AFL WOMEN'S EXHIBITION SERIES
Western Bulldogs v Western Australia
, Etihad Stadium
12.40pm (EST), Sunday, June 5
Go to AFL.com.au/womens for live video and audio streams of the match, plus a match report.
WITH interest and excitement now matching the rapid growth of women's football, Kaitlyn Ashmore's decision to choose Australia's indigenous game over a promising athletics career is proving an inspired one.
The 24-year-old was once an aspiring javelin thrower, talented enough to win a bronze medal in under-age competition at the Australian championships.
But after being surrounded by footy growing up in Ballarat in Victoria's west, the she couldn't be more at ease with her life-changing decision.
"I did athletics from a young age, but then I started footy and it went from there," Ashmore said.
"The future (of women's football) is looking really bright and hopefully (the momentum) keeps building, because it's going to be really, really good.
"With interest building around women's footy people are definitely noticing us around town a bit more," she said.
"I'm pretty excited and really happy I chose footy."
Like most footballers, Ashmore – a black belt in karate – has experienced the up and downs that are part of the game.
The elation of Melbourne selecting her with pick No.8 in the 2014 women's draft didn't last long – she was delisted at the end of that season.
But the Bulldogs saw something in the fleet-footed winger and snapped her up with pick No.13 in last year's draft.
With the Dogs' AFL side looking to play games in her hometown Ballarat from 2017, Ashmore has a strong bond with the club.
A good performance in the AFL women's exhibition series match against Western Australia on Sunday – and against Melbourne on September 3 – can only help her chances of being retained by the Dogs as one of their five foundation players for the inaugural AFL women's league starting next year.
The Bulldogs are one of the favourites to be awarded one of up to 10 licences for the new league.
"I love the club, and I support the boys now," said Ashmore, who used to be a Richmond supporter.
"I would love to remain at the Dogs if the chance came up and I would definitely take it with both hands.
When she's not running out for the Bulldogs, Ashmore is studying for a primary school teaching degree at Melbourne University and tearing up and down the wing for the school's side in the Victorian Women's Football League.
She often lines up on her former Melbourne teammates, and she's noticed a healthy rivalry building between the two pioneering women's clubs.
And that competitiveness between the sides went up a notch when the Dogs beat the Dees for the first time in an exhibition series match in March.
"It was our first win over them, and we won't let them live that one down," Ashmore said.
