cm and 95kg, was overcome with emotion after the game, admitting to shedding plenty of tears when she met family members in the changerooms after the match.

“There were tears because I’ve had to work very hard to get here and I’ve had a lot of people help me along the way,’’ said Perkins, who kicked a goal, hauled in three strong marks and was one of Adelaide’s most influential players.

They call her “Tex” and Crows forward Sarah Perkins is shaping as a crowd favourite after the team’s opening AFLW win. Picture: Stephen Laffer

The 23-year-old Victorian, who played netball and soccer before taking up football at 16, was signed by Adelaide as a free agent after she was overlooked at the inaugural AFLW draft.

This was despite being selected in the 2016 VWFL Team of the Year after she kicked 52 goals for the Eastern Devils.

Perkins said her confidence had been “shot’’ until she received a phone call in November from Adelaide coach Bec Goddard offering her a football lifeline.

“Before Bec rang I was very disheartened because I had worked really hard in the previous 18 months to lose weight and improve my football and I thought I had a good case to be drafted,’’ Perkins said.

“Luckily the Crows gave me a chance and now I’m determined to make the most of it.’’

Perkins shows her style in the Crows’ historic AFLW win against Greater Western Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

Possessing strong hands and a booming kick, Perkins said a note from Goddard during the week fuelled belief in her ability to make an impact on debut.

“Bec told me to believe in myself, that fate had brought us together and that I deserve to be here,’’ she said.

“It was lovely and to be a part of out first win in front of nearly 10,000 people, well, it’s something I never really dreamt would happen.’’

A landscaper-turned-plumbing employee, Perkins paid tribute to her family, including two aunties, and a close friend for helping her overcome obstacles in her football journey and helping her overcome obstacles along the way.

“I wouldn’t be here without their support,’’ she said, adding that one of her inspirations is wheelchair-bound and carried the torch at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and another lost her battle with cancer.

As for the new nickname, Perkins said: “In the past 24 hours the word Tex has been thrown around a fair bit and if I can play a similar role in our forward line as Tex does for the boys I will be pretty happy with myself’’.

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Originally published as Sarah Perkins was overlooked in the AFLW draft but is now the Crows’ new cult figure