Altona Meadows’ Shae-Lee Murphy is part of an elite women’s football squad headed for the US next month as she edges closer to her dream of being drafted to the AFLW.
Murphy, 23, is among 30 players Australia-wide selected for an inaugural women’s Australian rules football tour of the US.
Murphy grew up in Melton with her mum Kerri and brother Ryan before moving to Altona North at age eight.
“I played for Altona as a junior in the boys’ team and I won the best and fairest; I was only 14,” she said. “Me, the footy club and my mum decided to make a team at Altona so I could keep playing there.”
When she was 20, her world shattered when her mum suddenly died from a brain aneurysm.
“My mum was a big driving factor in female sport in the western suburbs,” Murphy said.
“I’ve been on a bit of a journey since that time, because she was a single parent and she was my best mate and a major support in my life, especially for my footy dream.
“I was actually off football for a year injured at the same time that happened, so I was pretty much well down.
“Over the past year and a half, I’ve got back into footy and I’m back into coaching and it’s all happening for me now.
“I’m coaching at the Western Jets, I got selected to be at the Geelong Cats [VFLW squad] for the past 12 months and now I’m going on this trip. I’m on the up.”
Murphy has set up a GoFundme page to raise the $6000 needed for her US tour.
To donate, visit: gofundme.com/shaelees-womens-afl-tour-in-usa?lang=en-AU
