by Peter Argent
After the success of Irish import from the Silver City, Meg Ryan in the 2022 SANFL Women’s Grand Final, a second Broken Hill female footy export, Shelby Raven, is looking to write her name into the South Australian football history books this weekend.
Raven will line up for Central District as they play South Adelaide at Prospect Oval in the ’23 SANFLW season decider.
The Bulldogs, who entered the SANFLW competition in 2019, are playing in their first finals series and looking for an inaugural women’s flag.
The game starts at 2.15pm, this Sunday, June 11, and is being telecast Live and Free on Channel Seven and 7plus, as well as the SANFL Now app, along with a radio call on 1629 SEN SA.
The 27-year-old, 165cm Raven, who moved down to Adelaide at the start of the season to pursue her football career, has been a regular member of the league team, since forcing her way into the side in round three.
Despite missing a couple of games through injury, she has been a regular contributor, playing predominately on the wing.
The preliminary final win over Norwood at the Ponderosa (Elizabeth Oval) was Raven’s tenth league game this year.
“We’ve been pretty settled and well take the same side that won the preliminary final into our Grand Final match,” Central District SANFLW senior coach Ben Hunt explained.
“Shelby has been a solid contributor and played her role for us this year. We’ve beaten South once this year during the minor round, and they turned the tables in the second semi-final on their home ground at Noarlunga, which is a unique place to play.
“I’ve messaged the coaching staff during the week, saying that now we are here, we may as well win it.”
There has had been a long line of Broken Hill footballers, starting from the 1920s who have come down to Adelaide and played roles in SANFL premiership successes, and Raven looks like being the latest.
