Flying Officer Andrija Blums ... passion for Australian rules football has taken her to the All Australian level.

FLYING Officer Andrija Blums has been selected in the All Australian team after a standout performance for the ADF at the 2002 Women's Australian Football Competition held in Sydney.

It's the third time FLGOFF Blums, 23, has earned All Australian honours, and she was thrilled at her selection.

"I'm really happy," FLGOFF Blums, who missed the first two games of the carnival through injury then went on to star on the wing, said.

"I had a team goal and a personal goal this year. I wanted the team to do well but I also wanted to get in the All Australian again," she said.

"I had an absolute ball this year. I played with the ADF team in the last carnival and we didn't win a game, so this year was good."

The ADF finished fourth overall, beating the Northern Flyers and South Australia, and getting within five points of eventual grand finalists New South Wales.

Four players from the ADF side were selected in the All Australian line-up.

FLGOFF Blums has played competitive Australian rules football for five years, beginning at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra in 1998 where she played in premierships with the ADFA team.

"I've always been a bit of a tomboy and always wanted to play football," she conceded. "My brother played Aussie rules and I used to have a kick around with him."

Coming from a sporting background in athletics and netball, FLGOFF Blums quickly adapted to the code and is now clearly passionate about her footy.

"Coming from athletics, that was a very individual sport, but when you win a game of footy there's a real collective feeling you can share with the other girls," she admitted. "That's the thing I enjoy."

An Air Traffic Controller with No. 44 Wing at Oakey, FLGOFF Blum's passion for the game means she's happy to drive the three hours from Toowoomba to Brisbane each week to compete in the local metropolitan women's competition.

The unabashed Essendon follower and fan of James Hird said she'd probably keep playing Australian rules until she was "broken", pointing out that there were players in the ADF side in their mid-30s.

"AFL for women is really growing. There's a lot of girls in the ADF who don't realise there's such a thing as women's AFL."

She is urging females in the Air Force to give the sport a try.

Those interested in being a part of women's Australian rules can call FLGOFF Blums on (07) 4691 7222.

By Ben Caddaye