Despite soccer running in her veins, Lions forward Greta Bodey says that it’s always been love at first sight with AFL.
Speaking to the Roar Deal podcast ahead of her 25th AFLW career game this Sunday, Bodey admits that she always had a keen interest in football despite her passion for soccer.
“I’ve always loved watching footy growing up,” Bodey said.
“[Once I switched codes] I just loved playing it, loved learning the new skills…I’ve just always watched footy so it was great to get involved and do it myself.”
“Now, playing my 25th AFLW game on the weekend, if I look back on my first AFLW game three years ago, it’s been a crazy ride but I love playing footy.”
As she tells the Roar Deal, it was only by chance that she even first gave football a go.
Living and working in Cairns straight out of University, Bodey found the soccer scene up north left much to be desired.
The former soccer star first dipped her toes in the AFL landscape in Cairns, and then again after moving back to Brisbane in 2019, before her natural sporting talent quickly found Bodey in the AFLW pathway and part of the Lions’ Winter Series side that year.
From there she was signed as an Other Sport Rookie and made her debut in Round 1, 2020 with just a handful of AFL games under belt.
Since then Bodey has become a mainstay in the Lions' forward line, booting the first goal of every season she's played.
2022 has seen the tenacious forward step up both on and off field, as she helps to fill the gap left by veteran Lauren Arnell and corral a young Lions’ forward line while still finding her own moments to shine.
Among her 2022 highlight reel sits an agile and clever goal against Carlton that earnt the 26-year-old a Goal of the Year nomination.
With performances like that under her belt, the former soccer star has plenty of reason to feel satisfied with her season so far.
“Yeah, I’ve been pretty happy with how I’ve been going,”
“The forward line has had different personnel each week with covid, injuries, and whatnot, but I think we’ve done pretty well to try and gel and we’re improving from that point of view.
“I’m just happy that I’m able to play a role for that forward line, especially as young as it this year compared to last year.
“I feel like I’ve got a bit more of a leadership role and I’ve been happy with how I’ve been going to kind of lead by example.”
Greta Bodey will play her 25th AFLW game against the West Coast Eagles on Sunday February 27 at 4:10PM AEST at Mineral Resources Park (WA). You can catch all the action live on Kayo, Fox Sports and womens.afl.
