Chantal Beaudin is still playing football – only now it’s by Aussie rules.

And when she’s not playing Australia’s biggest sport, the 28-year-old Whitehorse native can often be found patrolling the sidelines for an Australian Football League (AFL) professional men’s team – the Gold Coast Suns.

The well-known Yukon soccer player made the transition to Aussie rules football in 2012 as a university player.

Beaudin’s stock rose quickly, and she was selected to represent Canada at the 2014 Australian Football International Cup last year.

“Basically, I’m living the dream,” Beaudin told the Star in a recent interview. “I always wanted to work in sports. Now, I get to play sports and work in sports at the highest level.

“I came out to Aus on a whim and now I’m surrounded by sand, surf and football.”

Beaudin’s come a long way since taking up soccer at the age of 12 in the Yukon capital. She went on to represent the territory at all levels as a rep soccer goalkeeper – from the Arctic Winter Games to nationals.

And similar to her new career in Australia, when Beaudin wasn’t playing her favourite sport, she was often on the sidelines as a coach and referee.

Last month, Beaudin wrapped up her latest Queensland Women’s Australian Football League season with the University of Queensland in Brisbane – the state’s capital city.

Her team finished fifth, just missing out on a playoff berth.

Beaudin’s frame won’t get much rest this off-season, but she said she’ll be recharged and ready to go when the next season begins in February.

Currently, she is training with the University of Queensland Red Heavies Rugby Sevens, making her debut off the bench last weekend.

Australian football is a unique sport, full of adrenaline-pumping plays and bone-crunching hits.

Described by Beaudin as part-rugby, part-soccer, the game is played with an egg-shaped ball on a massive oval-shaped field.

Teams consist of 18 players, with four substitutes on the bench, playing games of four 20-minute quarters plus extra time.

Goals are scored when the ball is kicked between the uprights found at either end of the field. Goals are worth six points, while shots off the post or between the main and secondary uprights are worth a single point.

The ball moves upfield in three different ways: kicking, thrown passes between teammates, and running the ball with a dribble at least once every 16 yards.

Defensively, legal tackles can be made between the shoulders and knees.

As a midfielder, Beaudin has averaged a goal a game in her short career. She’s also remained incredibly fit.

“I run everywhere,” she said of her position. “I run at least 17 kilometres in a game.”

The daughter of Gil and Cathy Beaudin was born in Faro. Shortly thereafter, her family made the move to Whitehorse.

Beaudin earned her B.A. in Canada, then made the move Down Under to study sports physiotherapy. After earning a master’s degree, she began teaching at the University of Queensland, whom she also represents on the pitch.

Beaudin also serves as a massage therapist for the country’s rugby team during local games.

The Australia Wallabies are currently playing in the Rugby World Cup in England.

The École Émilie-Tremblay and F.H. Collins graduate began her athletic career in Australia with the university’s soccer team, then switched over to the school’s Australian football team – the Red Lionesses.

Aussie rules came naturally to her, with many of her soccer skills transferring quite well, including running and dropkicking.

Even the contact component came easily to her, she chuckled.

Last August, Beaudin was selected by scouts to represent Canada at the International Cup in Melbourne.

There, she played for Canada’s B squad – the Midnight Suns – which finished fourth overall, while also serving as a physiotherapist for the Canadian men’s side.

The Canadian women’s A team – Northern Lights – won gold over Ireland, with the USA Freedom team taking third in the seven-team competition.

Meanwhile, those curious about the sport are in luck.

Tonight, the Hawthorn Hawks will attempt to win their third consecutive Premiership Cup versus the West Coast Eagles in the AFL Grand Final.

Known as Australia’s Super Bowl, the game begins at 8 p.m. PST and will be broadcasted on TSN2.