Nicola unearths her path to 50 SANFLW games

By ZAC MILBANK

Plenty has stood in the way of Nicola Burns reaching her 50th Hostplus SANFLW League game but her persistence is set to prevail.

One of the few players remaining to make her debut on the opening night of the SANFLW competition in Round 1 of 2017, Burns has battled injury, form, Covid-19, interstate absences and a demanding workload off the field to notch her magical milestone.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, the 29-year-old said she wouldn’t have it any other way after relishing the opportunity to play Australian Football for more than a decade.

Starting off as a talented basketballer with the Norwood Flames, Burns began her footy journey, while studying, with Adelaide University in 2013.

After arriving at The Parade, she was a key cog in the Redlegs’ inaugural SANFLW flag in 2017 before heading across the border to test herself with Carlton’s VFLW team.

After two years with the Blues, Burns – affectionately known as ‘Danger’ – was set to play with Hawthorn’s VFLW side but Covid and injury prevented her from donning the brown and gold.

It ensured she would be hungry to play for her beloved Redlegs upon her SANFLW return in 2022, since settling back in nicely at Woods Street.

Now the Geologist, who recently had a stint working in Queensland, is determined to help her side sew up a top four spot with victory against Sturt at Thomas Farms Oval on Monday.