Gabriella Pound travelled quite the way from her hometown of Albury to chase her dream of playing AFLW.
The dangerous forward came to Melbourne straight out of high school and joined Melbourne University Football Club to kick-start her dream.
Living in a country town, Pound recalled there not being many opportunities to play competitive football, though she was given a taste of the game growing up and in high school.
“I played Auskick as a young kid and my dad was always getting me into different sports,” Pound said.
“When I was 17 I found out girls could actually play football, so I went to a few trainings in Wagga Wagga and played youth girls for two years. I got a really good sense of how much I loved footy and how much I wanted to pursue that.”
In Albury, school footy was Pound’s only chance to play and the closest competition was in Melbourne, a good three-and-a-half-hour drive away.
For Pound, what was meant to be one gap year in Melbourne turned into three as the 22-year-old excelled on the footy field for Melbourne University and quickly adjusted to city life.
“Mum and Dad are originally from Melbourne, so I have family here,” she said.
“Coming from a country town it is very daunting going to the city. I’m used to it now. I’m used to the traffic, and the hook turns. I love Melbourne now and the girls at my club (Melbourne University).”
Pound has since started studying to become a paramedic, and is in her second year of her studies. She is revelling in the opportunity to play football in a professional environment at Carlton.
“It’s awesome having all these coaches around that can really put their time into you,” she said.
“My footy is definitely getting better, and my game sense is as well. I’m pumped for the first game.”
Gab Pound battles it out in the Blues' first AFLW practice match. (Photo: Carlton Media)
Pound also acknowledges the girls who have paved the way for herself, her Carlton teammates, and the rest of the AFL Women’s competition.
She feels lucky to be able to be in the position she is, and to get the chance some others didn’t to play at an elite level.
“It’s a surreal moment, we’ve come a long way, it’s really exciting,” she said.
“There were a lot of mixed feelings though because there are the older girls that didn't get a chance at this, but for us to get the chance now is still amazing. It’s prime time for me, I can develop my footy heaps and hopefully have a long career.”
Coach Damien Keeping has described Pound as an exceptional decision maker with an elite kick in front of goals, and there’s no doubt the No.6 will excite the Carlton faithful in Friday night’s season opener against Collingwood at Ikon Park.
Pound is also one of the co-hosts of Carlton’s new weekly AFLW podcast. The podcast will run the length of the season and will feature special guests over the coming weeks. Listen here.
