For many aspiring female footballers, their journeys have been cut short due to a lack of development pathways.
But for 17-year-old Kiana Lee, an opportunity with the Optus Crows Cup means her dreams of playing for the Adelaide Crows are now within reach.
Kiana played her first game of football as a six-year-old for the Rosewater Football Club, where she went on to play over 100 games.
She picked up several awards along the way and was named in the Woodville-West Torrens Football Club Under-15 talent squad.
“At my first training with Rosewater, I was the only girl there,” Kiana said.
“Back then I didn’t have anything to reach towards because AFLW didn’t exist, so I was playing for fun.”
Like many girls her age, Kiana stopped playing when she turned 14 because she was no longer eligible to be part of the boys’ league.
However, her passion for football was reignited in 2016, when Crows AFLW players Chelsea Randall and Anne Hatchard visited her school, Henley High, and ran a football session.
From there, Kiana joined her school team for the Optus Crows Cup and has never looked back.
Her football career has only continued to build since then and in 2018, she was selected in the South Australian Under-18 state football team and named in Woodville-West Torrens Football Club inaugural SANFLW team.
“The best thing about SANFLW is that the level of competition and skill is completely different to local league,” Kiana said.
“I was one of the younger girls in the team and my teammates were so inclusive which made my bond with them really close and trainings were a lot of fun.
“The coaching staff were incredible, I learnt so much from all of them.”
Kiana ended up playing all 10 games for the Eagles and she finished the season as their best first year player, leading goal kicker and placed third in the best and fairest.
She was also named in the Central Allies squad to play in early July on the Gold Coast.
Kiana played in her fourth Optus Crows Cup match on Thursday, June 13 on Adelaide Oval, in a curtain raiser to Adelaide’s Round 13 clash with Richmond.
With an AFLW contract in her sights, Kiana is grateful that opportunities like the Optus Crows Cup have given her a pathway back to AFL.
“When I found out I had to stop playing at the age of 14, I was devastated,” she said.
“Knowing that I now have a pathway to follow and a dream to play AFLW, it is a surreal feeling.
“Football is in my blood, and I will keep working hard to reach my goal of playing AFLW.
“I cannot wait to see what the future holds for women’s footy.”
Our Crows Cup program would not be possible without Principal Partner Optus, who proudly support grassroots footy.
