Sport
28 November, 2022
Olivia Butler gets her shot with GWV Rebels
Carisbrook Lady Redbacks player Olivia Butler has the chance to forge her path to the AFLW, by earning selection to the training squad for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels. Butler will be vying for a spot in the final NAB League women’s team...
Carisbrook Lady Redbacks player Olivia Butler has the chance to forge her path to the AFLW, by earning selection to the training squad for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels.
Butler will be vying for a spot in the final NAB League women’s team alongside many who were standouts in the Ballarat Football League Women’s competition in 2022.
She indeed proved to be one of the best players against the tide for the Redbacks’ under 18s team, named in the best players on 10 of her 12 games this season, including in their eventual finals defeat to the Ballarat Swans.
Despite that, Butler still insisted it was a bit of a shock that she was picked up by the Rebels.
“I was a bit surprised when I was listed in the email. Mum and dad didn’t put me down or anything for it, so it was a bit of a surprise for me,” she said.
“But it’s good. Prior to this, I was playing footy for fun, so it will be amazing to take my football to a new level. Even if I don’t get picked in the team, it will be good to train with the more experienced girls and the coaches as well.”
The Rebels have appointed Sally Riley as their head coach for the 2023 season, their first full-time coach in the club’s history. Riley was a premiership player in the AFLW with the Adelaide Crows, and has also played for the Gold Coast Suns, and Butler says her experience in the game will be invaluable.
“Sally played for a few different teams. It’s good to have her there, she’s experienced a lot in her football career first-hand, so it’s good to have her at the Rebels,” she said.
Butler is under no illusions about the expectations that will be set throughout her time at the Rebels.
“The first training session was chill, we worked on some drills with the other players, and then on Wednesday night, we had our first two-kilometre time trial, which is something we’ll be doing regularly,” she said.
“There’s lots of training coming up, but there’s also the outside influences such as running, keeping my fitness up and my skills as well, but I think, speaking from experience with others who have done this program, it is pretty full on, they’ve been training most days.”
Butler continues to be grateful for parents Greg and Jo, who have gone above and beyond for her to help get the best out of her football.
“With training in Ballarat, they come and get me and take me up, and hang around. It’s fantastic that they are willing to go above and beyond and do that,” she said.
Regardless of whether Butler makes the team or not, she’ll cherish this as an experience to remember to help her with her football going forward, saying there’s a lot to look forward to for the next few years of her life.
“I’ve only played footy for fun with my friends, and it’s been good to have the opportunity to better my footy, so I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes,” she said.