Soccer star turned VFLW pro Amy Silver can do it all
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| Photo: Amy Silver |
For many people, the idea of being an elite athlete in a
chosen sport is something of a pipedream, then for the majority of people, the
idea of being an elite athlete in two different sports, simply put, is absolute
nonsense.
However, every now and then you hear about those special few
individuals that can pull off the double life of a multi-sport elite
athlete.
Monash University’s own Amy Silver happens to be one of
those individuals. The fourth year Law and Arts Honours student has played both
Football and Soccer at a very high level.
A member of Monash’s Elite Student Performer Scheme (ESPS),
Amy has gone from winning a National Championship for Victoria in soccer, to
joining the VFLW as a footballer, her sporting talent can be matched by few
others.
“I always loved football and used to play at lunchtime with
the boys in primary school. As I got older there were no avenues for me to
pursue football, so I played soccer instead.”
Amy has recently enjoyed significant success in both of her
chosen sports. Whilst on exchange in the UK at Leeds University late last year,
Amy was named as starting striker on the University’s Women’s ‘Firsts’ Soccer team.
The team competed in the Northern 1A league of the British
Universities and College Sport (BUCS) league, Northern 1A being the second
highest University league in the entire country.
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2018 Varsity Champions: Leeds University Women's 'Firsts' Soccer
Photo: Amy Silver
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Amy scored a hat-trick on debut and managed to find the back
of the net at least once in every game she played throughout the season.
She
finished the season as the teams highest goal scorer and the highlight of the
teams outstanding year came when they were crowned Varsity Champions for the
first time in 13 years after defeating rival University Leeds Beckett 3-2.
“The Firsts had never beaten [Leeds] Beckett in soccer. In
the 2018 Varsity, we beat them 3-2 in which I scored the opening goal and Leeds
University won Varsity overall for the first time.”
Since returning from exchange, Amy has stepped away from soccer
to focus on football.
“I had played competitive soccer since I was 12, but only
started [competitive] football at 20. The day before I went on exchange I
played in AFL Victoria’s Young Guns Game which was comprised of the best young
players in the state.
“Towards the end of 2017 I was invited by the St Kilda
Football Club to come down and trial for the team, and the 2018 VFLW season was
my first year of football.”
Although it may sound like it’s been nothing but one success
after another for Amy, she has overcome her fair share of adversity on her
journey to becoming the athlete she is today.
After finally getting her chance many years later to give
competitive footy a crack, Amy suffered an ankle injury 3 minutes into her
debut for St Kilda, tearing several ligaments.
“It was my first proper game of AFL football and against
Carlton, the team I had supported my whole life. After a 7-month pre-season, I
was so excited to finally play and it took me almost 2 months to recover.”
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Amy has big things planned for her future with St Kilda
Photo: Amy Silver
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Fortunately, Amy was able to rehab her ankle properly and
return to the team to play out the second half of the season without any
issues.
However, playing for St Kilda in VFLW is just the beginning
for this soccer star turned pro footy player. You don’t become a multi-sport
athlete by taking your foot of the gas every time you succeed and Amy has
aspirations to play in the AFLW when St Kilda joins the competition.
“As the Saints have a licence to enter the AFLW competition
in 2020, everything has really ramped up this season. My aim is to play every
game and be an integral part of the team.”
It’s become very clear that Amy is hungry for more success
and all her past glory is just fuel to her competitive fire. Expect big things
from Amy in the coming years, because her journey as a footballer has barely
even started.
Be on the lookout in 2019 for how Amy’s season is
progressing, this won’t be the last time you hear her name.
Written by: Joseph Arthur, Media Coordinator
