Ange Stannett has only been playing football for two years, but it’s not easy to tell.

A former Perth Glory player, Stannett switched codes and a round ball to join Fremantle at the end of 2018.

Identified by Freo in the club’s rookie talent search program, Stannett impressed coaches with her defensive nous, competitive nature, speed and skill. 

Stannett’s debut game for Fremantle also mirrored Trent Cooper’s debut as senior coach in round one against Melbourne in 2019. 

With an outstanding rookie season under her belt, the 23-year-old only improved in 2020 as she rose to become one of the top small defenders across the women’s competition. 

“It’s been a bit of a wild ride over the last two or three years and I never would’ve thought I would be playing AFLW,” Stannett told the Weekly Burn podcast. 

“(Shifting from soccer to football) was a pretty daunting task, but I was just so excited for what seemed like such an incredible opportunity. 

“I’ve been so grateful to be able to be with such a great club like the Freo Dockers. 

“(I love) the really good people we have at Freo, we are surrounded by great coaches, the team is amazing, and the environment just breeds success. 

“It pushes you to not only become a better athlete but a better person and that’s what keeps me going.” 

With an upbringing consumed by soccer, it was the launch of her own personal training business that helped steer her desire to take on a new sporting challenge.

“My pathway into AFLW is a little bit different to anyone who has been drafted,” Stannett said.

“My whole life I had spent working towards that goal of playing soccer…but I kind of wanted to go in a new direction. 

“I took a year off Perth Glory…and I started hitting the gym a little bit more and doing more conditioning. 

“That was when I found out about a rookie position in the AFLW.”

The defender was awarded Swan Districts Fairest and Best in 2019 and finished in the top five of Fremantle’s Fairest and Best count earlier this year. 

Stannett credits two of her Freo teammates as a source of inspiration for the code switch that has propelled her into her new career. 

“Steph Cain and Evie Gooch came from soccer as well and they were some pretty big inspirations for me,” Stannett said.

“Even now I still look up to them…I’ve looked to them for guidance throughout the process because they have come from a similar path as me.”