In the lead up to what was going to be Ladies Day and all about the women of our club we interviewed Merewether Carlton legend and former Wallaroo Alicia Frost.

Alicia Frost “frosty”
Were you playing any other sport before you got a feel for rugby? 
Growing up I played basketball. I liked playing basketball but really wasn’t that good at it. I preferred to play defense & really wasn’t an accurate shot!
 
What was your father’s reaction when you decided to play rugby more to the point, how did your mother react?
My family were 100% supportive of me playing rugby. I used to joke & say that dad was happy about it as it meant he had a reason to stay longer on game days as the girls played after first grade. I remember mum being a bit worried that I was going to get hurt but she had lots of experience being on the sidelines with dad, Matt & Mitch all playing she didn’t object to me playing. Jim Thiveos (our first year coach) managed to convince many parents that playing was going to be good for their daughters – he was very persistent in pulling his team together.
 
You joined the Greens in their first year 1999?  What position or positions did you play?
Yes I joined in the first year. Like my dad I played 2nd row but whenever I got a chance I would try to push to 8. I really wasn’t fast enough to play at 8 but managed to convince a couple of people for a couple of games!
 
I assume winning the grand final in 2005 was a highlight of your club career? A close one against Wanderers. Do you remember much about the game?
I think my highlight was playing 100 games for the Greens – the same year that Bec & Kate played their 100 games. It felt like we were moving into an exclusive part of MCRC. I honestly don’t remember much about the game when we won the grand final. I remember the grand finals we lost more than that one which we won. I remember the celebration though after we won that game & how busy the Burwood was that night. I honestly think I felt more relief when we won that game – we had been in so many grand finals without coming up with the win. Bec will remember every second of the game!

I think the other highlight was just being part of the MCRC ‘family’. We were really welcomed into the club & enjoyed the club culture. I remember games where we scored in the green corner, nights in the green room/Burwood- with rugby songs, running out to play through the first grade tunnel, singing the green song that loud that whole green room shook & Singleton bus trips. Kate & I were recognised for our contribution to MCRC being awarded the Club Person of the year on a couple of occasions – that was special!
 
How many games did you end up playing for Greens and when did you give it away? 
I finished playing in 2008 & played a total of 127 games for the Greens (you should have the spreadsheet that shows the games played by Bec, Kate, Sarah & myself).

The last couple of years though I was living/working in Sydney so didn’t play that many games – I only played if the team was short.
 
On the international scene, you made your debut for Wallaroos against South Africa in 2006. Do you recall how you felt, the experience etc?
Again I don’t remember much of the game but I will never forgot the feeling of standing together before the game & having the anthem played. There was a big crowd there (lots of friends & family had come over to Canada) & there was a lot of green & gold in the stands.

A couple of memories from that game though –

• I grabbed the shirt of a winger running down the sideline- I’d like to say I made an amazing shoulder tackle but in truth I just grabbed hold of her jersey and held on tight! Dad does say it is the fastest he has ever seen me run.
• I had responsibility of calling the lineouts in that game/that trip. It was really windy that day & I made a few too many calls which had the ball thrown to 6. I managed to keep that responsibility even though made some questionable decisions that day!

 
You also played for the Wallaroos in 2007. Total seven games. Is there any particular international that stands out? 
I think the tour to New Zealand was a highlight. Their team were really professional Women’s rugby players & it was inspiring. We didn’t win any game against the Silver Ferns but playing against them lifted our team to the next level.

There was another game which I played for the NSW Waratahs. We played at Sydney Football stadium & that was amazing! The lights were so bright it was blinding!
 
What do you do these days, as regards work?
I work for Cerebral Palsy Alliance. I am an Occupational Therapist by background but moved into a management position within the organisation in 2008. Currently I am the Regional Manager of Hunter & Central Coast – we deliver therapy, accommodation services & individualised support to approximately 1000 clients a year. That is one of the reasons that I stopped playing rugby – I couldn’t give rugby as much time as it needed as the sport was going in a professional direction & it was too hard to divide my time.
 
Was there a lot of talk around the table about rugby when you were growing up, especially with dad playing for the Greens for such a long time. Then there were your brothers (correct?).
Correct – dad is a life member & played a great many games, Matthew & Mitchell both played for MCRC juniors through to seniors. Both brothers were very good rugby players both playing for Newcastle & NSW Country representative teams. I remember going to games growing up.

I don’t remember talking much rugby but we used to practice lineouts at home. We had one room in the house that had a high ceiling & we would practice jumping & lifting with & without a ball. I think that helped improve my line out jumping.