De Ruiter signs on for Royals NPLW campaign

Essendon Royals are proud to announce the signing of Eloise De Ruiter ahead of the 2024 NPLW Victoria season.

De Ruiter joins the club after spending three seasons with Alamein as part of their Under 19s and senior side in Victoria’s top flight. The goalkeeper also spent time with Ballarat Strikers, Heidelberg United, Westside Strikers and Green Gully prior to joining Essendon this season.

2023 was a difficult year for De Ruiter as she battled through an ankle injury and contemplated giving up the game entirely, but is looking to hit the ground running in a new environment at Essendon.

“I came to Essendon Royals after Vince (Battiato) reached out to me,” she said.

“I had already convinced myself that I was finished with football but after the conversation we had, I knew there was no harm in giving it one more go.

“Also hearing about the environment and culture that the Essendon Royals had become sounded too good to be true so I couldn’t miss out on that.”

De Ruiter said she’s been enjoying life at the club so far and is looking forward to a big season in NPLW, when the campaign gets underway in March.

“So far, I love it,” she said.

“Everyone is so supportive of each other. The coaching team is amazing, it feels like I have been with this group for years but it’s only been two weeks.

“What I’m hoping to get from this season is to be more confident in myself playing as well as push myself to be physically stronger, do more recovery work and most of all – enjoy football.”