ELAINE Grigg was born in Kenya, and moved to Australia when she was eight.
Her first sport of choice was basketball, but the energetic Grigg was racking up fouls far too easily, and at 11, her father suggested she give Australian Rules football a try.
Now in her final year of junior football, Grigg is an AFLW Academy member, in her second year as part of the all-powerful South Australian under-18 squad and a two-time SANFLW premiership player.
"I really had no idea of what football is, because I came from Kenya, and I'd only been here for three years at the time," Grigg told womens.afl.
"Dad said to give it a go, and I just loved going out there, the environment, having fun with my mates. I really enjoyed it.
"It really helped me connect with the community and get to know more people and build more friendships.
"It was just really fun, and I really enjoyed it. The tackling is one thing I really loved – I was playing basketball, and Dad would always say I was too physical and I needed to get off the court."
Grigg moved through North Adelaide's development pathway through her junior years, and into the senior team for the 2022 season, before jumping ship to Central District this year, winning a flag at both clubs.
One of the talent programs Grigg was involved in was the Medleys, an under-16 national group for players who have had at least one parent born overseas. The Medleys have an annual camp and play against the Indigenous Woomeras side in exhibition matches.
"The Medleys was a very special experience for me with the people who were there," Grigg said.
"I really enjoyed that time, we had a week there with all the girls. It really embraced everyone's cultures, where they came from, and it was just really an amazing opportunity for everyone."
On the field, there are few who can match Grigg's speed and agility. She isn't exaggerating when she talks about her love of high-pressure footy, and she pushes high up the ground to help the midfielders and defenders turn the ball over.
At 161cm, she's a fraction taller than Essendon's Georgia Gee, and is just as quick across half-forward.
"I like to describe myself as a pressure forward, I love tackling. Tackling's probably my main trait, and I love a little sneaky goal, and I love a celebration. I just love footy, it's great," Grigg said.
"I really look up to Monique Conti, I love the way she plays, moves and her skills around the ball."
Grigg has grown up a Port Adelaide supporter (but jumped on Adelaide's AFLW team when the competition started in 2017), and is a big fan of small forwards Connor Rozee, the retired Robbie Gray and Richmond's Shai Bolton.
She's in year 12 at Cedar College in Adelaide, and is hoping to join the police force at some point in the future, but is eyeing off a PE teaching course at uni in the meantime.
Grigg was thrilled to make the AFLW Academy this year, which consists of camps, training and an exhibition game for some of the top 18-year-olds from around the country.
"It's been a great opportunity. Last year I thought I would really love to be picked for it, and when I got the call, I was crying, excited. I've learnt a lot and we've got great resources around us to help us with our journey," Grigg said.
"I've been working on my decision-making and work under pressure with what I do with decisions on the ground, kicking.
"Another one would be my tackling, sometimes I do get a bit rowdy with my tackling, so I just need to fix a few areas."
The Medleys and the Woomeras under-16 squads will take part in a three-day camp on the Gold Coast this week.
The squads will be split in half and play in two matches each on Tuesday at Heritage Bank Stadium at 2.40pm and 3.50pm, and Wednesday at Austworld Centre Oval at 11am and 12.30pm.
Matches will be live-streamed on womens.afl.
