Sarah Halvorsen is spoilt for choice when it comes to sport.
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The 21-year-old engineering student grew up playing netball.
But her pathway has changed in recent years and the towering natural athlete, built with speed to burn, is showing plenty of promise in football, AFL and rugby sevens.
Halvorsen was in the Australian rugby sevens squad for the 2015 Pacific Games but decided to give Aussie Rules a go this winter instead of playing in the Hunter Women’s Rugby Union competition.
“I followed AFL growing up and the local competition is a lot stronger; there are only four teams in the local rugby competition,” Halvorsen said.
“I love everything about it. It’s so much fun. The sport is really good and the culture is great.”
Halvorsen plays for Newcastle City, who are the undefeated minor premiers in Women’s Black Diamond AFL. City have the first weekend of finals off before making their first appearance in the play-offs on August 19.
She also plays for Merewether United in Herald Women’s Premier League.
United finished second and lead Adamstown 2-1 after the first leg of their two-legged semi-final, which continues at Myamblah Oval on August 12.
If Merewether win, they will play in the WPL championship decider on August 20.
Despite a seemingly full load of sport already, the strike weapon has not totally turned her back on rugby and is set to play for Macquarie University in the inaugural National University Sevens Series, which starts next month.
Eight universities will be part of the series, which gives Australia’s Sevens stars and the next generation a domestic circuit.
“I’m looking forward to the experience of playing against a high-quality standard of players and teams,” Halvorsen said.
“I really enjoy playing rugby too, particularly sevens because there’s so much more room to run.”
At the moment, however, she is leaning towards AFL if she had to pick one sport.
“I really enjoy AFL and if opportunities came along then I definitely would pursue that but I’m not getting ahead of myself, I’ve only played the season so I’ll just see what happens,” she said.
Warners Bay lead Mid North Coast 4-2 in the other WPL semi-final.
I really enjoy AFL and if opportunities came along then I definitely would pursue that but I’m not getting ahead of myself.
- Sarah Halvorsen