As well as being semi-professional footballers, our VFLW players work and study in a range of different areas. The combination of work and football becomes a balancing act. We look at what our VFLW team gets up to when they’re not on the footy field.
What do a biomedicine student, a tennis coach and a policy advisor have in common?
They are all Hawks.
Hawthorn’s VFLW side is made up of women from all walks of life.
They are health professionals, university students, teachers and accountants.
On top of their roles in the workplace, they are juggling their semi-professional football careers with Hawthorn.
One such professional is new Hawk Talia Radan who works for the Victorian Government as a policy advisor, a job she found since moving to Melbourne last year.
“I have a law and social sciences double degree but I found a job in strategy and policy because I didn’t enjoy being a lawyer.
“My role is to advise the department and minister on strategic policy and manage government programs.”
At the moment in all levels of female football - whether it be AFLW, VFLW or local football - players are required to achieve a work-footy balance.
In order to achieve this balance Radan, as well as a number of other players and coaches, work alternative hours so they can leave early for training.
“My management are really supportive and allow me to work flexible hours.
“They let me start earlier or work remotely if I need.”
This week’s bye isn’t an opportunity for Radan to refresh and relax, instead she will use the break from footy to travel for work.
“I’m using the bye week to travel for work actually.
“At the moment I’m doing work on wildlife regulation so I’m heading out to Gippsland to see some koalas and geese in the field.”
Though at times the reality of juggling work and football would at times be difficult, overall Radan says that football is an outlet for her.
“Football is a passion of mine and something I enjoy striving for excellence in.
“There’s always something you can be better at or work towards, and the reward can be incredibly satisfying when you win with teammates next to you.
“It’s been an outlet of structure and comfort when other things in life aren’t so easy.”
