Anytime Fitness Rising Star Nominee: Maddie Sorrenti

The VAFA congratulates Old Xaverians winger, Maddie Sorrenti, who has received the Week 11 Anytime Fitness Rising Star nomination on the back of her best-on-ground performance against Brunswick Renegades.

What the Club said:

“Maddie has only played a few games of school football at Strathcona Grammar prior to this year at Old Xaverians in the VAFA Women’s competition.

Maddie was a netballer who wanted a more physical challenge and so football really appealed. Tackling, physical contests at the ball and being under pressure are all things that really drew Maddie to giving football a go. 

Being a Collingwood supporter and playing on the wing, Steele Sidebottom is a favourite and Maddie has a lot in common with him and Scott Pendlebury with plenty of speed, evasion skills and a great tackling ability. Maddie is a great contested mark and reads the play really well.  She is tough and attacking on the ball, and often jumps into a pack and comes out the other side with the ball. 

Her evasion skills are as good as anyone’s. She will always put her hand up to do extra or do something that is hard at training which has shown in her dramatic improvement this season.

Maddie was the very first paid up women’s player registered at Old Xaverians so holds that piece of history. She is also tough. It doesn’t matter how many times the opposition bumps or tackles her she jumps straight back up and more often than not, straight back into the contest. 

Mid way through the season her appendix burst and when she woke up from the operation she was only concerned about when she could get back to footy – nothing fazes her. She is fit, always wanting to learn and improve, and encouraging to all of her team mates. 

Maddie is always at training and all her team mates love her.”

• Old Xaverians FC