By Tara Murray
Western Jets’ Lou-Lou Field had no hesitation when she had to pick to continue playing football or cricket.
Field was a talented junior in both sports.
She has long been part of the football pathways, while was named in 2021-22 Cricket Victoria emerging players program.
It was football that won out for Field.
“In the end when I started playing high level cricket, I kind of realised it wasn’t something that I wanted to pursue further,” she said.
“In the end it was a decision that was kind of no-brainer.
“I think it was the community and group of girls that I had met along the way and it pushes in a different way that experience in other aspects of my life [why she picked football].
Field has played football all through her life.
When she first started there was no AFLW, so she dreamed of playing in the AFL competition with the boys.
AFLW later became the dream and that could become a reality on December 16 when the AFLW draft happens.
“It’s very nerve-wracking,” she said. “I have to kind of sit and wait at the moment until my name gets called out.
“It is crazy. I’ve played footy my whole life and the next level is literally just around the corner.”
Field started her football career with Werribee Districts before moving to Yarraville Seddon.
She’s also spent the past three years at the Western Jets in the Coates Talent League.
“It has been such a delight experiencing so many different things and meeting so many different people with the all-stars games and the draft combine, it has been a great experience,” she said.
Field said she had a couple of setbacks earlier this year but felt she ended the season well and put herself in a good position for the draft.
She made the Vic Metro squad for a third year, playing three games and helping the side claim the national title.
Field said there was more pressure this year as part of the squad.
“It was such an honor to represent my state and having done it three years in a row, it’s great,” she said. “Each year is different, especially with the new girls coming through and the stakes get a little bit higher.
“These games mean a lot as it’s the draft this year, there’s a little bit more pressure when you’re putting your jersey on.”
Field, who says her game is similar to North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney, said she thought she set herself up well at the draft combine.
She said it was pretty surreal speaking to AFLW clubs.
“You hear heaps about it and it’s finally happening to you and you have this interest in the clubs,” she said. “It kind of becomes real and that this could become my life in the next couple of weeks.”
Field said that she would try and keep her mind occupied in the lead up to the draft and try not to worry about it too much.
She is one of two Yarraville Seddon and Western Jets players on the draft radar, along with Sierra Grieves.
“We’ve grown up and pretty much done everything that has got to do with footy together,” Field said.
“Through interleague, we played a couple of seasons of local together, then the Western Jets and Vic Metro.
“It would be so good to be able to be drafted and also experience that with her.”
The draft starts at 7pm.
