Tigers girls ready to roar

They might play at different age levels, but three Redcliffe Tigers AFL players have one thing in common – they all love tackling.

Under-15 Girls player Tyra Jenkins joined the club halfway through last season after her Dad signed her up.

“I’d wanted to play for a while, but I was unsure about it, but it’s been really good,” Tyra says.

Poppy Barber also started last year and takes to the field for the 2021 season in the Under-13 side.

“My friends needed more players for their team and I really liked it,” Poppy, in Year 8 at Redcliffe State High School, says.

“I like getting the ball and people tackling you – it’s a good sport to do if you like running.”

Winging it

Ella McCall will line up for the Under-17 Girls this year, having finished her first season last year named the Players’ Player, Best and Fairest and Rising Star.

She fell into AFL accidentally after a teacher at St John Fisher College approached her to join the school team.

“My teacher came to me and said they were a few girls down and I looked like I was aggressive,” Ella laughs.

“We played the schools’ cup and I had no idea what I was doing – I just kicked the ball to whoever was calling my name.

“I knew I had something missing in my life. It must’ve been footy.”

Ella says she enjoys the physical side of the game – making contact and tackling – and urges other girls to give it a go.

“If you don’t like it, that’s ok, but you never know until you try it.”

Not too late to sign up

Tigers media manager Kylie Milstead says the club still has vacancies in its under-9, under-11, under-13, under-15 and under-17 girls’ teams and the under-14 boys’ side, as well as the Kindy Kick program for 3-5-year-olds.

Players who pay their fees in full receive a free training shirt.

Find out more at redcliffetigers.com.au or email [email protected]

Read about more local sport here.