Carpenter calls for better opportunities for athletes in the bush

This came a year after making her debut for the Australian national team the Matilda’s at 15 - becoming Australia's first international football player to be born in the 21st century in the process. 

Born into life in country NSW, and growing up just outside of Cowra, the life and career of teenage superstar Ellie Carpenter, 17, is just beginning. 

Though it is hard to find the equal to her meteoric rise through Australia’s football ranks, success did not come easy to the young girl from the state’s Central West.

At age 8, it is reported that Carpenters prodigious skill caused much debate in local football circles when her eligibility to ply her trade in the boys competition was questioned, after some parents were left outraged that the little girl could run rings around their young sons. 

While Cowra has a thriving junior sports scene, Carpenter says that quality specialized training was difficult to find outside the major cities. 

“We definitely had to seek out higher quality training as we were limited in Cowra. However, Cowra allowed us to be proficient in  almost very sport. I played cricket, AFL, touch football, tennis, swimming, athletics, cross country and triathlon as well as ballet, tap and jazz dancing. I also did a lot of waterskiing.” 

For two years in her early teens, grueling long journeys across NSW and the ACT were a part of everyday life for the Carpenter family. 

“We traveled to Canberra three nights a week and one day on the weekend to access more technical and ball mastery training.”

“This was more than a 400km round trip and we would travel around 1800km per week for training.”

“We also trained in Bathurst, Orange and Young and travelled to Sydney two to three times per week.”

Carpenter attributes much of her success to the dedication of her family, who eventually left their home in the country to move closer to city sporting facilities. 

“My family have been my greatest support. They've sacrificed their own personal happiness and career advancement so my brother and I can pursue our dreams. They also sold property to finance our endeavors.”

Now a regular starter for the national side, the family strain and long journeys eventually paid off, but Carpenter believes more must be done to facilitate talented athletes from outside our metropolitan areas. 

“It (distance) is definitely a barrier. Not from a talent perspective but logistically and geographically challenging. All the centers of excellence are based in the city and also the top sports medicine facilities are centered there too.”

“We need to see selectors taking trips to country areas to identify talent and then inviting them in to the metropolitan based programs. It would be a great initiative if selectors and scouts could go into regional areas. Having an accommodation and training facility set up for remote athletes to attend in the cities would be great!”

Carpenter will play out the year with Canberra United in the Women’s A-League, and has this advise to give to keen young athletes from the bush. 

“Persevere. Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot make it from ________!”

“You can make it from any where if you have determination, work ethic, support and the talent.”