Round 17 Anytime Fitness Women’s Rising Star: Zara Wilson

The VAFA congratulates Zara Wilson from Collegians Football Club who has been nominated as the Round 17 Anytime Fitness Rising Star. Zara has jumped straight into playing Premier Women’s senior football, from her former U18 team and has made a significant impact right out of the gates. We also recognise that she has been named in the best on numerous occasions this season which is no small feat.

What the club said:

Zara joined Collegians program for training two seasons ago as a 16 year old while she was still playing football with St Kilda Junior Football Club.

From the very first training session she did with our squad, it was apparent that she is an incredibly capable athlete who was already able to mix it with senior players despite her young age. Taking the early leap from junior to senior football has proven to be a fantastic decision for her.

Just two weeks ago, Zara was part of the Melbourne Girls Grammar team who won their first ever Herald Sun Shield Premiership, crowning themselves as the best school girl team in Victoria, defeating Caulfield and ending their 6 year win streak in the process – a monumental achievement.

From Head Coach Dom Lucarelli: “Zara is everything you want in your players on field as a coach: she is fearless and courageous around the contested ball, she is tenacious with her repeated efforts and she is versatile and level headed in the heat of battle. Her humility and humour is greatly endearing and it’s easy to see why she is adored and respected by the entire squad, both on field and off.

She is leading the charge of our crop of young players coming through our ranks, and while juggling her year 12 studies this year, she is playing her best football yet, which is a really terrific achievement of balance, and it says everything about who she is as a person. As a coach, you feel truly lucky to be part of these journeys.”