GUN FOR hire. It's a perfect description for prolific goalkicker Abbey Holmes, who's on the market for a Melbourne-based women's team.
Holmes, a century-a-season forward for Northern Territory Football League women's league premier Waratah, is seeking a new football home this winter.
The 25-year-old, who kicked a staggering 105 goals in 14 games in the 2013-14 season, is staying in Melbourne after contributing three goals in the Northern Territory's 36-point win against Tasmania in an exhibition game at St Kilda's Peanut Farm Reserve last Sunday.
"I thought I'd make the most of the opportunity to come down here for six months and see what happens. If I love it, I'll stay,'' Holmes said.
"It's the right time in my life to come here and really try to better my skills. Now I'm here, I'll definitely look to join a club.''
It was obvious Holmes was heading south for longer than the rest of her teammates when the group assembled at Darwin airport for the flight to Melbourne last Thursday.
"It's funny, all the girls were rocking up with their carry-on luggage and I had about 60 kilos. They thought I was a bit precious bringing that much luggage. But I'm staying here for the rest of the footy season, so we'll see what happens,'' she said.
"I'm really looking forward to being exposed to the highest level of the game. The last 12 months, I've been playing as a midfielder.
"There was a lot of feedback that my game was one-dimensional – lead out, take a mark and kick a goal. Now that I've had a season in the midfield, I feel I have expanded my game and I'm really enjoying it.''
Many fans have already witnessed the Australian junior netball representative's football skills. In 2014, former Hawthorn captain Shane Crawford invited her to play in his All-Stars team in an annual charity game at Etihad Stadium.
"Shane was up in the Territory running a clinic and he got wind of my story. He made a passing comment that he would try to get me on his team," Holmes said.
"I didn't think it was going to happen, but 'Crawf' came up with the goods and I ended up playing for the All-Stars in 2014 and I was lucky enough to be invited back last year,'' she said.
Holmes said she was unsure what to expect during the Melbourne winter.
"I love the Territory. Sport is huge up there, particularly the AFL, and it's a massive community. We play footy in 35 degrees and 100 per cent humidity.
"I don't know how I'm going to go in 10 degrees."