Kate Shierlaw’s journey to the NAB AFL Women's competition can be considered one of the most unique across the league.
Recruited by Carlton last November without having met anyone at the Club face-to-face, the childhood Bluebagger cut her working holiday in London short by two years to play in the historic inaugural AFLW season - one of the easiest decisions she’s ever made.
“It was sort of a no-brainer,” Sheirlaw said about leaving London.
“I’ve always wanted to live in Melbourne and to do that playing for the club I grew up barracking for in the first-ever competition, it was too good an opportunity to give up.”
Not only did Shierlaw come to Carlton via London, she did so after playing only one season of AFL. She had just picked up the game while in London where she played for the Wimbledon Hawks, winning the club's best and fairest and a premiership in just one season.
Previously a basketball player for the Adelaide Bearcats and also an athlete who excelled in javelin, Shierlaw thought she’d never get the chance to play AFL.
“I love AFL, and I’m obsessed with it, but I never thought about playing because there were no pathways for girls,” Shierlaw said.
“It was always basketball and once the league started in London and I started playing, it was really cool.”
Shierlaw caught the eye of the Carlton coaching staff through a video her teammates put together and posted on YouTube. She says the original video was a little bit embarrassing but the follow-up video of her efforts in the Wimbledon Hawks' grand final win was what sealed the deal for the Carlton selectors.
Carlton Women’s senior coach Damien Keeping has said that Shierlaw’s desire and work ethic to continue to improve and learn about the game will see her improve tenfold before season’s end.
Kate Shierlaw pictured during her first training session at Carlton. (Photo: AFL Media)
Shierlaw also stands at 186cm tall, making her one of the tallest on the team's list. She was, however, still a bit apprehensive about her first days at Carlton.
“I still can’t quite believe that I’m here. It was really scary coming in for the first few training sessions,” Shierlaw said.
“I hadn’t seen them play so it was a bit daunting, but the girls are great and now that I’ve started running around with them I feel a lot more comfortable.”
Shierlaw says she’s waiting in anticipation for the opening game next week. She hopes to continue to learn about the game and hopefully get to pull on the guernsey for the game against Collingwood at Ikon Park.
“I just have to be a target for the mids, and the back line coming out, and take a few marks. I think we’ll be right,” she said with a laugh.
“I’m just super excited, and I’m just buzzing, and there’s a great feeling around the group too.”
