Sophie Li

Sophie Li (born 31 March 1988) is a retired Australian rules footballer. She played in the AFL Women's (AFLW) for Carlton and for Adelaide.

Sophie Li
Li playing for Adelaide in January 2019
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-03-31) 31 March 1988
Place of birth Adelaide, South Australia
Original team(s) Adelaide University (Adelaide FL)
Draft No. 28, 2017 AFL Women's draft
Debut Round 1, 2018, Carlton
vs. Collingwood, at Ikon Park
Height 165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018 Carlton 07 (0)
2019–2020 Adelaide 14 (1)
Total 21 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2020 season.
Career highlights
  • AFLW Premiership player: 2019
Source: AustralianFootball.com

State football

In 2017, Li had an exceptional season with Norwood in the SANFL Women's League (SANFLW). She helped Norwood beat North Adelaide in the Grand Final at Unley Oval, winning the best on ground award winning 23 disposals and kicking two goals.[1] Her performance in the season earned her the runner-up for the best and fairest award, shared with North Adelaide's Chloe Scheer.[2] In October 2017, she played with Adelaide University, helping them claim the Adelaide Footy League premiership[3] and won the club's best and fairest award.[4]

AFL Women's career

Carlton

Li was drafted by Carlton with their second selection and twenty-eighth overall in the 2017 AFL Women's draft. Carlton's coach, Damien Keeping, said that she "is a prolific ball winner and will be an asset to our midfield".[5] She chose to wear the number 35 guernsey as a tribute to Patrick Dangerfield, who she models her game on.[6] She made her debut in the eight point win against Collingwood at Ikon Park in the opening round of the 2018 season.[7] Li appeared in every game of her debut season, but chose to leave Carlton so she could return to her home state with her partner and for her work,[8] even after re-signing for the 2019 season.[9] Carlton received the forty-second pick in the 2018 AFL Women's draft as compensation, but were disappointed to lose her, with Nicole Graves, Carlton's General Manager of Women's Football, saying "Soph is a terrific player and person so we'll be sad to see her go, but we understand her decision and reasoning behind wanting to return to Adelaide".[8]

Adelaide

Li joined Adelaide in September 2018, so that she could return to her work as a paramedic in Adelaide.[10] She made her debut for Adelaide against Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval in the opening round of the 2019 season.[11][12] She helped Adelaide claim their second premiership, playing every match in the season[9] and helping beat her former club Carlton at Adelaide Oval in the Grand Final on her birthday.[13][14] In July 2020, Li announced her retirement from the AFLW.[15]

Personal life

Li was born in Adelaide,[5] supporting Adelaide from a young age.[10] She played basketball, cricket, and Gaelic football before starting to play Australian rules football in 2015.[6] She works in Adelaide as a paramedic.[10]

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References
  1. "Late blast gives Redlegs victory in inaugural SANFL women's grand final". Adelaide Now. 1 April 2017.
  2. Abbracciavento, Daniela (29 March 2017). "Glenelg midfielder Courtney Gum claims inaugural SANFL women's best and fairest". The Advertiser.
  3. Abbracciavento, Daniela (2 November 2017). "Norwood's SANFLW premiership player Sophie Li picked up by Carlton at AFLW draft". The Advertiser.
  4. Grimm, Nick (1 November 2017). "Murray Bridge paramedic drafted by the Carlton Football Club". The Murray Valley Standard.
  5. Balales, Danielle (18 October 2017). "PICK 28: Sophie Li". Carlton. Telstra Media. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  6. Pountney, Tom (17 January 2018). "AFLW: Croweater becomes a true Blue". Australian Football League. Telstra Media.
  7. Salemme, Kate (1 February 2018). "AFLW Round 1 teams named: Stars set for second season". Herald Sun. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  8. Balales, Danielle (12 September 2018). "Li departs for Adelaide". Carlton. Telstra Media.
  9. Gaskin, Lee (13 March 2019). "Meet the first-year Crow juggling 14-hour night shifts and footy". AFL Women's. Telstra Media.
  10. Balnaves-Gale, Emmalie (13 September 2018). "AFLW: Sophie's choice". Adelaide. Telstra Media.
  11. "AFLW: Debutants earn selection". Adelaide. Telstra Media. 31 January 2019.
  12. Gaskin, Lee (2 February 2019). "Match report: Dogs sink wasteful Crows". AFL Women's. Telstra Media.
  13. Gaskin, Lee (31 March 2019). "Crows soar to flag in front of record crowd, but injury hits superstar". AFL Women's. Telstra Media.
  14. Brown, Dani (2 April 2019). "Sophie Li's AFLW premiership win with Adelaide Crows a birthday gift". The Murray Valley Standard.
  15. "AFLW: Veteran duo announce retirement". Adelaide. Telstra Media. 17 July 2020.
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