Zoe zings to 50 Hostplus SANFLW League games

By ZAC MILBANK

Whatever Zoe Venning’s secret to good health is, she isn’t going to let it out.

Set to line-up for West Adelaide in her 50th Hostplus SANFLW League game on Saturday, the 19-year-old hasn’t missed a game due to injury since her debut in 2019.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, the consistent Bloods midfielder revealed she has only been absent while playing for SA’s U19 team in 2021 and once in 2020 due to her brother having Covid-19.

”I was trying to see if there was a way I could move house so I could still play,” Venning told SANFL Radio with a laugh.

Should Venning continue to steer clear of the medical room, she looms as a genuine chance to boast the competition’s highest games tally in the latter part of her career.

If it wasn’t for her parents nudging her to try Australian Football, Venning is well aware that her milestone – against the Eagles at Hisense Stadium – wouldn’t have arrived.

Netball was at the forefront of her mind for much of Venning’s childhood, until her father Damien – a Life Member with Blackwood FC – played a significant role in establishing a Girls program with the Woods in 2017.

Since then, the Bloods’ No.9 has established herself as a reliable on-baller, who was joint best-and-fairest at Richmond in 2021.

Currently studying Human Resource management at University, Venning is focused on helping West rise back up the ladder in 2023, having started with a 2-2 win loss record this season.