Where are you from?
Adelaide, South Australia
Which club do you now play for in Australia?
Geelong Cats VFL
What's your nickname, how did you get it?
Katsy, same as Dad and my last name
When did you live in Singapore?
2012 - 2019
What do you love most about footy?
Winning big games and celebrating those wins with mates
When did you start playing with the Singapore Sharks?
2013
Can you remember your first coach or first training session?
No, I can’t explicitly remember my first training session, but I have looked back at some photos and it’s hard to believe how long it’s been and how small I was.
What are some of the most fun or memorable experiences during your time with the Sharks?
Definitely the lightning rounds, was highly competitive and incredibly fun to compete against my best mates
How did the experience of living overseas shape your perspective of AFL?
It gave me a deeper appreciation for the game, because of how difficult it is to play outside of Australia. Which is what makes the Sharks teams so special
What were some of the cultural differences you noticed when you moved home to Australia?
A lot more players in each football system meant that the fighting for spots and positions in the best teams became a lot more competitive and opposition were fierce and no longer my friends
How did you adapt to the differences of playing AFL in Oz, real grass, ground size, positions etc?
It took me a while to adjust to the new game that I wasn’t used to playing, but with help from coaches and Dad and long training sessions, everything started to come to me easier. The most difficult thing was figuring out best to play each position and complexity of running patterns and defensive/forward craft
What did you notice about the training style, were you prepared for that?
In year 10 (my first year in Australia), trainings were not too rigorous, but now that I've joined a senior football club, preseason trainings for both Sturt and Geelong were gruelling sessions aimed to increase fitness along with a very competitive form of training
How did you play in your first game back in Australia?
Rather poorly if I recall correctly. I found my feet midway through my first season.
How important was the support system (e.g. coaches, teammates, friends, family etc) and what can you recommend to others who might be looking to follow your path home?
Having coaches in Singapore who are willing to teach you a game you would otherwise have no opportunity to play in Singapore is an amazing and under appreciated thing. Playing with your best friends and having your family come watch is what it is all about so take advantage of it while you can.
If you move back to Australia and wish to still pursue footy, make sure you have an open mind about the new parts of the game you will learn and seek constant feedback from coaches
What do you miss about living in Singapore?
Friends and school are the easy options but the transportation system, or Din Tai Fung are also hard to go past
What have you enjoyed the most about your football journey in Australia?
Playing in big games in front of lots of people as well as making new friends and now moving states to do so
Can you share some advice to other Sharks who might be considering a similar move to Australia?
Seek advice is my biggest piece of advice. Feed off of the people who know the game better than you and implement little things into your game that will have a positive impact. Eat well and take trainings seriously whilst also getting the most fun out of it.
