AS soon as Erin Gordon stepped onto Friendly Societies' Park in early 2020 she knew football was for her.
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The former Melbourne resident joined South Warrnambool to make friends after she moved to the city to work as a doctor for Headspace and Heywood Community Health.
She initially came to the club to join its netball ranks but was soon persuaded to pull on the footy boots.
"One of my Headspace patients said 'have you thought about playing women's footy?' and I didn't realise there was a league that had just started and so I came down to the ground," she said.
"Everyone was super friendly and welcoming. I started training and a week before our first practice match COVID hit."
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Fast-forward a year and now the 37-year-old is preparing to play in a grand final for the Roosters, who are chasing back-to-back Western Victoria Female Football League senior premierships.
She will play against Portland at D.C Farran Oval on Sunday.
Gordon says her love for the game has grown exponentially this season.
"It has been fantastic," she said. "Growing up you always had a kick of the footy but it has been so amazing to see the women's league taking hold and now that all AFL clubs have a team it is fantastic.
"This is fresh in the south-west but it has been amazing to be part of that whole movement.
"It has been fantastic from a mental health perspective for a lot of us with the COVID restrictions and lockdowns and it's great having that support.
"They have been a super friendly team and the league has been amazing as well."
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The forward-ruck said the environment made it easier to pick up the skills and make friends.
"It is an accepting, welcoming environment to have fun and that has always been the focus," she said.
"Have fun, have a good time, get around each other and support one another because that is the main focus and those skills come along with that.
"Being a women's team we really care about each other and don't want to let people down and that brings the skills up based on that."
The Western Victoria Female Football League will live stream both the senior women's and junior grand finals on Sunday.
DPM Audio and Video Productions will provide spectators, who are not allowed to attend the match due to the state's coronavirus restrictions, with a chance to watch the action from the league's Facebook page.
Live coverage of the grand finals begins at 12pm.
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