As we all know, the current Winter Olympics in Vancouver is showing Canada to the world. What better than to focus on 1988 Hosts of the Winter Olympics - Calgary. Calgary is the national women's champions of Canada and runner up in the 2009 US National Champions.
After many well qualified entries to the Calgary Kookaburras, the successful applicant was Alice Broughton of the Belconnen Magpies (ACT).
Public Servant Alice Broughton managed to squeeze in a quick phone call to swafl.org before packing her bags to Canada. She flies out in Early March 2010 for the trip of a lifetime.
Originally her family was from Adelaide, being a loyal Port Adelaide Fan before moving to the national capital at the age of 6.
Her brothers played footy and wanted to play footy and was unable to do so until ACTWAFL started. She was one of the original members of the Belconnen Magpies, and has remained at the club ever since. Some of her highlights of playing football was making the ACT Side for six years and being named All-Australian twice. She currently plays in the key role of Center Half Back.
Alice is totally involved in football also acting as a boundary umpire and being involved in the social committee at the club. showing to the Calgary Kookaburras, her wide range of skills on and off the field.
One of her objectives is to continue to exchange of players between Australia and Canada. One former Calgary Kookaburra, has registered to play with the Southern Power Women's team in 2010. Alice also mentioned that she hopes to promote football at a stage to get Calgary and other teams to an 18-a side competition.
In 2009, the Sydney Women’s Australian Football League signed a sister league relationship with Alberta Footy Women’s League and their primary partner the Calgary Kookaburras. The Canadians want to take the Brelationship to a new level in 2010, with the Calgary Kookaburras prepared to host a SWAFL or ACTWAFL player who has extensive footy experience for a 9-month footy season, helping with their footy development and seeing Canada and the USA.
Belconnen Magpie, Alice Broughton has been successful in being chosen to travel to Canada and play with the Calgary Kookaburras in the women’s league which at this stage is a 9-a-side competition. Alice will also be playing and assistant Coach of the Team Canada when they travel to nationals in USA in August.
The Calgary Kookaburras are the reigning Canadian National Champions and runners-up US National Champions in Australian Rules Football. The fastest growing club on the North American continent, they have 72 registered players and compete in a five-team local 9-a-side competition, with trips across Canada and the USA to play other cities each Northern summer. Not bad for a club that only started less than three years ago.
The Calgary Kookaburras will help arrange accommodation and employment matching Alice’s current skills and occupation. A key aspect of her role with the club Alice will to provide leadership in club matches and at training to help the Canadian girls increase their skills and appreciation of the sport.
Alice was unsure if there would be much interest from within ACT/NSW but had plans to travel overseas in 2010 so was too good an opportunity to pass up. “Being able to go overseas and do what I love doing plus seeing the world will be an amazing experience.” Alice’s family and friends have already planned to travel overseas during her season and support her in her quest. Alice is hopeful that Canberra might be able to return the hospitality in years to come. “We might be able to have one of the Canadian girls come and play for Belconnen in the Women’s League.” Alice is looking forward to taking on the challenge of being assistant Coach of Team Canada. “It would be good to have a team to play in Team Canada when players make the All Australian team in years to come.”
In preparation for this exciting opportunity Alice will commence preseason training with the Belconnen women’s team along with her own training. Alice has also organised to participate in some fitness/running sessions with the CD2 team in the build up to her departure in early March which runs into the Canadian preseason training.
SWAFL wish Alice all the best for this exciting opportunity and we look forward to tracking her progress in 2010.
Source: ACTWAFL and SWAFL.ORG
Last Modified on 28/02/2010 20:32