Olivia Purcell loves having the chance to show her skills with the Geelong Cats in the team\u2019s debut AFLW season.<\/p>\n
The Geelong-born footballer and 2018 Geelong Falcons best and fairest winner has an extraordinary list of achievements at junior level, including multiple selections in the TAC Cup Team of the Year and the All-Australian team.<\/p>\n
After winning the 2018 TAC Cup premiership with the Falcons, Olivia helped the Geelong VFLW team progress to the VFLW grand final and was named among the Cats\u2019 best players, and was drafted by the club\u2019s AFLW side soon after. She spoke to My Coastal Home during a break from training at GMHBA Stadium.<\/p>\n
Born<\/strong> Family<\/strong> Getting into footy<\/strong> On being drafted<\/strong> On her team-mates<\/strong> On her footballing future<\/strong> On the future of AFLW<\/strong> Travelling<\/strong> Music<\/strong>
\nI was born in Geelong but I moved to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland when I was about three. I went to primary school there for a few years, and then the family came back. I live in Barwon Heads now.<\/p>\n
\nI\u2019m the fourth of five sisters. Louise is a writer and a travel consultant, Maddy works for Cotton On, Georgia works at Waurn Ponds Estate, and the youngest, Grace is in Year 9.<\/p>\n
\nWhen I was 15, at Sacred Heart, I played school footy, and then played a couple of years at Newtown and Chilwell. My home club is St Mary\u2019s, so once they got a girls\u2019 team, I went and played there.<\/p>\n
\nI just enjoyed footy more the first two years, but in about 2017 I got more serious about it because the next year was my draft year. I just didn\u2019t know what to believe about being drafted until it actually happened \u2013 when my name was called out, I was like \u201cOh, it is actually happening\u201d.<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s been so much fun. My family have said I\u2019ve already spent so much time here (at GMHBA Stadium) that this could be
\nmy first home. I love all my team-mates \u2013 it\u2019s like having another extended family \u2013 and the coaches and all the staff, it\u2019s such a good environment to be in.<\/p>\n
\nAs a footballer, I\u2019m trying to make the most out of it and be in the moment because you never know when your time\u2019s going to be up \u2013 coming in to every training session and every chance I\u2019m in here, using my coaches, using the facilities and being professional.<\/p>\n
\nThere\u2019ll be 14 teams next year, and only four more teams to fill in, but I\u2019d love to play against every team and have a proper finals series. Obviously, everyone\u2019s goal is for it to be full-time. I\u2019m open for any ideas at the moment, because AFLW is so fresh.<\/p>\n
\nIn 2015 I went overseas three times \u2013 Fiji, America, and Hawaii. That was a big year! America was just for basketball, Fiji was a netball trip and Hawaii was just one I always wanted to do. I\u2019m thinking of going to Samoa next.<\/p>\n
\nI play the drums, and Louise plays the guitar and sings \u2013 she\u2019s trying to convince me to join a band with her. We just love going to as many gigs and music concerts as we can. We went to Ms. Lauryn Hill (pictured) on Wednesday night at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl; she was really good, and Nas played before her. That would have been one of my favourite gigs. I liked Bruce Springsteen and Elton John; they were good ones, too. I have very broad tastes in music. I\u2019ve got a record player and Nana\u2019s given me a few records to listen to, but I\u2019ve just got a new car so maybe I\u2019ll buy some CDs.<\/p>\n