Taylah's sporting journey began in dance, rowing, swimming, and athletics, now she’s gone on to achieve incredible milestones - including winning the 2022 Bay Sheffield and competing at the iconic Stawell Gift. As the only female on the SANFL senior boundary umpire list and now part of the National AFLW Boundary Umpire team since 2023, her dedication and passion for sport are truly inspiring.
Sport has been an integral part of my life from a young age. I started with dance, rowing, swimming, and athletics. At 17, I began boundary umpiring with the SANFL within the Talent Competition. To stay fit during the off-season, I took up athletics. I was fortunate enough to win multiple sashes in pro running, including the 2022 Bay Sheffield Open Women’s 550m. I also had the opportunity to compete in the prestigious Stawell Gift, Australia’s richest race, in the 550m, 800m, and 400m events. As umpiring progressed, I had the chance to umpire national championship matches and SANFL underage grand finals, eventually earning a position on the senior men’s list at the SANFL. I became the only female on the senior boundary list, and later, I was selected to be part of the National AFLW Boundary Umpire list, where I have been since 2023.
It’s tough to choose just one favourite aspect, but in track and field, I love the camaraderie among athletes on the track, as well as the connections I’ve made with people from all over Australia. As a boundary umpire, we have one of the best seats in the house. I get to run around on some of the most historically rich sporting ovals in the country, watching this great game while staying fit and meeting people from all over the country.
In athletics, my biggest accomplishment was winning the Open Women’s 550m title at the Bay Sheffield in 2022. It’s an honour to be listed alongside some of the greats. However, I’m hungry to achieve similar success at the Stawell Gift in the coming years.
In track and field, I hope to continue competing all over Australia in the professional circuit. In football, I would love to work my way to the big stage of the men’s AFL one day.
Setbacks are part of being an athlete, and unfortunately, competing in two sports means I’ve faced my share. I was sidelined for 12 months due to a season-ending injury. However, this period taught me the importance of injury prevention and gave me a better understanding of my body and its physical requirements. Being a female in a predominantly male field like football comes with its own set of challenges, but the support I’ve received has been incredible, and I truly appreciate it.
Just give it a go and follow your heart. Don’t listen to outside voices. Your time as an athlete moves so quickly, so embrace every opportunity and enjoy the journey as it comes.
I began umpiring through a family member who was a field umpire at the time. I’ve always loved football, but being quite small, playing was never really an option. After attending a foundation umpiring course, I knew I had found my niche and haven’t looked back since. The life lessons, valuable skills, and friendships I’ve gained through umpiring are things I’m forever grateful for. Athletics came a bit later. While I did running and cross country at school to stay fit for rowing season, I noticed many boundary umpires were also running with a club to stay in shape for the high volume of kilometers covered during games. During COVID, I joined a local running club in South Australia and fell in love with the track and it helped improve my performances in football.
The key to success is having a strong support network and truly believing in yourself. Your coaches are there to support you and have likely been in your shoes, so listen to their valuable advice. But just as importantly, listen to your own instincts.
Athletics and football complement each other well, but my training alternates depending on the season. I balance full-time work in radiology with a company that is incredibly supportive of my commitments as an athlete. I do most of my individual training in the mornings before work, followed by group track sessions in the evenings. I train with others as much as possible, which helps keep things engaging and holds me accountable. As an athlete, proper nutrition and recovery are vital, so I plan my schedule in advance, dedicating time each week to sit down with my coaches and plan everything—work, training, and personal commitments.
Since I train daily and sometimes work in physically demanding environments, I became interested in PainPod not just for post-injury recovery, but also to ensure my body stays in peak condition and to minimize fatigue. PainPod provides an effective, drug-free recovery method that is portable, which is essential for competition and game days, as well as being a must-have in my training bag.
PainPod is a non-negotiable part of my training and travel routine. I use it after training sessions or during lunch breaks at work to freshen up before heading back to the track in the afternoon. It’s an essential tool for recovery and injury prevention.