NSCnews Online - February, 2017 | Page 98

Rhiannon remembers Nanna May calling out to her : “ You ’ re not running around enough . Don ’ t make me come out there and make you run ”. “ She ’ s awesome , my Nanna , so funny ,” Rhiannon said . Army is also supportive ( although , as yet , CO 10FSB LTCOL Dave Nathan hasn ’ t been spotted pacing the sidelines , threatening to “ make SGT Busch run ”), giving her plenty of leeway to pursue her dream . She participated in the AFLW ’ s Queensland draft day in October last year and she was not selected , which was devastating , but she was identified in the talent search as a possibility in this year ’ s draft . Disappointed , she was determined not to give up and she sought permission to train with the Lions . So , from November through to the end of the year , she stuck at it , turning up for training and trying to get the little edge she needed to get that tap on the shoulder . She did get a tap on the shoulder , but it was to tell her she was welcome to continue training until the end of January , but “ we don ’ t want to waste your time ”. “ I was a bit upset at first , but I went back to training for the first two weeks of the year at least ,” Rhiannon said . Just promoted to sergeant , she said she really couldn ’ t justify staying on , knowing she wasn ’ t going to get picked . “ Obviously , I have to break my legs and get taller ,” she said ruefully . While she is determined to continue , she doesn ’ t want footy to interfere with her Army career . “ We ’ re going to Shoalwater Bay this year ( for Ex Hamel ), so I will just have to miss games , work has to come first ,” she said . Rhiannon will be 28 years old this year , but , in the fledgling competition lacking football experience , she sees age ( and experience ) as an advantage . “ One of the girls picked up by the Adelaide Crows is 33 ,” Rhiannon said . And what if she is drafted and she has to make a similar choice to the one she made when she was a recruit ? Army or football ? “ Army , no question , but it won ’ t come to that , I can do both , I want to do both .” If determination counts for anything , she will do both ... and excel .
Rhiannon in front of a LARC
98 | FEBRUARY 2017
Rhiannon getting tackled