State league footballers Alex Ballard and Liz McGrath are set to join Port Adelaide in the NAB AFLW competition.
Ballard comes from a football-rich family, with her brother Charlie playing for the Gold Coast Suns and her dad Simon, the former president of Mitcham Hawks, where she first picked up the sport.
Growing up in Adelaide’s inner-south, Ballard was elevated to Sturt’s SANFLW team in 2018 and was invited as a train-on by the Adelaide Crows the last two seasons.
“Both of my brothers played at Mitcham Hawks and my dad was president of the club for a time and was really keen on developing women's footy there,” Ballard said.
“They held a small carnival and then soon started a weekly comp, so that’s where it all started for me.”
Recounting her meeting with Port Adelaide list manager Naomi Maidment, the 19-year-old was shocked to receive an offer.
“I was going into the club for a medical screening and a tour, not thinking anything of it,” she said.
“Next thing I know, Naomi said ‘if you commit to us, we would love to commit to you’. I started crying and so did my mum and dad. I spoke to (head coach) Lauren (Arnell) the night before and she said the next day she could tell I had absolutely no idea the offer was coming.”
Ballard’s marking and kicking skills are her strengths and the defender prides herself on her high footy IQ.
“Alex is a clever half-back, smart and skilful by foot,” Arnell said.
“She has come through the SANFLW pathway with Sturt and was unlucky to be overlooked in the draft. Having a second South Australian team really opens up opportunities for local players. We’re really excited to welcome her into our environment.”
McGrath will join Port Adelaide from the VFLW, where she currently rucks for North Melbourne.
Born and raised in Coburg in Victoria, McGrath stands at 183 centimetres tall and will add some important height to the side.
The 24-year-old social worker is still coming to terms with being offered a place on the inaugural Port Adelaide list.
“I’m still wrapping my head around it… I can’t even remember the conversation (with Maidment), I feel like I was barely conscious,” she laughed.
“Port Adelaide is a team about hard effort and putting everything on the line and that’s what Naomi said she had seen in my football and heard from my coaches.”
McGrath thoroughly enjoys the intricacies of rucking and putting her body on the line for her sport.
“Rucking is such a puzzle,” she said.
“Being able to use different techniques and crack the code of what the other ruck is doing is really cool. Endurance is a big part of my game too. Just continuing to run, get into contests and putting it all out there.”
Arnell sees McGrath as being a real asset to the club, both on and off the field.
“Liz has been in an environment at North Melbourne where she has really developed her ruck craft and she has that natural competitiveness that you can’t really teach players,” Arnell said.
“She has a strong contested mark and has had a consistent and outstanding VFLW season. She’s a well-rounded player and person. We love that she’s a social worker and she shows genuine care for her teammates.”
