By JARROD POTTER
DOMINATING whatever football oval she has taken to in 2015, Emily Browning’s sporting journey continues to reach stratospheric heights time and time again.
Browning, 15, from Cranbourne North, has marked her name down as one of the best young female footballers in Australia.
Not just in Victoria, but the entire country, after her selection in the School Sport Australia under-16 girls All Australian squad.
After starring in the national schoolgirls championships – held last month in Geelong – the Victorian champion midfielder didn’t just bring home a premiership medallion, but was also awarded her first All Australian selection.
“I felt pretty proud of how hard I worked and it was a great achievement to have,” Browning said.
“It was probably the greatest moment once your name gets called – was just sitting there and wasn’t actually paying attention and all my friends were like ‘you’ve just been called out All Australian’ and I got the shivers as I walked up there.
“It was definitely one of my goals and was really great to achieve it.”
It wasn’t the first national championship Browning has won this year either as she was part of Vic Metro’s successful Youth Girls national championships team that knocked over Queensland in May for the title.
“I played for them last year as well but we definitely bonded more this year and worked so much better together,” Browning said.
With Dandenong Stingrays Youth Girls Academy selection also on her plate, it makes Browning one of the best capped footballers in the country this season as she sets her sights towards a South East Juniors grand final berth and potentially getting drafted into the Women’s AFL in years to come.
“I just try my best to improve my footy and hopefully get drafted one day if I keep improving with it,” Browning said. “Always putting my extra efforts in at training and giving my all in games.”
For now she’s back anchoring her Lyndhurst Youth Girls midfield, with the Lightning set to play their inaugural final this weekend as part of their debut South East Juniors season.
The new Youth Girls club is excelling – sitting fourth on the ladder – and Browning puts it down to hard work off the track improving everyone in the squad, from the experienced players to the brand new Lightning players.
“Our coach really pushes us hard – we train with the boys and just getting experience with them it’s really helped us out a lot,” Browning said.
“Especially with the new girls – they’ve learned a lot – from learning to kick to becoming one of our dominant players and one of them is now one of our best players.”
She wanted to thank her parents for their support and her brothers Hamish and Aaron kicking the footy with her.
