This article appeared in SEN Inside Football's December Issue. Subscribe today!
Sitting with Eden Zanker in the stands of Etihad Stadium, it’s obvious that the enormity of her progress has not been lost on her.
It was the first day of the 2017 draft combine and it was clear that Zanker was not only excited to be in Melbourne’s second biggest stadium but thrilled even to be in the city.
“Coming to the big smoke, it’s a bit of an eye-opener!” she said.
“I grew up in Natya, which is a small rural town 45 minutes from Swan Hill. It basically consists of a CFA station and that’s it.“
Natya is a five-hour drive from Melbourne. It has no service station or milk bar and the closest gym is over an hour away. Zanker had to get creative with her strength and conditioning program.
“I live in a very isolated area,” she said. “The closest gym is at Swan Hill so I made my training equipment myself.
“I found a metal bar on the farm and tied two motorbike tyres to each end. I use this for squats. For my running I run to the dam and back, which is about a kilometre each way.”
The country girl fell in love with football after kicking a ball around the back yard with her dad Jason and older sister Tegan.
Her first experience playing the game came when she represented the Tooleybuc- Manangatang Saints in their Under 12 boys side. She had to beg her parents to let her play and, as the only girl on the team, went on to win the best and fairest.
This was the only year Zanker was eligible to play football at the club, as girls were not permitted to continue at Under 14 level.
“They told me I couldn’t play football any more cause I’d grown too old for the competition,” she said.
“I was devastated. It was a sport I’d loved my whole childhood and finding out as a 12-year-old that I couldn’t play football any more, it was shattering.”
Instead, Zanker turned to netball and although she enjoyed playing, it was never quite the same.
In 2016 she discovered there was a youth girls football team based in the nearby town of Woorinen. At her first training session the club’s coaches were so impressed by her skills that they sent her to the Bendigo Pioneers, the representative team for the area.
“I went in there (to Woorinen Football Club) looking to play with a great bunch of girls and start my football career again. I was incredibly surprised when they sent me straight to the Pioneers, especially as it was my first training.
“I loved that they saw potential in me, but at the same time I felt a bit guilty going straight to the Pioneers when there would have been some girls who had been training a lot longer but didn’t have the opportunity. I felt a bit guilty about that.”
Since entering the Pioneers program, Zanker’s football career has exploded.
She was selected to represent Victoria County at this year’s National Youth Girls Championships where she was the leading goalkicker of the tournament.
Her successful nationals campaign then saw her selected in the Under 18 Victorian side that took on the Allies in September.
After this match Zanker was named as full forward of the Under 18 All Australian team.
With such an impressive football CV it seemed a formality that she would be picked up in this year’s AFLW draft.
The unassuming Zanker said she would be grateful if she was even invited to the draft.
“I’d be ecstatic. I’d probably cry on the trip down (to Melbourne) of happiness,” she said.
“If I heard my name get called out, I probably wouldn’t stand up, someone would have to drag me up cause I’d be so happy. It would just be the best thing ever, I can’t even explain it.”
As it turned out, not only was Zanker invited to the draft but she was selected at No. 6 with Melbourne Football Club’s first pick. She could scarcely believe it.
“There was definitely a broad range of emotions. I was happy, excited, nervous. There wasn’t a standout emotion, but I think if anything I was just so nervous.”
Her father Jason was also thrilled.
“Dad shed a tear. He was so happy and emotional. He couldn’t believe it and neither could I.
“He was so happy that I have achieved what I have achieved this year and it just topped it off. He loved every moment.”
Melbourne coach Mick Stinnear describes Zanker as a key-position player who is developing fast.
“She’s a super character and we’ve just been so impressed with her,” Stinnear said.
“We know once we get her into the program she will thrive and a number of her teammates are excited to get to work with her.”
The Demons’ women recently went on a five-day camp to Sydney’s Bondi Beach as a getting to know you exercise.
Zanker drove to Sydney with none other than Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce, who Zanker has idolised.
“Oh gosh yeah, I was star struck,” she said.
“A month ago she was someone I wanted to be like and who was a role model for me. Now not only is she a role model but she’s a friend who I can rely on and communicate with.
“That is awesome.”
Zanker will join other tall forwards Alyssa Mifsud and Bianca Jakobsson in the Demons’ forward line.
“I’m so happy I went to Melbourne,” she said.
“They’re such a great bunch of girls and the staff are very supportive, so I really hope I can prove myself and make them really proud.”
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