BRISBANE Lions ground manager Emma Zielke has a valid excuse for stepping aside from her usual match-day role at the Gabba on Saturday.
Zielke will be hunting the ball across the Gabba turf later that night instead of running the normal team errands for a home game.
The midfielder/forward is preparing to play a key role for the Lions' women's team in an exhibition match against the Gold Coast Suns following the first QClash of the season.
"It will be the first time having a kick on the Gabba. Usually on game day, I do go onto the ground occasionally but this will be different,'' she said.
"I've asked for the day off so I'm not running around like a headless chook. I'll probably sit and watch a bit of the boys' game before we start to get ready for our game.''
Zielke calls the Gabba home, working as an administrative assistant to Lions' chief executive Greg Swann.
She said the Lions are supportive of her after-hours football training with local club, University of Queensland, and the state academy squad at AFL Queensland headquarters.
Drafted by Melbourne in 2014 and by the Western Bulldogs last year (at No. 7) for exhibition games between the two clubs, Zielke is a three-time state representative who helped establish the Coorparoo women’s team in 2013. She has settled back into the Queensland scene, with the ultimate aim of being part of the 2017 AFL women's national league.
Players from the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns have been training together weekly at the state academy since last November. Saturday night's teams will be supplemented by a small group of hopefuls from the north Queensland regions.
"It's a big opportunity for Queensland girls to put their brand out there and show they want to be on a team next year,'' the 27-year-old Zielke said.
"The Suns have a lot of pace, but we have quite a few talls who might cause some problems if we get the ball rolling. But I think we’re fairly well matched.
"I've watched the AFL boys training and playing at the Gabba many times, so it's exciting to know I'll be running out there and playing myself,'' she said.
Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns
Saturday, April 16
Gabba
LISTEN to the live call at afl.com.au/womens or via the headphones icon on the AFL Live app
WATCH the match live at AFLcommunity.com.au
