Pocket Profile- Laura Marshall (Player, Inner West Magpies)
Get to know Inner West Magpies Women’s Premier Division Player, Laura Marshall!
| Name: | Laura Marshall | |
| Nickname: | Marshall / Amazon / The Enforcer | |
| AFL Sydney Club: | Inner West Magpies | |
| Junior Club: | Western Suburbs Junior AFL Club | |
| Position/s: | Full back, Centre Half Back and occasionally Ruck. | |
| Playing Number: | 50 | |
| Usual Grade: | Premier Division | |
| First season of AFL Sydney footy: | 2017 | |
| Why did you start playing footy? | ||
| I started playing footy because I absolutely loved the team nature of it, and how much athleticism it requires. The game itself has so many different skills, and requires you to constantly develop and refine them plus as a bonus; it is lots of fun and keeps you fit. | ||
| What is your most memorable AFL Sydney moment? | ||
| Winning against the Manly Wolves in our last game before COVID-19 restrictions hit, as they beat us in the 2020 Grand Final and it was some of the best football our team had played this season. | ||
| What is the best part about playing at your current club? | ||
| I absolutely love the community we have at Inner West Magpies. The connection and relationships between the local community members, volunteers, juniors and the men’s and women’s team is like no other. Every person at the club is welcoming, supportive, and they live for footy. It’s inspiring to be around these people, and they have all shaped my passion and love for both the game and the club. I can’t ever see myself playing for another club, hence why I have been at the IWM since my first and last junior (five years going strong). | ||
| Do you have any pre-game superstitions or routines? | ||
| I always have to eat two crumpets with peanut butter, honey and banana exactly 1.5 hours before the first siren. I also have to wear a pink scrunchie in my hair and slick it back into a low pony. On the way to the game I will always listen to Frank Sinatra to keep the nerves calm and centred. Some call me an old soul. | ||
| What is the best advice you have received as a player and from who? | ||
| Coach Catta: “Don’t even worry about the other player, they can’t catch you. You just use your speed, dominate and run it straight through them. They will fly off you and won’t be able to catch you. Trust yourself”. | ||
| Who has the best kick at the club? | ||
| I’d vote Bec Privitelli, Eleri Morris or one of the Zoppo brothers! | ||
| What is one AFL rule you would change and why? | ||
| I’d change the ball hitting the post rule. I vote that if the ball hits the two middle posts it should just be classified as a goal, or at least 2. Mainly because we sometimes often love to hit the post in crucial games. | ||
| What are you missing most about footy during lockdown? | ||
| I am missing all of my team mates, being able to play games that challenge my athleticism and skills, and absolutely miss the training sessions we have. Being able to compete is also something I will never take for granted again – I miss that big time. | ||
| Interests outside of football? | ||
| Outside of footy I absolutely love going to the beach and hitting sunset drinks with the girls. I also have a strong passion for fitness, where I train at a CrossFit gym and conduct my own 1 on 1 Personal Training Sessions. | ||
| Which teammate is most likely to: | ||
| Turn up late | Ella H | |
| Be on the massage table | Linda L | |
| Forget their boots | Berry F | |
| Suck up to the coach | Maddie C | |
| Appear on the next season of Australian Survivor | Erin Todd (who had her teeth knocked out during a game and didn’t even realise). Also loves to score from the backline -makes sense. | |
| Who is your tip to win the 2021 AFL Premiership & Brownlow Medal? | ||
| Swannies (big fan till I die) or the Bulldogs. I’d love to see Tom Papley win the Brownlow but my bet is on Touk Miller or Ollie Wines | ||
| Who would you like to see as the Pre-Game entertainment for the 2021 AFL Grand Final? | ||
| Kanye West for sure. Or the Captain of our men’s team – Callum McEvoy, I hear he is great on the Karaoke. | ||
| First place you want to visit after travel restrictions lift? | ||
| All over Europe FOR SURE! (Madrid, Italy, France, Greece, Croatia) – I was meant to go in 2020 (don’t tell my coach) | ||
| What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? | ||
| A house on the water at Manly beach AND a million pairs of Air Jordans. | ||
| What is the one superpower you wish you had and why? | ||
| To be able to read people’s minds without them knowing. Would be handy for my job as a teacher, as a coach, as a player and just as a human in general. Then you’d know your players next moves. | ||
| Apple Music or Spotify? | ||
| Spotify – for sure. I am I charge of our pre-game playlists, and a collaborative team Spotify playlist has been the way to go. | ||
| Pineapple on Pizza. Yes/ No? | ||
| YES! | ||
| Usual coffee order? | ||
| An iced long black – even if it’s snowing. | ||
| What is this player know for at your club? |
| Laura is known for her tenacity at the contest and her determination to help the team succeed. She is also nicknamed ‘The Beast’ because she is so hard and tough. She is still learning the game but is driven by being the best she can be. |
| How can people get involved with playing at your club? |
| Go to Join Now at: http://innerwestmagpiesafl.com.au/ |
To get involved in the club, head to their website or check out their page on Instagram or Facebook!
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