EXPLOSIVE midfielder Maddison Gay is all too familiar with professional sports, with a background in elite netball holding her in great stead for her transition to the footy field.
New to football, the 21-year-old is working tirelessly to develop her game.
“I played in the Victorian Netball League for four years, before shifting over to Melbourne Uni Lightning which was awesome and led me to this standard,” Gay told Carlton Media.
“Early on it was difficult - the (footy) ground's a lot bigger - but obviously my agility and peripheral vision helped a lot, as did being able to play kick-to-kick with my brothers.
“Seeing as it’s my first year, I’m just trying to learn the knowledge of the game. I’m still learning team structures but my teammates around me help me with that."
Maddison Gay brings elite speed to the Game Changers. (Photo: AFL Photos)
The former netball wing-attack is constantly on the go between working in a hospital and training with Carlton, but enjoys the grind.
“I work as a PSA (public service assistant) transporting patients to surgery and theatre. That’s a good day job, it just keeps me occupied. I love talking to people and helping them so it keeps me entertained.
“I go from working eight hours a day, straight to the Club, so days I’m training I start at 7am and get home around 10:30pm.
“Your body adapts to it but at the start it was quite difficult, I’m used to it now and am loving it.”
Passionate about footy from a young age, Gay was eventually pushed into playing by a close friend and debuted for the St Kilda Sharks last year, taking her game from strength-to-strength.
“I had some friends ask me a few times to come over to the St Kilda Sharks,” she said.
“So knowing they were there and seeing what’s happening with the rise of AFLW led me to it.
“I always wanted to play since I was little and finally made the decision to take on the game.”
Gay hopes to use her speed to her advantage and play an outside-midfield role for the Blues this season and compliment the work of her in-and-under teammates.
“I was wing-attack in netball so I’ve just got the run in me. It helps a lot being an outside mid - getting the hands off the likes of Shae Audley, Sarah Hosking and Katie Loynes will be great.”
