NETBALL wasn't quite the right fit, nor was touch football, but Southport's Fleur Davies has found her niche with Australian rules football.
The Welsh-born Davies (pronounced "Davis") is a 185cm ruck/full forward and is readying herself for the upcoming NAB AFLW Draft, to be held on June 29.
"I started playing footy when I was 13, and I started playing because I was tall," Davies told womens.afl.
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"I was transitioning out of netball and touch, trying to find something else to put my time into. I didn't really like netball, I didn't click with it straight away. All my sisters (Davies is one of four) play netball as well, and they got it quicker than I did.
"As soon as I played my first game, I just loved it. I'd count down the hours 'til training, just super excited to be there and the girls were so lovely and welcoming."
Davies' father came out to Australia – initially temporarily – to play rugby union with Bond Uni, but eventually the whole family made the permanent move when she was four.
She gave rugby sevens a crack, but felt she wasn't fast enough.
"We try to get back every three years. Our Welsh relatives don't get footy. They'll watch the livestream, but they have no idea what's going on," Davies said with a laugh.
The younger sister of Gold Coast defender Giselle, Davies has picked up a few tips and tricks this year.
"It's been really good having her there. I can see firsthand what needs to be done, things she's been told and things she would have loved to know in her final year of junior footy," she said.
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"I've learnt to really switch on at trainings, even in the warm-up, just to take everything seriously.
"Because when you take the next step, everyone's there for a reason and no one's there to muck around, they're there to get picked to play, so train like you would play."
A first-year hairdressing apprentice, Davies has an unusual pre-match ritual for away games.
"For away games, I always have to fake tan, and I have to get teeth gems, it's a weird thing I've been doing since I was young. Look good, feel good, play good.
"They're gems that you glue to your teeth and it lasts for a couple of weeks. When they fall off, you can tell, and they're not edible. I just did it once, and I played really well, so I just keep doing it."
