Versatile Tumut sportswoman Monique Bullock has had tongues wagging in the Southern NSW Women’s League after her impressive start with the Coolamon Hoppers.
Playing Australian Rules against some of the best players in the Riverina, the 23-year-old has been trekking to Coolamon for training on Monday nights, while playing games on Friday nights, and she has made an instant impact on the young side.
Bullock booted three goals on debut as the Hoppers knocked over the Temora Kangaroos 4.6 (30) to 0.3 (3) in round one.
The full-forward backed that effort up with a six-goal haul on Friday night as she led Coolamon to a dominant 9.5 (59) to nil over the Brookdale Bluebells at Maher Oval in round two of the competition.
The talented forward played a few games of Australian Rules Football for the Snowy Mountains Bears in 2018, and apart from that, she hasn’t had a lot of exposure to the sport, but she is enjoying the experience.
“I enjoy it actually, I think it’s fun,” Bullock said.
“I’m playing in the forwards, so I’ve been enjoying making marks and kicking the goals – there is more room to run around also, it’s quite fun.”
The Hoppers have made the Tumut talent feel right at home too.
“Carlie McGrath put in a good word for me, and I know Shanae (Freeman), and Sophie (Gaynor) also plays with them,” Bullock said.
“I train every Monday night in Coolamon; it’s been great, and they are a good bunch of girls who make you feel welcome.”
Bullock is the competition’s leading goal scorer, and she seems to be thriving under the pressure.
“It’s fun having to kick while the pressure is on you, or even taking a mark and having a shot at goal in the 50m,” Bullock said.
In a big effort, she also plays representative rugby league for the Riverina Bulls, and has previously featured in the Southern Inland Rugby Union representative team.
Bullock seems to have taken to the sport of Australian Football though, but she insisted that she didn’t have a favourite code.
“I don’t have a favourite. I really enjoy playing both sports; both have their pros,” Bullock said.
While she helped Coolamon to a big win on Friday night, Bullock was off to Young on Sunday as the Riverina Bulls defeated the Western Rams 22-6 in a Country Championships trial match, and she believes the women’s rugby league representative side will only get better as they continue to train and play together.
“Training is on Sundays, so it’s a full week but I enjoy it; trying to get fit earlier in the season is my goal,” Bullock said.
“It looks like we’re going to have a good side. We haven’t really trained as a whole team for (our) trial last Sunday, and we still managed to get the win, but it will be good to train as a full side.”
The Southern NSW Women’s League only runs until early April, and the Riverina Bulls open women’s side will compete at the three-day Country Championships carnival in April, and after those commitments, Bullock will then turn her attention to the Tumut Blues, who are hoping to field a women’s side in the 2023 Katrina Fanning Shield competition in Canberra.
For now, Bullock will be out to help the Hoppers to a title, with Coolamon one of the favourites to take out the 2023 Southern NSW Women’s League
