Taleisha Bartlett might have earned herself an enviable new nickname this season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The striker was Sam Kerr-esque in the Tamworth women's first division competition, slotting a remarkable 44 goals to claim the Golden Boot and help North Companions Black secure the minor premiership.
Bartlett's goal tally proved decisive in what was a very tight battle for top spot with Northies' superior for and against (73 to 47) seeing them pip defending premiers Tamworth FC for the spoils.
It was some sweet revenge for Northies with FC ending their two-year reign last year.
READ ALSO:
Bartlett was dynamic up front with Emma Allen, with co-coach Patrick Warren attributing the teams success in part to their ability to get the ball to the duo, who between them scored 62 of their 92 goals.
This season was Bartlett's second in the Tamworth competition and with Northies, after relocating from Bathurst after landing a job as an interior designer with Pulse Kitchens and Tamworth Tilehouse.
She has been playing the game since she was five after following her older brother into it.
"He started playing, and my parents were quite involved in the junior club we played for, my mum was president," she said.
"She had to be there on Saturday so I thought why not play and fell in love with it."
Some 22 years later, she still loves it.
She ended up at Northies through her partner Daniel Lawrence, who plays in the reserve grade side.
"It's been really fun, the girls are really good," Bartlett said.
"We've just been having fun really."
She spoke of the friendship amongst the team.
"We're just a close strong team, everyone gets along together," she said.
"We always have drinks together after games."
She said to win the golden boot was a "nice little bonus at the end of the year".
It was a bit of an anti-climax to the season with Northern Inland announcing last week that in the wake of community sport not being permitted to resume it had no choice but to abandon the remainder of the season.
"It was a little bit devastating, we were quite keen to get on the field and finish off the season," Bartlett said.
