Crows women's cult hero an incredible soul
Mar 20, 2017 - 5:25 AM In Australian Rules football, everyone loves a big, burly goalkicker.And so it is with Adelaide's Sarah Perkins.
The key Crow has emerged as the cult figure of the inaugural AFL women's league.
Perkins is being feted for her wild celebrations after kicking goals - she's potted 11 of them, only Carlton's Darcy Vescio has booted more.
She's being celebrated for character - rebounding from being overlooked at the draft to become a game-buster and potential premiership winner.
And she's being hailed for her compelling story - for losing 35 kilograms to pursue her dream of a berth in the elite women's competition.
Perkins, standing 173cm tall and now weighing around 95kg, is a dominant presence.
And her captain Chelsea Randall says she's a key factor in Adelaide quest for a grand final win against Brisbane on Saturday.
"Perko is just an incredible soul," Randall said on Monday.
"She is honestly such a loyal person and she brings so much to the team, on and off the field.
"And you can see just see the passion in her eyes and what she displays on the football field - she's an incredible footballer.
"She can find the goals really well and is obviously a strong player us, she just brings other people into the game as well.
"She brings a lot to us and she's infectious too, that brings other people around her into that good vibe as well."
Perkins was distraught at being overlooked in the national draft despite being selected in the Victorian women's league team of the year after slotting 52 goals for the Eastern Devils last season.
But the Crows threw the Victorian 23-year-old - who played soccer and netball and soccer before starting football aged 16 - an AFL lifeline.
And Perkins has repaid the faith.
With the Crows needing a win against Collingwood on Sunday to secure a grand final slot, the power forward booted four goals and collected 15 possessions, 13 of them contested.
"She's amazing," Crows coach Bec Goddard said post-match.
"One thing I love about Perko is that she'll turn in a stinker the week before, I think two disposals she had (against Melbourne), and then look at her today.
"She had 15 (disposals) in the end and took some amazing marks.
"The great thing ... is that it's not actually about her statistics, it's about what she does for the other forwards, what she does for the midfield.
"It's her positivity and football IQ.
"Whether she's kicking goals or not, someone in the forward line is as a direct result of her work."
Source: AAP
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