Four weeks into her first AFL pre-season as part of the Brisbane Lions’ women’s side, Sabrina Frederick-Traub is soaking up the rigours of the harsh physical test.
The former Pinjarra local and ex-Peel Thunderbird is taking the challenge of preparing for the first AFL Women’s competition in her stride, saying the ordeal has been tough but rewarding work.
“The transition has been really smooth so far – it’s a bit tiring and adapting to the new workload is a challenge, but it’s been great,” she said.
“Pre-seasons at club-level football are usually just all about running and conditioning, but this is so different to anything any of the girls have done before.
“Usually we wouldn’t be working on ball skills until three or four months in, so to be doing it from the start is new to us.”
The full forward said players were helping each other get through the more demanding training sessions.
“I arrived at the club earlier and it was just Tayla (Harris) and I, so to have a whole team there now really is a huge help,” she said.
“If someone’s struggling you can give them a hand and you know you can lean on your teammates to help you out.”
Frederick-Traub was picked as one of Brisbane’s two marquee players, along with Harris, in July.
Her strong overhead mark, goal-kicking prowess and dominant form in the ruck caught the eye of Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich.
She will be able to put those skills to the test in February, after the fixture for the AFL Women’s season was released last week.
The ex-South Freo star will play her first game against Melbourne, before a homecoming game taking on the Dockers at Fremantle Oval in round two.
“I’m super excited to come back to WA,” she said.
“My last game on Fremantle Oval was actually a pretty unexpected win so it will bring back some good memories, and it will be great to take on some old friends who play for Freo now.”
Brisbane face a particularly tough schedule, hitting the road four times and playing just three games at home.
They will fly to Melbourne twice with trips to Perth and Adelaide also on the fixture.
Frederick-Traub said the club’s time on the road would build character in the team.
“Any time you have to travel a lot can be pretty daunting, but I think it will add to the experience of being an AFL footballer,” she said.
“In recent times if women had to fly interstate to play it was just for one day, but now you’ll spend the weekend adjusting to the setting.”
The first round of the seven-week AFL Women’s season will be held on the first weekend of February.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
