FROM playing with the boys at Romsey to representing Vic Metro at just 14-years-old to being the captain of the Calder Cannons at 17.
EDFL and Sunbury Lions junior, Madison Prespakis, has done it all.
The talented midfielder has learnt some valuable lessons from playing at the Lions, where she played in her first all-female side.
“I think the experience overall taught me that women do have a spot in football,” Prespakis said.
“I feel that with women’s footy, it’s bringing the spectators both male and female to the game.
“After seeing that, it just shows me that we do have this spot and the amount of growth that’s coming through in local clubs, VFL clubs, and TAC (Cup) clubs is just phenomenal.”
Sunbury now has five teams in the EDFL, including one senior team in EDFL Women’s.
Her current club, the Calder Cannons, is the reigning premier of the TAC Cup Girls competition, and when Prespakis was selected as the 2018 captain, she was honoured.
“I took it (the captaincy) as a great opportunity,” the talented midfielder said.
“I think it’s another thing for me to grow in a different position, not just playing but leading the girls off the field.
“If they need someone to talk to, they can talk to me if they don’t feel comfortable talking to the coach.”
Although she is only 17, Prespakis has had a wealth of experience in the footy world, and knows how to deal with the pressure that surrounds the elite component of the sport.
“I do feel a little bit of pressure around the media but I sort of just cop it on the chin,” Prespakis said.
“Coming into this season, I just shut a few things off.
“I unfollowed a couple of pages just to get away from that media that was coming towards me.
“It’s helped me the last couple of weeks where I’ve just focused on my footy.”
In Calder’s Round 8 match against the Dandenong Stingrays, Prespakis kicked two goals and was a key cog in the midfield.
She has been among the Cannons’ best players every week, but is as humble as ever and praises her team mates for the year so far.
“We’ve really come together as a team,” Prespakis said.
“I did feel a little bit of pressure coming in as a top-age girl and having all these younger girls by my side, but I think over the past few weeks we’ve shown the most improvement.
This was shown when the Cannons played against the top-of-the-table Geelong Falcons and outplayed them for three quarters.
Prespakis encourages all young female footballers to enjoy playing the game and keep improving as their journey in the game progresses.
The 17-year-old’s next step in her football journey is pulling on the Melbourne University jumper for the first time in the new-look VFL Women’s competition.
Her next and potentially last appearance in a Calder jumper will be at RAMS Arena on Saturday against the Eastern Ranges.
