POPPY Schaap has walked into IKON Park an instant icon, with her personality, skills and mullet all turning heads.
Despite only being drafted a few weeks ago, Schaap feels like she’s been at Carlton forever, with many around her feeling the same way.
The former Geelong Falcon is feeling confident about the upcoming season and believes that her seamless transition from the NAB League to an AFLW program is a good sign of what’s to come.
“I can’t remember when it really started, it feels like I’ve been here all along even though I came in a bit later than the other draftees,” Schaap said.
“Every session I feel it building and I feel skills building and the vibe of the team building and I think we’re in for something really special this year.”
Schaap wasn’t picked up in the AFLW National Draft, which left her feeling devastated.
Despite trying not to pay attention to the external noise, Schaap was pretty confident that her name would be called out on draft night.
“I don’t like to read the media too much but I did read a few of those mock drafts and I was in the top 20 or 30 range and I was on the prospect page,'' she said.
“It was quite tough watching those picks run out and trying to keep myself up and about and be very happy for my teammates who got drafted.”
Schaap noted that seeing the disappointment of an un-drafted player is something that is rarely spoken about and she was determined to begin preparing for a big 2022 season in the VFLW.
“I called up all of the clubs that I had an interview with and I asked what I could do next year to make it happen,” she said.
“Strength, power, speed - I already had a big list of things I wanted to improve on.”
Schaap's luck changed very quickly on her last day of year 12, when she received a call from Brett Munro, Carlton’s General Manager of Women’s Football.
“I was at my last day of school, I was out having a picnic with my friends and I got a call from ‘Munners’ and he said ‘have you got some time tonight?” she said.
“In the back of my head I thought this could be something but I also thought this is just VFLW or a train on or something.”
By the end of the call however, Schaap was being offered something she thought was out of reach for 2021.
“I got onto the zoom call and they said we need some information because we have a spot,” she said.
“They said it was a unanimous decision, they were going to send through the contract at the end of the call.”
Schaap was shocked to say the least and had to keep her appointment to the Game Changers under wraps until it could be announced officially.
Celebrating with her family, Schaap couldn’t believe how quickly she got her second chance and was definitely going to make the most of it.
“It is good to be here now because it allows me to tell that story of how disappointment can lead to opportunity,” she said.
“You have to have that belief in yourself when things are at their toughest and you think you’re at the bottom, you never know what doors can open up.”
