Central Blues Australian Football Club

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Mom, 40, heads down under to compete in Australian 'footy'. Roncesvalles Village resident Melanie Billing has just been selected to represent Canada as part of the Northern Lights Women's National Australian Rules Football team at the International Cup in Australia in August. Her two sons, Aidan, 8, and Lucas, 5, are her two biggest fans Courtesy/Bruce Parker

It's not unusual for Melanie Billing's sons, eight-year-old Aidan and five-year-old Lucas, to ask their mother to "show us your muscles."

In fact, Lucas insists his mom piggy-back him around as much as possible. He says he's helping her stay in tip-top shape.

Billing, 40, has just been selected to represent Canada as part of the Northern Lights Women's National Australian Rules Football team at the International Cup in Australia.

This is a first-ever opportunity for the women's team. Never before has it competed for a World Cup title, said Billing. The women will be pitted against Ireland, USA, Italy, Papua New Guinea and Australia during a tournament Aug. 12 to 27.

"I found out March 27th. I was at the Revue Cinema with the kids - we had just seen the Justin Bieber movie - when I got a call from the Canadian coach," recalled the Roncesvalles Village resident.

Billing has been in training since last fall when she was invited to practice with the men's national team, Northwind, in preparation for the national team selection. The top 40 women from across the country were chosen to attend training camps in March - from those 40, 26 women were selected for the team. It is comprised of players predominantly in their 20s, said Billing. Her age, however, does not hold her back. An athlete before her children were born, Billing said she had put many of her own interests on hold since becoming a mom.

Last July, Billing and her family spent Canada Day in Colonel Sam Smith Park watching Australia's national game, also affectionately known as 'Footy.' Her then-husband, an Australia native, had introduced her to the sport and she had been watching it for years. The couple had even lived in Australia for a stint.

"We were kicking the ball around on Canada Day when a man approached me. He handed over his card and said 'We'd like you to come out to our Toronto Central Blues (Australian Football) Club," said Billing. "I started training with them a couple of weeks after that. I completely stepped out of my comfort zone."

That man was Toronto Central Blues coach Bruce Parker.

"He really made a huge difference in my life when he approached me," said Billing. "He had been watching me catching and kicking the ball around with Aidan and Lucas all day."

"Footy" is oftentimes confused with rugby, but in fact the two sports are entirely different. Footy, a multi-directional game has no offside rules. The ball can only be moved by kicking it or by hand passing it (or punching the ball with a closed fist of one hand). The main objective is to move the ball in any direction to score goals.

"It was surprising how things came back pretty quickly," said the one-time stay-at-home mom of her skill and fitness level. "I felt fantastic. I didn't suffer any injuries and as I kept going, my fitness increased week to week."

Her training includes games and drills at Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto Dome, but also some cross-training at the Dynamic Conditioning Centre on Yonge Street, using kettle bells and flipping giant tractor tires.

Billing said she was inspired by her neighbour who decided that when he recently turned 40, he was going to run a marathon.

"He asked me, 'what are you going to do?'"

Billing said football has provided her an outlet during a time when her marriage was dissolving. It kept her healthy and strong not only physically, but mentally. Parker, said Billing, has taught her how to breathe again. She hasn't missed a practice yet.

"My two sons are thrilled. They're so supportive. Aidan says, 'I'm so proud of you, mom.' I take them to practice with me and they kick the ball around," she said.

Visit the Northern Lights for further details.