Whenever and wherever, Rosie Curtis is ready to give it her all for Melbourne Victory, continuing with the upcoming Melbourne Derby.
The 21-year-old is enjoying her fourth season at the Club and made her 29th senior appearance as a starter in the recent win over Newcastle Jets in Shepparton.
She is now hoping to add number 30 to her growing CV when Victory host local foes Melbourne City at The Home of The Matildas on Sunday, February 15, kick-off 5pm.
And given the youngster’s impressive versatility, whether in the starting XI or entering from the bench, her commitment to the cause is guaranteed.
Speaking to MelbourneVictory.com.au, Curtis began by detailing the adjustments she has had to make since entering the professional arena nearly three years ago.
“It was incredible. I realised that it’s so different coming from playing people your age to professional players.
“It’s not easy coming into the professional environment, but it’s been such a great process. I’ve come through all the ranks to get to where I am. Even getting onto the pitch now, it requires a lot of hard work.
“I started as a winger, then I went to a 10, then I went to an eight, then to a six, and now I’m a centre-back.
“I will do the position to the tee as much as possible if I can, which is something the coaching staff recognised that I can play in different positions and do a job.”
Now part of the furniture in the world of ALW, competing for silverware at one of the competition’s founding teams, Curtis’ route to a career in the world’s game seems like it was always meant to be.
But in her own words, the ‘underdog’ had to align self-belief with her on-field talent to discover what was possible through football.
“I began playing for Eltham Redbacks, and I was there for like six years. Then I left to go to Box Hill United, that’s when I realised a bit more that I can play, but I was also just enjoying it.
“I didn’t really fully process it until I was trialling for the state team. I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I can have a career in this.’
“I was always a bit of an underdog. I had lots of people around me, like Alana Murphy, Naomi Chinnama and Jess Young, so I always felt a little bit hidden alongside some of the best players.”
Then, when the world was pivoting to new ways of working, football started changing even more for Curtis.
From the familiar footing of the NPLW, the journey toward Australian football’s top-flight competition gathered speed.
“I was at the NTC during lockdown, and my manager got me involved with Victory as a train-on player. Had COVID tests every training session when rocking up, which was different.
“I went from being a train-on for a couple of years, and then it became a scholarship contract in 2022.”
Next up for the Women’s team, led by Jeff Hopkins, is a big one, the Melbourne Derby, where both three points and bragging rights are on the line after City edged the reverse fixture at AAMI Park.
The visitors arrive top of the ladder, but Victory, in sixth, fresh from defeating the Jets, can cut their lead in half with success this weekend.
“Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to play well. So there’s nerves of wanting to perform well, but then there’s also the grit to get there and to play really well.”
