FORMER Horsham basketballer Sophie Alexander has snared an AFLW contract with Collingwood.
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Alexander spent the 2017 season playing with Collingwood in the VFLW and will now feature in the third season of the AFLW.
Alexander said it was great to get the news that her hard work had paid off.
“It was pretty exciting and it was a bit of a shock,” she said.
“It has been an aim of mine for a while now. I’m currently living in Ballarat and have been travelling three or four times a week to Melbourne for football.
“I’ve been training in the gym and working individually as well with some coaches to get my game up to scratch.”
The 25 year old spends most of her time in the forward line, but does also get some time in the midfield.
She was named in the 2018 VFLW Team of the Year.
Alexander said being around a club the size of Collingwood had helped her game immensely.
“Having the opportunity to be at Collingwood with their staff and facilities has helped so much,” she said.
“Being around that professional environment will hopefully make that transition into the AFLW a lot easier.
“I’ve been in the leadership group for the VFLW team and that whole leadership group has helped so much. The coach and everyone involved have really all helped me.”
Basketball was Alexander’s main sport until 2016, when she turned her focus to football.
“With the announcement of the women’s competition I thought I couldn’t give up the opportunity,” she said.
“When I was in primary school playing football with the boys it was unimaginable that there would be a women’s competition. Now it’s normal for girls to be playing football. It is unreal to see how far it has come.”
Alexander, who is studying to be a paramedic, said she expects to move to Melbourne ahead of the season.
