Katanning football star ready to step up for South Fremantle WAFLW league side

Katanning’s Sheridan Kowald will take a big step in her footballing career after being selected in South Fremantle’s league side for the WAFLW competition that starts this weekend. Kowald has been playing for Mt Barker in the Great Southern Women’s Football League and was invited to attend an intra-club game last month and then a practice match last weekend after impressing Bulldogs coaching staff. The 22-year-old has overcome an anterior cruciate ligament injury which restricted her to two games for Mt Barker last season, and she is now eager to give the WAFLW a crack. “Having to watch my sisters play reserves for South Fremantle last season whilst coming off an ACL injury, it was an opportunity that was given to me by the South Fremantle coaching staff, and an opportunity to play WAFL footy is not one I am going to pass down,” she said. “Excited is definitely a strong feeling, however there are many other emotions which I have been feeling since being contacted about playing league, It’s such a fierce competition. “There are very high expectations to perform well and do it consistently. “I’ve only played eight games of football to date, so I’m sure that’s an indication of how much pressure I am putting on myself, let alone what the squad is expecting from me.” The Bulldogs take on Subiaco in round one this Sunday. Kowald will join her sisters Mikaila and Georgia, who play in the reserves at the WAFL club, along with fellow Katanning product Tahlia McRoberts. “The opportunity to learn and be coached by some of the best coaches and pushing myself to limits that I would have never thought would be possible,” Kowald said. “I am lucky I’ve come off such a strong rehab and I am probably fitter than I have ever been; being able to keep up with the girls is a weight off my shoulders. “It’s a privilege to be able to join my sisters in the red and white, having them and Mum and Dad supporting me every step of the way — they push me to do better week-in, week-out. “We have seen so much talent come from Katanning and the Great Southern to South Fremantle Football Club in both men and women, I feel so humbled to be able to add to that list of players.”