Shanae Davison – from the North Coast to the West Coast and everything in between

Who would have thought that Grandpas ‘crazy statement’ many many years ago of there being a women’s AFL league would actually eventuate into what it is today… and his granddaughter Shanae Davison is predicted to be a part of it.

It’s been a whirlwind ride for Shanae since moving to Perth from Broome just a few years ago. The silky midfielder could have quite easily gone down the basketball path if it wasn’t for a mate asking her to play at a local footy club.

After attending tryouts at Swan Districts, her skills were so obvious that she skipped playing Rogers Cup, found her place straight into the league side and was offered placement at the West Coast Eagles as part of the 2020 NAB AFL Women’s Academy.

Wearing the number #14 jersey, just like her footy idol Joel Selwood, Shanae is now looking at the chance of living her AFLW dream in just her second year at the club.

We caught up with Shanae to talk all things footy, and what it is like to hear your name being thrown around in draft circles.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Perth but lived in Broome from a young age. I was up there for about 10 years and did all my primary school up there, then moved here for high school pretty much.

Is that where you started playing footy?

Yeah, I played with the boys because there was no girl’s league up there. I was technically too old to play for the last couple of years, but I was always hanging around so they just let me play, which was really good.

What position did you grow up playing in?

Midfield/forward. I've always been an attacking player. I've never gone back to defence. Well not really. I have such a go, go, go mind and don't think I could just stay on a player. I don't think it would be for me, but I'd give it a go if I was needed there.

Now where do you enjoy playing?

I actually enjoy playing forward but I’d have to say mid. I really do love pushing up into the mid, running hard and being able to set up other people. I prefer that than me actually kicking the goals.

Did you play footy when you first moved down to Perth?

I started playing basketball just because I didn't really know much about women's footy or anything like that when I first got here. I played for Kalamunda Suns and then Stirling. I’m definitely better at footy then basketball. I think I nearly always got fouled out.

So how did you get into footy?

About two years ago, my mate was playing footy for Noranda Hawks, the community club, and she was like we need more players. I really love footy. I come from a massive footy family as well and I was like, Mum, come on, let me play. I was already playing basketball at the time and mum wanted me to pick one sport to play, but actually let me play basketball and footy that season. Once the season was over, I had to pick one, and I chose footy. I didn't think twice about it.

How did you land at Swan Districts?

I wanted to play WAFL and heard that Swans was a really good club for development. I wanted to play here, so I came down here for tryouts. It was good fun.

After tryouts, how did you find out Swans wanted you to play for them?

It’s kind of like you keep training with them, and when it gets closer to the season they start to pick the group. I actually came down to play Rogers Cup, which is like under 18’s, but wasn’t able to because I didn’t live in the Swans area. Talking to Jo (Taylor – women’s football manager), she said to leave it with her and she’ll sort something out. So I missed the first four rounds of Rogers Cup. When the league had a scratch-match planned, I just remember sitting at home and Jo rings me and she asked, ‘Do you want to play league?’ and I was like ‘What?’ and she said ‘Yeah, the league scratchy, do you want to play that?’ So I got my spot through that game thanks to Jo, who really fought for me.

Did you think you would get a game in your first season at the club?

Juddy (Kara Antonio) was the coach and she didn’t care about age or anything like that. If you could play, then you were going to be on the field. I think it showed because I think we had 10 under 18s state players playing on the team.

Do you remember your first goal?

I think it was against Peel. Leading into it I knew I hadn't kicked a goal yet. Micky (Mikayla Hyde) kept telling me it will come, then we were trying to set each other up throughout the whole game. We work really well together.

You wear the number #14 for the club. Did you choose that number?

No, it was actually given to me. I played basketball with number #5 and wore number #11 at Noranda, because that was my granddad's number. When I came here I was given the #14, and it worked out pretty well because my favourite player is Joel Selwood, and he wears that number.

Does that mean you’re a Geelong supporter?

Yeah. A mad Geelong supporter.

As part of the 2020 NAB AFL Women’s Academy, you were given the chance to train at West Coast. What was that like?

Yeah that was really cool. I got to train with them once a week through both their preseason and regular season. I really enjoyed that. I got to see the expectations of training and how hard you need to train to be at that level. Peoples work rates were amazing. I think behind the scenes, you don't really see just how much people are doing. I’d prepare the same as them through training and see the team selections. At games we were allowed in the locker room to listen to the speeches and things like that. I definitely learnt a lot and my whole last season was just a lot of learning.  

Was there anyone in particular you gravitated to at the Eagles?

Well, I'm actually really good friends with Mikayla Bowen. She was really good when I first got there, always making sure I was ok, which was good.

Do you still keep in contact with any of the Eagles players?

During Covid, I actually did a couple of trainings with Dana Hooker, which was really good. We went running and would get a couple of kicks in and things like that. Her work rate is out of this world. I've been really lucky with who I have been able to be coached under, and train next to.

You hurt your ankle in the first day of preseason this year. What did you do?

I did it going up for a mark. It was on the other side of the oval and one of the girls initially thought I was winded. I ruptured the ATFL, the CFL, tore the deltoid ligament and a bit of bone bruising on my left foot. It didn’t feel great.

Were you given a timeframe of when you could return to training?

I’m back into full contact training now. The extended break from Covid helped too.

It is weird hearing your name talked about as a potential AFLW draft pick?

Yeah it is. It's really different because for me coming into last season it was more I just wanted to play footy. I didn't care where I played, if it was Rogers Cup or if it was league, I just wanted to play and develop. At the end of the season I was really happy with where I was at, so to even get the call to be like hey they're talking about drafting you, that was cool.

So were you sitting there on draft night thinking you’re name might actually be called out?

I knew where I was at compared to other people, and I didn't think that I was going to get picked up. Just for my name to be in talks last season was pretty cool. I always knew that they might need a couple of seasons to see what I can do. I was sitting there and I was actually really happy because we had a couple of Swans girls drafted, and it was really cool to watch them. It's definitely a dream that hopefully becomes a reality soon, with a bit more hard work.

Let’s take you to draft night this year. What would having your name called out mean to you?

Oh, that's a dream come true. When I was younger playing with the boys, there was no AFLW and my granddad always used to say there will be women's footy one day and I would think; whatever you crazy old man. But now for it to actually be able to come true, it would mean so much to me and my family as well. We would joke that if there wasn’t a women’s competition, I would be with the men. We just all love footy so much. It's more than a game for us.

You’re a Geelong supporter. Is that the AFLW club you’d like to go to?

I'm happy to play in any jersey. Whatever jersey I put on, I will play in it 100%.

How does it feel for you knowing that if you are to get drafted, you could have young girls looking up to you as a footy idol, and not just to the male players?

That would be pretty cool. The other day I was at the shops and I saw a little girl in a full Eagles AFLW kit. I thought it was just like me when I was little, but now you can see it on her shirt that it was AFLW instead. I have a little niece as well and it's just really cool to think that if she wants to play AFLW then she can, and she can start from a young age.

Make sure you are there to see Shanae run out with the side for Round 1 of the 2020 Optus WAFLW Premiership Season.