Claudia Bailey looks back on her ANZAC Cup experience while living overseas

The 26-year-old spent two years living in the UK where she joined the West London Wildcats women's Aussie rules football team.

While she's played the game since she was five, she never knew it would become her saving grace while abroad.

"I didn't have anyone else over there, so my football family became my family," she said.

"It wasn't until joining the Wildcats that I then looked forward to Saturdays to play, and that's where all of my friendships came from.

"We'd go to Belfast for a competition and then be off to Amsterdam for a competition."

In 2019 Bailey reached what she considers the pinnacle of her football career to date, playing for Australia in the ANZAC Cup against France.

The experience was made even sweeter with her side leaving victorious.

"We got billeted out and got to play against the French," she said.

"It was mostly Aussie expats, but we still had players from the rest of the world.

"For the women's team you had to have five or six international players."

It was a long way from where Bailey had first learnt the skills of the game in Howlong's Auskick program.

Having two older brothers, she was never afraid to take on the boys on the field.

"I think back then the boys were too scared to tackle a girl," she said.

"I was always around boys, so it was fine for me, but I think they were a bit scared."

School football gala days were her next opportunity to play before she began training with Thurgoona's youth team.

"It wasn't until I moved overseas that they brought in the women's competition here," she said.

After returning from London, Bailey continued pursuing opportunities in Melbourne.

"I was in the Simon Black Academy and absolutely loved it," she said.

"I was training every day and learning.

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"Melbourne just wasn't for me, so I decided to move back to Albury."

Bailey is now a Lavington Panther in the North East Border Female Football League and is grand final bound.

She also has another set of finals to play after qualifying with Howlong's B-grade netball side.

While her overseas adventure has ended, she still keeps in contact with her football family.

"They just had their grand final two weeks ago, so I got online and watched," she said.

"I told everyone I don't know when we're playing.

"Fingers crossed we still get to play the grand final."

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