Avondale FC’s recent recruit Eleni Zorbas has dedicated herself to football from a young age, since “[growing] up in a football loving family,” she says.

With an early desire to be like her older brother and a shortage of female teams at the time, Zorbas would attend her brother’s training sessions, replicating the drills on the sideline with her father.

Finally, she assembled enough females to form a squad.

She says her biggest football achievement was returning to her childhood club, following a short retirement, where the team achieved consecutive promotions from State League 4 to State league 1.

Zorbas eventually joined Avondale’s senior women’s team midway through the 2021 season.

While previously teammates with other Avondale players, Zorbas highlights, “combined with the rest of the squad being so welcoming and amazing, as well as the club culture, made it an easy decision to join.”

As a player, Zorbas reveals herself to be “pretty versatile,” with the flexibility to alternate positions to accommodate the team.

“Happy to slot in wherever we need … except keeper, I’m too short for that,” she said.

Zorbas reflects perhaps her speed or agility are some of her best footballing attributes but she would rather let the coach decide.

“Anything to get the job done” and “get the best out of my team” are representative of Zorbas’ persistent mindset on the field.

She highlights how broken bones have previously not prevented her from continuing.

Zorbas further states she lives by the mentality that, “it is what it is, just letting go of things you can’t control.”

The Mind of Eleni Zorbas

Favourite football memory:

As a junior in 2006, Zorbas walked out the players to the pitch before a game between the Socceroos and Greece.

“Standing in the middle of the MCG with 100k people watching was pretty surreal,” she said.

Favourite player:

Twee Pham

Superstitions:

Sits down during team huddles

Life off the field:

Zorbas works in digital marketing and events. She highlights that not many would expect her to also “dabble in some carpentry” on the weekends.

Dinner with any celebrity:

Posh and Becks