Amanda’s not letting illness get in the way of footy.

Amanda Whitehead is aspiring to be the best that she can be. Seventeen year old Amanda will represent Queensland at the 2010 AFL U18 Youth Girls National championships in Melbourne in September.  Amanda who plays for the Western Magpies in the Queensland women’s league is also an accomplished umpire having umpired school boy championships at both state and national level.

Amanda who plays on the wing and on the ball is keen to continue her development both on and off the field. In the lead up to the championships she spoke about improving both her game and her personal development;

“I am aspiring to be the best that I can be. I want to keep improving my skills and my leadership ability.”

Amanda who has played AFL since she was 13 has also played other sports but now loves Australian football;

“I played NRL until I was 13 then I came to AFL and haven’t gone back. My whole family is NRL but have now turned to AFL.

Medication and physio are daily constants for Amanda who lives her life with cystic fibrosis. Inspirational Amanda who was born with the disease regularly spends time in hospital and she says that being fit is a key to managing the disease.

“I don’t let cystic fibrosis rule my life. I fit my treatment in around my footy.”

Follow Amanda's progress in the first ever National titles for U18 Youth Girls in Melbourne from September 6 with finals contested at Craigieburn Oval on the 11th. Check out the action at AFL Kicks for Chicks on Facebook or Twitter.