Sophie’s spoilt for sporting choice

Albany-bred sports talent Sophie McDonald is spoilt for choice.

A State underage hockey representative, McDonald now has the opportunity to play football for WA after her selection in the WA AFLW State 18s squad this week.

An extremely gifted hockey player who was part of WA’s team at the past two under-18 national championships, McDonald has joined a host of women prepared to give football a shot.

The 18-year-old moved to Perth early this year and will juggle a hectic schedule over the winter months as she plays both premier league division one hockey for Suburban Lions and in the WA Women’s Football League for Claremont.

She was named in the 36-strong squad of the WA AFLW 18s squad announced yesterday ahead of the national championships in June and July.

Adding to that McDonald is part of the West Coast Eagles female academy, identified last year at a training session as a future talent.

Despite a schedule that involves playing or training six times a week, the quietly spoken McDonald is loving life.

“I get one day off a week where I do absolutely nothing and focus on recovery,” McDonald said.

“I honestly love it.

“Being busy keeps me really organised.

“I’m on a gap year this year and the focus is fully on sport but I don’t mind that so much.”

McDonald said she had a love for both football and hockey but will use 2019 to identify if she is prepared to chase one as a career.

“At the moment it is quite hard to pick a sport,” she said.

“This year I decided let’s do both at the same time.

“I thought let’s have a go at footy but that’s not completely forgetting about hockey and what I can do there. Footy has that financial benefit and there is not that much money in hockey and the way women’s footy is going it is only going to rise.

“So there is the financial factor but also my love for the sport, right now I love both.”

For now, the dedicated and determined McDonald is going to let her actions with a hockey stick and football boots do the talking and the rest will take care of itself.