Katelyn Rosenzweig has been running around in a Crows guernsey since she was three years old.
So, when Adelaide called her name out in the 2018 AFLW Draft, it was a “dream come true”, despite constantly being told she couldn’t play football.
Rosenzweig’s mother didn’t want her to play footy and spent a lot of her childhood trying to steer her towards a netball court.
Ultimately though, it was all in vain, as Rosenzweig proved the naysayers wrong.
“When I got older, everyone was like, ‘you can’t do that, it’s a boys’ sport,’” Rosenzweig said.
“And I was like, ‘yeah right.’”
The Tanunda local finally got her chance at nine years of age, as a fill-in for her brother’s team at Hamley Bridge.
She never looked back, going through the ranks playing local footy, state footy and representing North Adelaide in the SANFLW before finally being taken by the Crows with pick No. 41.
It was a big 2018 for the 18-year-old, winning the leading goalkicker award with 15 goals after switching from defence to attack for North Adelaide.
Rosenzweig also won a premiership with Salisbury in the Adelaide Footy League, while completing year 12 which she finished last week.
The utility with a booming kick also represented both South Australia and the Central Allies in the 2018 Under-18 Championships, as well as making her
Those experiences have set her up for entering the elite environment which she will now be immersed in during the summer.
“The state program has definitely helped me improve a lot, on and off the field as a person,” Rosenzweig said.
“The experience itself has been great, I made many friendships out of it and I have stepped my game up out of it as well.
“When I played for the Thunder, it was just about playing my game and focusing on the team’s goals as well. It was another great experience.”
During her time with the Allies, Rosenzweig was coached by one of her idols.
Little did she know, she was soon to become teammates with her too.
“I had Chelsea Randall as one of my coaches for Allies last year and her words of advice and wisdom around the game definitely has helped me grow as a footballer,” Rosenzweig said.
“Words can’t even describe how excited I am to train with her.”
Nicknamed ‘Rosie’, the versatile player enjoyed playing forward during the
“I like playing up forward, to snag a few goals,’ she said.
“But I definitely don’t mind defending and getting around, tackling people and taking the ball out of the backlines instead of bringing it in.
“I love the physicality, it’s just an amazing game.”
