On Saturday Lani Watson became just the third Queanbeyan Tigers female player to join the prestigious 100 game club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In guernsey number three Watson promised her coach that she would kick three goals for the occasion.
She fell just short with only two goals, but her Tigerettes trounced the ADFA Rams 98-7.
Watson has come a long way from the young woman that grew up around rugby league and netball.
“I didn’t know what AFL was, or how to play,” Watson said.
“I didn’t even bother watching it on TV.”
Not only has she figured out how to play but Watson has had a stellar career including being a key member of the Tigerettes 2013-15 triple premiership years.
Along the way Watson has booted 115 goals for the club, regularly taking out top goal scorer for the season.
Watson has taken her skills to representative level playing for ACT in all but two of her seven years in AFL and played for Australia in Tag20, a variant of OzTag.
Despite all her personal success, there is no doubt in Watson’s mind why she has been able to put together her impressive 100 game career.
“It’s been the culture [at the Tigers], the support staff, the coaches,” she said.
“Meeting all the girls that have come through.
“I just couldn’t ask for a better team.”
For the little girl whose first email address hinted at her deep desire to marry Benji Marshall, putting together a 100 game AFL career is truly remarkable.
Not only have Buddy Franklin and Zac Jones replaced Marshall as her sporting idols but Watson is looking to take the next step in her football career with the Women’s AFL next year.
If her career so far is anything to go by, there is every chance we will see that number three kicking a few goals on TV screens soon.