SOME might see football and art might being mutually exclusive. But after suffering consecutive anterior cruciate ligament tears in her left knee, former Collingwood AFLW player Kendra Heil has found her niche painting athletes.
The Canadian-born Heil studied art at the University of Guelph (about 100km west of Toronto), and started painting athletes when commissioned by a friend to capture former NBA star Allen Iverson on canvas.
Her series of athlete paintings is striking. She uses bright, mostly primary-coloured acrylics on a black background, capturing not only the personality of the subject, but a trademark action as well, whether that be bouncing a ball or celebrating a goal.
"It was really exciting to do it and find something I'd like to do. Initially I was just doing copies of things for people every once in a while, just because I could, not because I needed to. Now I've got something that's me, and identifies as me," Heil said.
The 29-year-old has given up more than most for her fledgling football career.
A multi-sport athlete, she was introduced to Australian football in Canada by her personal trainer, who promised a few free sessions if she came to training with the Hamilton Wildcats.
She was excited to discover a game that combined elements of other sports.
"I had some foot skills from soccer, and I had hands from basketball and then the tackling from rugby, so I had a little bit of everything.
"That's why I love it. It's not just rugby, which just goes back and forth on that line of scrimmage, or soccer, which is on the ground or basketball, which is all in your hands. Footy goes in every direction.
"It's up, down, back and forth, it's all the skills. You have to put it all together and it's an elite fitness level. I just love the challenge."
Kendra Heil's portrait of Adelaide star Sarah Perkins. Picture: kendraheil.com
Heil was selected in Canada's national team, the Northern Lights, a few years before the 2014 AFL International Cup.
Canada won the tournament in 2014 and was aiming for back-to-back women’s titles but lost to Ireland in the Grand Final last Saturday at Etihad Stadium.
Although she didn’t have an official role with Canada's team this year, she was busy supporting from the sidelines, even hosting Canadian players who came to Melbourne before the rest of the team.
Playing in the 2014 International Cup was the tipping point for Heil to move to Australia. She landed at the Eastern Devils in the VFL Women's competition, where her partner was coach. She had a shock introduction to the Australian version of football.
"I figured I'd come over earlier [before the Cup] and get a season in and improve my skills.
"I started my first year tagging girls like Daisy Pearce and Steph Chiocci, and it sucked. It was really difficult – they're really intelligent footballers.
"In Canada I was all right, but when I got here, I wanted to be the worst player. Because then you can learn from that. I didn't want to get here and be great."
Heil first tore the ACL in her left knee in January last year. After getting back to full fitness, she was passed over in the first AFLW draft before signing with Collingwood a few weeks later as a free agent.
In a devastating turn of events, the forward re-tore her ACL at training in November, just 10 months after the initial injury.
"I was cleared by multiple doctors and physios [before resuming full training]. It was really innocuous, just a change in direction," Heil said.
"I knew it was a risk going into the season – I had done everything by the timeline, I didn't rush anything – but it's still always a risk."
Heil asked Collingwood if she could paint portraits of fellow Magpies from both the men's and women's teams in order to stay connected to the club while injured. She gets players to sign the paintings once completed, and is in the process of auctioning them for charity.
"I initially did Mason Cox, because he was the first men's player who I really connected to, probably because we're both internationals.
"He gave me the idea of donating a portion to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, because I lost my dad to cancer and I wanted to do something that also respected my dad's memory."
Kendra Heil's portrait of fellow international Mason Cox. Picture: kendraheil.com
Other portraits include Jasmine Garner rejoicing after scoring the first AFLW goal, Magpies captain Scott Pendlebury and Adelaide forward Sarah Perkins' 'arms-out' celebration.
Heil is aiming to be back in full training in December. She knew her delisting was coming, notifying Collingwood she would not be available for the 2018 season after deciding on an extended rehabilitation after surgery.
Heil is keen to return to AFLW level but not sure if she'll make it, especially after working with Vic Metro's squad at the recent NAB AFLW Under-18 Championships.
She enjoys coaching, having also spent time this year helping out the Box Hill Hawks' men's development side in the VFL and working with some of her more inexperienced teammates at the Eastern Devils.
"When I coached the Metro girls, I loved it but it was like, 'Stop being so good, I want to get back!' They're amazing, and they made me want it so much more and work so much harder," Heil said.
