Welcome to Tigerland Alana Woodward

[Tigers Time]

Just upgraded to our AFLW TEAM. Congratulations Alana well deserved.

 

[TigermanM2]

 

[TigermanM2]

Woodward earns AFLW selection
Grace Kalac, richmondfc.com.au
Sep 6, 2019 1:32PM


Hard-working VFLW midfielder Alana Woodward has been elevated to Richmond's inaugural 2020 AFLW side.

Woodward’s selection comes due to a recently introduced rule, which allows expansion clubs the opportunity to add additional Academy players to their list before the draft.

MEMBERSHIP Become one of the Club's first inaugural Women's Football Foundation members

As a result, Woodward has been chosen using Richmond’s final draft pick.

Richmond nominated a total of four academy players through the new rule, with the remaining three players’ selection subject to a bidding process with opposition clubs.

Woodward, who has been a part of the Richmond Women’s program since its inception, showcased her tenacity across nine VFLW games in 2019, averaging 8.3 disposals and 8.4 tackles per game.

She was a standout in Richmond’s Round 13 win over Williamstown, recording a whopping 20 tackles.

A much-loved member of the VFLW Tigers’ 2019 leadership group, Woodward has led by example through her dedication and optimistic attitude.

When asked by Richmond Head of Women's Football Kate Sheahan how she felt after hearing the news of her AFLW selection, Woodward had just one word, “proud.”

“It wasn’t so much that I was proud of myself, but I was just so proud to be continue as part of the Club,” she said.

“Being part of the VFLW has meant so much to me, and being able to continue to be part of that team and part of that culture that I’m been involved in since it all started, is just so special to me.”

But it hasn’t been an easy journey for Woodward.

The 29-year-old was forced to make a number of sacrifices on her path to AFLW, and battled a string of injuries along the way.

“I moved down from the country and (walked away from) the security of having my own house and an established career, to follow a dream of playing footy,” she said.

“I had this burning desire to give it a go and see where it would take me, and I knew I would always have this regret if I didn’t chase the dream.

“I have worked hard and I think that’s because (football) is not something that comes totally natural to me. I do have to work hard at it and I will continue to do so.”

Woodward had surgery in the off-season on a troublesome ankle but continued to be plagued by the injury throughout 2019, sidelining her for seven weeks of the VFLW season.

It was a tough setback, but after applying herself throughout the rehabilitation process, she is back to top form and primed to take her game to the next level.

“During my injury…everyone in the Club rallied around me. It’s such a special organisation and culture to be a part of,” she said.

“No one ever discounted me because I was injured, there was always support and belief…I’m incredibly grateful.

“I just really want to play my role for the (AFLW) team. Whatever that looks like, I’ll give it 100 per cent.”

Woodward was this year recognised for role modelling Richmond’s core behaviours and values through nomination in the Club’s annual peer-voted Bunjil Awards.

She also received the 2018 Richmond VFLW Players’ Player award, voted by her teammates.

Sheahan said Woodward has stood out with her genuine care for her Club and teammates.

“Throughout her two seasons at Richmond, Alana’s been given roles against some of the AFLW’s best midfielders, including Emma Kearney, Ellie Blackburn, and Jaimee Lambert, who have all had really significant influence on the VFLW competition,” Sheahan said.

“She really played her role for the team and shut those players down.

“We’re really proud of the development our players have undertaken, because it’s not just the Richmond Football Club that is interested in our girls, they’ve caught the eye of other Melbourne-based clubs as well.”

 

[Stan Judkins]

Woodward earns AFLW selection
Grace Kalac, richmondfc.com.au
Sep 6, 2019 1:32PM


Hard-working VFLW midfielder Alana Woodward has been elevated to Richmond's inaugural 2020 AFLW side.

Woodward’s selection comes due to a recently introduced rule, which allows expansion clubs the opportunity to add additional Academy players to their list before the draft.

MEMBERSHIP Become one of the Club's first inaugural Women's Football Foundation members

As a result, Woodward has been chosen using Richmond’s final draft pick.

Richmond nominated a total of four academy players through the new rule, with the remaining three players’ selection subject to a bidding process with opposition clubs.

Woodward, who has been a part of the Richmond Women’s program since its inception, showcased her tenacity across nine VFLW games in 2019, averaging 8.3 disposals and 8.4 tackles per game.

She was a standout in Richmond’s Round 13 win over Williamstown, recording a whopping 20 tackles.

A much-loved member of the VFLW Tigers’ 2019 leadership group, Woodward has led by example through her dedication and optimistic attitude.

When asked by Richmond Head of Women's Football Kate Sheahan how she felt after hearing the news of her AFLW selection, Woodward had just one word, “proud.”

“It wasn’t so much that I was proud of myself, but I was just so proud to be continue as part of the Club,” she said.

“Being part of the VFLW has meant so much to me, and being able to continue to be part of that team and part of that culture that I’m been involved in since it all started, is just so special to me.”

But it hasn’t been an easy journey for Woodward.

The 29-year-old was forced to make a number of sacrifices on her path to AFLW, and battled a string of injuries along the way.

“I moved down from the country and (walked away from) the security of having my own house and an established career, to follow a dream of playing footy,” she said.

“I had this burning desire to give it a go and see where it would take me, and I knew I would always have this regret if I didn’t chase the dream.

“I have worked hard and I think that’s because (football) is not something that comes totally natural to me. I do have to work hard at it and I will continue to do so.”

Woodward had surgery in the off-season on a troublesome ankle but continued to be plagued by the injury throughout 2019, sidelining her for seven weeks of the VFLW season.

It was a tough setback, but after applying herself throughout the rehabilitation process, she is back to top form and primed to take her game to the next level.

“During my injury…everyone in the Club rallied around me. It’s such a special organisation and culture to be a part of,” she said.

“No one ever discounted me because I was injured, there was always support and belief…I’m incredibly grateful.

“I just really want to play my role for the (AFLW) team. Whatever that looks like, I’ll give it 100 per cent.”

Woodward was this year recognised for role modelling Richmond’s core behaviours and values through nomination in the Club’s annual peer-voted Bunjil Awards.

She also received the 2018 Richmond VFLW Players’ Player award, voted by her teammates.

Sheahan said Woodward has stood out with her genuine care for her Club and teammates.

“Throughout her two seasons at Richmond, Alana’s been given roles against some of the AFLW’s best midfielders, including Emma Kearney, Ellie Blackburn, and Jaimee Lambert, who have all had really significant influence on the VFLW competition,” Sheahan said.

“She really played her role for the team and shut those players down.

“We’re really proud of the development our players have undertaken, because it’s not just the Richmond Football Club that is interested in our girls, they’ve caught the eye of other Melbourne-based clubs as well.”

"Woodward’s selection comes due to a recently introduced rule, which allows expansion clubs the opportunity to add additional Academy players to their list before the draft.
As a result, Woodward has been chosen using Richmond’s final draft pick.
Richmond nominated a total of four academy players through the new rule, with the remaining three players’ selection subject to a bidding process with opposition clubs."
Great news for Alana, a great team player and very well deserved
wonder who the other 3 players Richmond has nominated? (Kate Dempsey, Grace Egan, Lisa Davie)
I'm guessing we'll use our last 4 picks on our VFLW players
Kate Dempsey and Grace Egan are going to cost us!!!!
Go tigerettes

 

[TigermanM2]

AFLW Pocket Profile: Alana Woodward

By richmondfc.com.au

Get to know a little more about AFLW Tiger Alana Woodward...
Guernsey number: 13
Position: Midfielder
Height: 169cm
D.O.B.: 13/07/1990
Nickname: Woody
Instagram handle: @alanawoodward13
Occupation: Meat Trader (Sales & Marketing)
Local club: Swan Hill/Kerang & Old Xavs
Club supported growing up: Sydney Swans
Hidden talent: It's still hiding!
Pre-game meal: Porridge with banana, cinnamon and honey
Favourite holiday destination: Home/the great outdoors
Favourite TV show: Documentaries
Most-used app: Weather or WhatsApp (not by choice!)
Cats or dogs: Dogs
Favourite type of kick: Shank
Favourite pump up song to listen to before a match: You make my dreams come true - Hall & Oates
Greatest inspiration and why: My teammates, James Couzens, Ash Barty, Roger Federer, Sally Pearson, too many to mention...
Which AFL/AFLW player do you model your game off: I love watching Trent Cotchin and Erin Phillips play because they are fierce competitors but remain humble and strive to make their teammates better.

 

[TigermanM2]

Writing history: Woodward’s whirlwind week
Throughout Richmond's inaugural AFLW season, the players will be taking Tiger fans on the journey with them as they share their experiences. Today, midfielder Alana Woodward details the Tigers' season opener...
By Alana Woodward, richmondfc.com.au

Just like that, our inaugural AFLW season is underway!
There was so much anticipation in the week leading up to the season opener. When Tommy Hunter called to tell me I’d be playing, I felt a mix of relief and pure excitement. While it was a weight lifted off my shoulders, straight away I was thinking about the job ahead. We had a team mentality that Round 1 wouldn’t define us, and it won’t, but deep down everyone wanted to play in our first ever game.
In what was pretty crazy timing, on the exact day I found out I’d be making my AFLW debut, a friend texted me a 'Facebook memory' from 12 months prior, where I was watching the 2019 AFLW Round 1 match in the Ikon Park grandstand with a group of Richmond VFLW players. I remember we had a conversation about how amazing it would be to play at that level.
Back then, I thought it was a goal that was almost unattainable for me, having moved down from the country and having only played VFLW for a season.
So, it really reflected how special the opportunity was. To fast-forward one year to Friday night and be starting in the middle of the ground at the first centre bounce, with stars like Monique Conti and Katie Brennan that I had looked up to in the years before, was incredible.

Being a night match, the lead up to the game was a bit different to what I was used to. I had the day off work and I woke up with butterflies…it took me a couple of minutes to realise why I was nervous!
As soon as I arrived at the Club and was around the other girls, I felt fairly relaxed and was able to enjoy it and take it all in, which is what I wanted to be able to do for my first game.
The girls were really up and about and everyone was really looking forward to the night ahead. On the bus to Ikon Park we got caught in a bit of traffic and it was really interesting to see everyone’s different preparations. Some of the girls were really jovial and joking while others were in the zone with their headphones on.
Having not played a lot of footy together as a group, we’re still learning about each other’s intricacies. It’s moments like this that teach us more about each other. We’re so lucky that the group has just come together so seamlessly, we just seem to click.
When we got to Ikon Park, there were already so many supporters waiting at the gate, which was really surreal. We obviously felt the masses of support leading up to Round 1, but to see everyone dressed up in the Yellow and Black was incredible.
We walked into the rooms at Ikon Park and it was also decked out in Yellow and Black, complete with our message board from the season launch, which was really inspiring. Reading those messages from family and friends again really gave us some perspective and the girls took a lot out of it.
We didn’t know that Kevin Bartlett and Jack Riewoldt would be presenting our inaugural guernsey and speaking about something that was so significant to Richmond’s history. They were so sincere in what they were saying and it gave me goose bumps to see them pass the jumper onto Katie.

One of my favourite memories from the night was the noise of the crowd. We couldn’t believe the roar of the Tiger Army, even when we came out onto the ground for the warm up.
There were a few key moments when the roar really erupted; when we ran through the banner, the first bounce and our inaugural goal.
The first goal was incredible. I wasn’t near Sabs when it happened but it didn’t matter because the whole team celebrated, no matter where they were. The bench went off, the backline got together, the midfielders and forwards all ran to Sabs and jumped over the top of her.
The moment held such special significance to us, and it represented all the work that had gone into the program, not only by the players but the whole team and Club, to get us there.

Sabrina Frederick kicks Richmond Women's first ever goal.
For me, another highlight of the night was seeing Court Wakefield perform like she did. The sacrifices that her and her family have made just to be there and to see her perform on the big stage was incredible.
I was so impressed by the way our group handled the occasion. Their were so many making their debut at the level and even the girls that have games under their belt, haven’t played a lot of footy together. The way our young girls stood up in important moments was great to see, like Sarah Sansonetti’s second and third efforts, Laura McClelland’s ferocity and the contest and Gabby Seymour taking marks deep in defence. Hannah Burchell hadn’t played a game at AFLW level for a while and came back from an ankle injury to give us such a lift.
While we were outperformed on the scoreboard, there were so many players and moments to celebrate and that’s what we’ll build on this week and the rest of the year.

Carlton are a really quality side. As the Grand Finalists from last year and with four years in the system, they have a lot of experience playing together, so we knew they were going to be strong.
There’s no denying there was some disappointment after the game. But as Tommy said, the night certainly was bigger than footy, and we were so proud to be a part of it.
We know what aspects of our game we need to work on and we are so hungry for another opportunity this weekend. There are only eight home and away games and it’s going to be over before we know it, so we don’t want to let another game go by without playing our way.
We’ve got a really strong belief in our processes, our structures and our teammates, so we know that if we can do those little things properly, we’re going to be a lot more competitive.
We can’t wait for our first official AFLW interstate trip. The game is there for the taking and we aren’t about to let this opportunity pass us by.