Georgia Clayden still has a burning desire to make it to the top. That's why she refused to throw in the towel when her netball dreams were derailed by a global pandemic.
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Clayden was supposed to be a part of the Capital Darters, who linked with the Sunshine Coast Lightning, in the Australian Netball League before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the season to be cancelled.
But instead of wallowing in her sorrows, Clayden decided that she would pursue an AFL dream which led her to the Ainslie Tricolours.
Now the chance to chase a finals spot and potentially lay the platform for a new career is fuelling Clayden for a clash with Tuggeranong Valley at Alan Ray Oval on Saturday.
"I have played netball my whole life, it is probably my sport of choice even though it is tolling on my knees," Clayden said.
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"I would love to see where AFL gets me, I have a burning desire to make the big leagues in either sport, so we will just see how I go. I am getting on in my career, I am only 22 but there has to be a time for me to make a decision on what I want to do with my career.
"I still have so much fire in my belly to make it as a professional athlete and I know deep down that is my end goal."
The clash marks the penultimate round of the regular season with Ainslie's lone win enough to keep them in touch with fourth-placed Tuggeranong, who have posted two.
"It was very disappointing [the ANL was cancelled] as I was primed to have a big season with the newly formed Darters," Clayden said. "But I am focused at the moment on just playing footy."
AFL CANBERRA ROUND NINE
Women's: Saturday - Eastlake Demons v Gungahlin Jets at Football Park, 1.35pm; Belconnen Magpies v Queanbeyan Tigers at Kippax Oval, 4.30pm; Ainslie Tricolours v Tuggeranong Valley at Alan Ray Oval, 4.30pm.
Men's: Saturday - Belconnen Magpies v Queanbeyan Tigers at Kippax Oval, 1.35pm; Ainslie Tricolours v Tuggeranong Valley at Alan Ray Oval, 1.35pm.
