FOR EXCITING Adelaide forward Ruth Wallace, who has played soccer in the national domestic competition and ran the New York marathon as a 21-year-old, her purpose as a sportswoman is clear.

She is Aboriginal on her father's side and when she went to live with him in Cairns for two years as a youngster, it sparked a passion in her.

"My mob is from Cape York [right at the tip of Queensland], so that was a very important time for me culturally," Wallace told AFL.com.au.

"That's a massive reason and purpose for why I am playing footy. It’s great to be able to go out into communities and do a lot of positive things with them in education, getting out and playing footy and being a positive role model."

Wallace, 25, has done a lot since her time in Cairns. She was drafted 38^th in last year's NAB AFL Women's Draft and has played every game this year, booting three goals in Adelaide's round five win against Carlton at Norwood Oval.

That match meant a lot to her – she represented Norwood in 2017 in the SANFL Women's League and slotted 11 goals from six games.

She played some football as a girl but turned to soccer when her playing options dried up.

In 2008, she joined Adelaide United in the W-League. Being 15, she had to wait a year before she could represent the club.

Her prowess with the round ball was clear but after a while her motivation to play the game waned. In 2014, she discovered the Indigenous Marathon Project, created by Australian running champion Rob de Castella. After six months of training, she ran the New York marathon.

"That really gave me a purpose. Basically, I've always played team sports. That six-month preparation was about finding your purpose when you're actually physically depleted and what's going to keep you going," Wallace said.

While running, she focused her mind on her family, her community and desire to “keep moving forward".

Wallace also studied for a certificate in health and leisure, which she has used to help espouse the values of a healthy lifestyle in remote communities.

She took part in such work after she finished at Willunga High School with Crows legend Andrew McLeod, through a two-year traineeship with the SANFL. She helped run sports clinics in the upper parts of South Australia, close to the border with the Northern Territory.

"Being able to go to remote communities and to see how some communities in Australia are still living was very interesting," Wallace said.

"But also seeing just how loving and how family-orientated those communities are was amazing. That's where I saw a huge passion of mine. I knew I wanted to really make a difference."