The province of Victoria in South Eastern Australia is about as far away in the world as you can get from Kinawley, Co Fermanagh.
It was a journey well worth making for local personal trainer and GAA player Joanne Doonan, who has recently signed a contract with AFLW side Essendon.
Joanne felt as if she had unfinished business Down Under after a previous stint in the semi-professional league had been cut short due to the outbreak of Covid 19.
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However, determined to experience a different side of the world and prove that she could compete with the best in Australia, she made the move back earlier this year.
After competing in the lower ranks of the Victorian league, Joanne was then rewarded with a contract at Essendon ahead of the new season.
“Covid hit and when I found out that Carlton wouldn’t be taking me on for the following year I felt it was unfinished business in a way, I always wanted to give it a wee bit more” Joanne told MyFermanagh.
“My agent was still putting the feelers out and some of my old coaches had moved on to other clubs, so they had got on to me to see would I come back out.
“It sparked the idea again and I said to myself even if I didn’t go back to the AFL I wanted to go back to Australia to do a holiday visa and a bit of travelling.
“In my mind it was ticking two boxes because I would be able to go over and travel and give it another crack.
“As soon as the borders opened and I finished up with football at home I knew it was something I wanted to do.”
While many might have gone home to Kinawley happy with success with her local GAA club and chalked her Oz adventure down to experience, Joane said it has taught her a lot about herself.
“It comes with a wee bit of experience as well in that I’m aware of where I stood in the team and that it wasn’t completely out of my range.
“I knew from the last time I had learned a lot about myself and came with a better attitude,” the 27-year-old added.
“I ended up really enjoying it a lot more and I was learning each week, it’s been really enjoyable this time around.
“I’m just glad now that I’ve got that wee bit of comfort knowing that I’ll be here for at least two seasons.”
With pre season on the way and the season starting properly in August, Joanne added she was excited for the year ahead, but revealed she was still coaching some Co Fermanagh clients from home online on her days off.
“I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in, I’ll be focusing a lot on the AFL but I do have a few months left on my working holiday visa so I’ll probably stay in that for a while as well.
“I work in a gym here part time doing some classes and personal training - I’m still doing my online classes as well which helps me connect with people at home as well.”
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