Sole-focused Searle reaches 50 SANFLW games

By ZAC MILBANK

Central District winger Karissa Searle could have been playing Ice Hockey, instead of Australian Football, had things panned out differently.

Approaching her 50th Hostplus SANFLW League game in Sunday’s Preliminary Final against Norwood at X Convenience Oval, Searle spent the first five years of her life growing up in Canada.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, the 27-year-old revealed her Dad is a native Canadian but her family opted to live in Australia, ensuring her path to footy with the Bulldogs would follow.

Starting from playing Auskick with the boys, including her brother, Searle’s passion for Australian Football has always been so strong, she hasn’t been attracted to play other sports.

After starting her journey locally with Modbury, she also played one SANFLW League game for Norwood in the inaugural season of 2017, like fellow milestone players from Central in Caitlen Teague and Demi Sonneman.

Since arriving at Elizabeth in 2019, Searle has relished being a part of the Bulldogs’ rise to their first finals campaign, which continues with Sunday’s cut-throat clash against the Redlegs from 12pm.

Known for her pace and desire to have a laugh around the footy club, Searle – a qualified Pharmacist – has earned the nickname ”Rissole” as an adaptation from her first name.