For Mai Nguyen from Cabramatta in Sydney’s west, football had taken the back seat for much of her life.

The 26-year-old of Vietnamese heritage only took up football after completing her physiotherapy studies, but now she’s ready to focus on the game after being selected by the GIANTS in the 2016 AFL Women’s Draft. 

“It wasn’t until I was about 18 when I first started playing competitive footy,” Nguyen said. 

“Reason being I had a very academic oriented up bringing, secondary to my parent’s cultural beliefs. 

“So sports wasn’t on the radar at all… it wasn’t until I got my degree that my parents were a lot more happy for me to start a sporting career.” 

The midfielder was drafted alongside Amanda Farrugia and Jacinda Barclay who – like Nguyen – are excited as to what awaits in 2017. 

“I’m looking forward to getting stuck into it,” Farrugia said.

“There are really amazing gym facilities here so I can’t wait to start lifting weight, kicking footballs and meeting my new teammates.”

Farrugia, a PE teacher in Parramatta, is one of the premier midfielders in New South Wales, having claimed the 2015 Mostyn Medal as the the best player in the Women's Division One competition.

“I Googled the sport to see what opportunities there were for women and I found there was a whole competition,” Farrugia said.

“I was surprised because I thought it was a sport exclusively for boys. 

“When I turned up to my first training session and realised how keen these girls were I thought I really wanted to be a part of this and I haven’t looked back since.”

For Barclay, football has always been an interest but has taken a back seat to her endeavors in baseball and American football.

“I just played a season with a team in Chicago… so that has been taking my time recently,” she said. 

“But still I’m very driven to be part of what this is and what this is culminating to be.” 

Originally from Western Australia Barclay is a strong utility who can play both forward and back. 

“I’m a country girl, grew up in the sticks as you could say and I ran around with a lot of the boys,” she said.

“So I’ve got that little bit of brute they’ve so nicely given me.”