At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chloe Dalton made the decision to return to Sydney and move back in with her parents.
We’ve all faced challenges during the pandemic, but for Dalton, who first moved out aged 18 years old when she was playing in the WNBL with the Sydney University Flames, it was a bit of a shock.
“The hardest part of moving back home was letting them know whether I would be home for dinner or not,” said Dalton.
“Sometimes I just want to go out and do my own thing and not make a call at 9am whether I will be home for dinner or not. They always just want to know where you are going.”
Despite this initial shock to the system, Dalton is grateful for the extra time she has spent with her family. As a woman that has competed in the WNBL, won a gold medal with the Women’s Aussie 7s team, and also played in the AFLW with Carlton, that has meant plenty of time on the road both overseas and in Australia.
The extra time with family has been a silver lining particularly before Dalton turns her mind to her next challenge: the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.
But after signing with Carlton in the lead-up to the 2019 AFLW season, Dalton was unsure as to whether she would get the chance to win back-to-back gold.
“When I moved back to Melbourne and started playing for Carlton, the Aussie 7s coach John Manetti got in touch with me and told me the door wasn’t shut to return to the 7s program even after my switch to the AFLW,” said Dalton.
“We stayed in touch and then he gave me the chance to still play the AFLW season and then come back and have a shot at making the team for Tokyo.
“It was tricky because I wanted to feel like I could commit fully to the AFLW because I was learning a new sport. Because there was so much going on, I didn’t want to feel like I was halfway between two sports.”
One of the most refreshing things about women’s sport is the lack of ‘code wars’. Women playing multiple sports is common as is seeing female athletes cheering each other on and lifting each other up.
Chloe Dalton in the AFLW. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
But for Dalton, what came next was a wonderful example of cross-code collaboration. Manetti and Tom Carter, who is in charge of strength and conditioning for the Sevens program had a meeting with the Carlton high-performance staff to consider what it would look like for Dalton to train for both sports in Melbourne.
What happened next was a surprise.
‘There was a lot more similarity in what both sports wanted out of me as an athlete than we all expected,” said Dalton.
“They are two different sports with different demands but what they wanted in terms of strength, speed and power were all quite similar so it was great to know that we could make it happen.”
So in November, Dalton took time away from her physiotherapy work and started training full time. During the AFLW season, there was real care to manage her load to ensure that she wasn’t working her body too hard. But despite this significant amount of training, it still took Dalton some time to adapt to returning to Sevens, particularly since returning to the program full-time in April.
Despite her disappointment about the postponement of the games, Dalton has been generally pleased with the way that sport has responded to the pandemic.
“When the pandemic first started, my biggest worry was that women’s sport would be the first thing to go,” said Dalton.
But since then, we have seen the NRLW take place, Super Netball, WBBL commence and preparation for the WNBL too. For Dalton, this has been a great result.
“It is uplifting to see that these organisations are prioritising women’s sport,” said Dalton.
“I would like to think that they have seen the value in women’s sport and can see the role it can play for young women and young men and how important it is in creating pathways.”
Since the women’s Aussie 7s team won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, those pathways have blossomed in Sevens. But despite some new faces in the squad, Dalton is joined in the squad by veterans Shannon Parry and Sharni Williams.
“There’s a really good core group of us that still remain from Rio,” said Dalton.
“We haven’t had the chance to play much international sevens recently but there’s something really familiar about training alongside them.
Chloe Dalton of Australia scores a try. (Photo by Mark Kolbe – World Rugby via Getty Images/World Rugby via Getty Images)
“Even when I got to go play club rugby recently, I ran on the outside of Sharni and it’s like we know what the other person is going to do because we have been playing together for so long.”
But training full time isn’t the only thing Dalton has been doing during the pandemic. She has also started a new podcast called The [Female] Athlete Project which is focused on amazing Australian female athletes.
And whilst the pandemic has been a bit of a drag, for Dalton is has meant the launch of this podcast, which has been in the works for some time.
“COVID really gave me the kick up the bum I needed to get it started.”
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
JD, I think the BFS are well and truly the favorites for the Olympics, in 2016 the Oz women won the World Series in the lead up to the Olympics, so its a bit different this time. Also have to keep a serious eye on the USA, Canada and France. However in 7s you never know - a sin bin, an error or 2, a missed tackle, it changes a game.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Agree the high shots in League is a real issue. It was unfortunate Caslick got injured, the knees in the back probably classified as reckless, I think she would have made a difference to the Roosters in the final.
MonkeyBoy
Roar Rookie
Thanks Mary, another fantastic article cover and under-covered aspect of our sport. I had the pleasure of watching the Womens XV Grand Final in Canberra and it was amazing to see the massive jump in technique and skill just from last year. The Colts players were discussing how impressive some of the tackles and passing were.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Don't blame her Mary, the amount of high tackles & unnecessary rough stuff that goes on in league unpunished is a joke. You just about have to shoot someone to get sent off.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Yes, I saw that incident, Charlotte went down on a ball & copped a knee to the head & a knee to the back. Not even a penalty, should've been at least reported. League need to clean their act up in regards to foul play & high shots, might put a few off playing the game l think.
Dave
Guest
That’s a shame, I think she would have excelled All the Union girls were well above average, especially considering it was a sport they had never played before with minimal coaching beforehand
robbo999
Roar Rookie
In the Guardian's live blog of the NRL womens grand final they stated that Charlotte Caslick had broken her back in two places playing rugby league ( v the Warriers). If true - perhaps the downside of cross code cooperation. Lets hope she recovers well
WorldInUnion
Guest
Round up the Sheilas and send them to the SFS this Saturday. They couldn’t be any worse than our deadbeat dudes staring at about 100 consecutive Bledisloe losses. I’m serious I rate the chicks as a better chance than the Wobblys. You Go Girls :silly: :rugby: :thumbup:
Jack
Guest
There is some quality athletes in women's sport. Crossing codes with ease. I love the patriotic approach. The Wallabies squad for the next World Cup selected from both ALF, League and Union and all codes collaborate with the aim of winning the Cup. Lets start with some big blokes, 2 metres, 110, 120, good pace and good hands.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Mary, thank you for this refreshing article on a generally male dominated forum. Pity it came out on the day that Brett left. Respect to you for your achievements, you're clearly not just a talker. It's great to see the codes working together for the common good. What a lesson to the administrators of the male games. The Olympics will be interesting. Last time the kiwis had been winning through the years, but the Aussies added players from other codes in Olympic year and were clearly the better team. Will history repeat itself? I've no idea how many the Aussies are planning to recruit, but the BFS look mighty impressive. Imagine what a Wallabies team would look like with the best of the all the codes playing in the world cup... Or on second thoughts maybe not...
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
I would like to know which ball carrying sport in Australia first had women integrated into their clubs . I know the Uni of Qld have had rugby teams for some time now. They are a very close part of club now, must be well over twenty years.
BigRed123
Roar Rookie
Purdo, here is a little video that the "pig athletic club" put on FB a little while ago featuring her..https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=354799382589495 playing for Warringah Rats and another little highlight of an 80m goal for Calton in AFLW https://www.facebook.com/aflwomens/videos/chloe-dalton-goal-from-80m/581915285662035/
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I did ask her about this Dave! Chloe said she was worried about getting split in half.
Dave
Guest
Would've liked to see her give NRLW a crack Think the high level football of the NRLW would've helped her transition from AFL back to 7's
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Thanks for the support, LBJ!!
LBJ
Roar Rookie
Thanks for this article. These women are outstanding and in my opinion the flag bearers for Aussie rugby. Humble, hard-working and utterly inclusive. Please keep putting them in the spotlight - they deserve it. I look forward to women like Chloe Dalton growing in profile and taking up leadership positions across the game from coaching, to commentary and administration - our culture will benefit immensely from their contribution.
Purdo
Roar Rookie
I'm very impressed reading about Chloe Dalton's participation in as number of sports at elite level. It makes me interested in actually watching more women's sport. I have enjoyed watching women's BBL and the women's 15s as curtain raiser to the Rebels vs Sharks match at Ballarat, back before Covid. It is interesting to see that a someone can play at such a high level in more than one sport. This was once possible for men (I think of Keith Miller - whom I am not old enough to have seen - who played AFL and cricket at the top level). Could there be any future in an inter club competition which had clubs competing against each other in different sports? This is somewhat like what happens between schools and districts in grass roots sport.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Boomeranga, she is an absolute superstar!
Boomeranga
Roar Rookie
"... competed in the WNBL, won a gold medal with the Women’s Aussie 7s team, and also played in the AFLW with Carlton ...". And a physiotherapist. That is so impressive. I struggle to hold down a job and go for a walk.