Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1064318
20 QUESTIONS WITH.... SARAH ROWE PEIL Winter | Issue No 4 | Volume 14 38 // Ladies Gaelic Football Association Ambassador Sarah Rowe talks about her transition to AFL and Women's Sport. 1. WAS IT HARD TO MAKE THE JUMP TO AFL? Yes, of course, but because I could get back for championship, it made my decision a lot easier. Every day is a school day over here and I pick up little things in every training session. I have extra skills work to do and video analysis to have a better understanding of the game – but I'm enjoying the challenge. 2. WOULD 'PROFESSIONAL' SPORT HAVE BEEN YOUR DREAM OR IS IT JUST TAKING A GREAT OPPORTUNITY? I always wanted to play professional soccer or go to college in America to play soccer but in my head it was important to do college and have a degree first, and then look to sport after that. So that's why AFLW fell at a perfect time for me, just as I finished college and was unsure as to what my next step was. 3. HOW MUCH OF YOUR IDENTITY IS TIED UP IN SPORT - IS THAT HARD? All my identity is tied up with sport but that's a good complaint but I don't mind. I'd love to think that if I could even influence one young kid, that would be great. The smallest gestures in life can mean the world to a young girl or boy so it's important as LGFA players that we set a good example. 4. WAS THERE ANY FEAR FACTOR OF GOING TO AUSTRALIA? Of course, fear of failure but to be honest there is no pressure on me. I'm taking up a completely new sport going from 0-100, amateur to professional. If I achieve, great. If I don't, I'll die trying but one thing's for sure – I'll work hard to put myself in the best position possible. There was the fear of leaving home and family but I'm lucky to have a club like Collingwood looking after me. 5. WHAT PERSONAL CHARACTERISTIC DO YOU THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR AN ATHLETE TO MAKE IT AT THE TOP LEVEL? Hardworking, honest, good listener, positive. It's important as a professional athlete to tick all the boxes – training, doing extras, resting, recovering , being early for training, being positive, bringing players with you rather than working against them, being honest with teammates, holding each other accountable. 6. IS THERE ANY PERSONAL CHARACTERISTIC THAT YOU HAVE HAD TO WORK ON TO BETTER HERSELF AS AN ATHLETE? My mindset probably, I've become much better at getting knocks and getting back up quickly from them. Before, I would be down in the dumps about a bad training session, now I wipe it off straight away and go again and again. So I'm the boss of making me feel the way I do , whereas before I may have been affected by others, or coaches etc. 7. DID YOU EVER TRY AN INDIVIDUAL SPORT OR DO YOU PREFER THE TEAM ENVIRONMENT? I love the team environment because every day is different. But I enjoyed gymnastics as a young kid because I was the only one responsible for a bad performance. That's why as a football player it's all about the team, you need your team mates just as much as they need you in order to get to the top. If everyone looks after themselves and their job, ultimately the team will be in a better place. 8. HOW HAVE YOU FOUND LIFE WITH COLLINGWOOD SO FAR? Great, they could not be more helpful, I train with the girls 3/4 nights a week but on the other days I'm in doing extra skills. I have 24/7 access to the club. I feel really at home and at ease with the club, it takes time to build relationships with people but after our training camp, and a few Sarah Rowe stories, they knew what I was about!