GEELONG’S BOSS OF LACROSSE

The Geelong-based defensive midfielder is a member of the senior women’s Australian squad and is vying for an official place on the national team, to be decided in January 2017.

Undergoing up to nine strength and conditioning sessions, plus an extra threehour training session per week, Carly is preparing for a March training camp and games against Japan, followed by the Australian National Championships and a three-game test against England in June.

Pending her performance, Carly could be off to the Federation of Women’s Lacrosse World Cup in England and The World Games in Poland in 2017 to represent Australia and attempt to have lacrosse introduced as an Olympic sport.

She’s feeling confident this could finally be her big chance at representing her country after missing out on the Under 19 Australian team, being just 18 days too old for selection.

With no local competition, Carly travels to Melbourne to play for Newport Ladies Lacrosse Club.

She is now balancing motherhood with being an elite athlete as mother to tenmonth-old Indie, but said her determination far outweighs any hurdles she may face.

“I have a lot of work to do to get there but I am doing everything I can to get a spot on that team. To wear the green and gold playing the sport I love – there is simply no greater moment.

“If I make the team, I think I’ll just bury my face in the playing jersey!”

Coming from a sporting family, Carly grew up playing netball and basketball and accidentally fell into lacrosse.

“They just put a stick in my hands and sent me out onto the field, I didn’t even know the rules. It came very naturally and I haven’t looked back!” she said.

“Now I’d really love to get a lacrosse competition happening locally.

“I think there is a lot of potential and some amazing athletes in Geelong and I think if they could have a taste of lacrosse – which is a really fast, exciting game – they would just love it.”