STEPH Carroll has been a lifelong Hawthorn supporter – now she’s a Hawks footballer.
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The 32-year-old former Bendigo girl has signed with Hawthorn for the 2018 VFL season.
She joins the Hawks after playing 62 games for her former VFLW side Eastern Devils, including 14 last year.
Her season highlights included best on ground performances in the Devils’ round one and round 13 fixtures.
Carroll is a late-convert to Australian rules football.
She only took up playing competitively in 2014 despite having wanted to play the sport as a teenager at a time when female footballers were not afforded the opportunities that exist these days.
“I did Vic-Kick as a junior and would always be playing football at lunchtime, but just didn’t have the pathway in Bendigo back in the early 90s,” she said.
“So I took up other sports, but football was always number one.
“It was only when I moved to Melbourne in my late 20s that I had the circumstances and opportunities to actually play.
“One of the reasons I moved to Melbourne was my want to play football; I didn’t want to have that regret of missing out.”
Carroll’s path to Hawthorn was made simpler by the Devils’ decision not to field a team in the VFLW competition in 2018.
A revamped competition will see Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond and St Kilda field VFLW teams in their own right for the first time next year.
They will be joined by Hawthorn – formerly known as Box Hill Hawks – Darebin Falcons, Geelong, Melbourne Uni, Casey Demons, NT Thunder, Western Bulldogs (VU Western Spurs) and Williamstown.
Carroll, whose uncle is former Hawks tough man ‘Delicate’ Des Dickson, said it was a dream come true to land at Hawthorn.
“The whole family are Hawthorn supporters – I didn’t have much choice growing up,” she said.
“But nonetheless they were a very successful team when I was young.
“I watched them win the 1991 grand final and that was pretty much when I locked it in and I’ve been with them ever since.
“It wasn’t long after I joined Box Hill that the club announced it has rebranded as Hawthorn …. It’s an amazing turn of events.
“It’s any kids dream come true to be able to grow up and play for the team they’ve always supported.”
A utility, who has split time in defence and the midfield for Eastern Devils, Carroll hopes to lock down an inside midfielder role with the Hawks.
“I pride myself on my competitiveness and being passionate and doing anything I can to get a good result for my team,” she said.
“I’m definitely not the most talented or skilful player, but what I lack in talent I try to make up for in hard work and effort.”
A physiotherapist, Carroll said the move to Hawthorn had opened up other opportunities for her.
She will join the Hawks next month for their AFL Community Camp trip to Katherine in the Northern Territory.
The daughter of Bendigo couple Sharon and Terry Carroll, Steph was educated at Bendigo Catholic College and previously played soccer with BASL’s club Epsom and netball with BFNL club Strathfieldsaye.