For Astrid Bocci, a move to Italy has always felt like it was written in the stars.
After years of commitment, hard work and overcoming setbacks, the Italian-born defensive star is now ready to make the journey overseas and fulfill a lifelong dream.
The 17-year-old has signed with Italian club FC Como Women, leaving behind life at home in Brighton as she takes the next step in her footballing journey.
The decision was far from straightforward, with Bocci faced with choosing between the club she now calls home and the club she grew up supporting.
“It still feels surreal. It feels really reassuring. I’ve worked really hard for this,” she said.
“A few years ago, I was injured and I barely played, and now I’m making a big move overseas to my dream club.
“To get offers from my childhood club (AS Roma) that I’ve always supported was really special. Unfortunately, it’s not the club that I think is right for me, but I’m super excited.”
In June, she took a leap of faith, reaching out to clubs in Italy and traveling overseas for trials, a decision that would ultimately change the course of her career.
“When I did trials this year in June, after my last session, the coach was like, ‘We’ll find accommodation for you,’ which was really scary. I was quite shocked because I wasn’t expecting that at all,” she remembered.
“I was obviously going there to get a contract, but to actually hear that, it felt really good and really reassuring.
“I really went there with nothing to lose. I go over there, get a contract or if I don’t, I come here and I still play. Just going in with the mentality that I’ve got nothing to lose and knowing that football is my job and it’s what I do.
“There was no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t perform.
“I went by myself, which was a really cool experience. Traveling by myself, making sure I didn’t miss my plane. It was really good and an amazing learning opportunity for me.”
Bocci began her football journey at Brighton SC before trialing for the NTC program in 2021. She was offered a place in the program but chose instead to join South Melbourne to play NPL U13s.
“I really liked that season. I trained up with the Under 15s and played games with them. It was a really amazing environment and a step up from what I’d experienced.”
After 12 months at Lakeside, she re-trialed for the NTC/ FV Academy and this time, accepted the opportunity.
After battling through her early setbacks, Bocci began to make the most of her opportunities in 2024, traveling to the United States for the Premier Cup and helping Football Victoria claim the U16 Emerging Matildas Championships (in 2025).
“I had a few injuries (in my first year at FV), a lot of setbacks, didn’t play too much, but I still learned a lot,” she said.
“Nothing can beat winning Nationals, really. It was such an amazing feeling and an amazing team.
“Going to America and meeting new teams and playing internationally, that was really cool and just an amazing experience.”
Bocci’s rise continued in 2025, as she earned her first taste of senior NPLW football with the FV Academy.
“Last year was an amazing year for me. Starting off the season, training with the senior team, making my senior NPL debut, and then going on to win Nationals. It was an amazing year for me," she said.
“I played so many games. I was on fire. I had such momentum going, and it felt really good to just be on top and actually winning and doing well.”
With the NTC pathway coming to an end and Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City entering the competition, Bocci made the move to Victory, a club she had supported throughout her childhood.
The move proved another important step, with Bocci featuring for both the Under 20s and senior teams and scoring her first senior NPL goal.
“It’s been an amazing year. The club is an amazing club. It has such an amazing environment with all the girls, and I’ve just loved to come to training and play.”
“I was lucky enough to have both Under 20s and seniors’ games this year. I’ve played not as much as I thought I would with a few injuries, but I got my first senior NPL goal, which was a really special moment for me.”
Throughout her time at the FV Academy and Melbourne Victory, she had one constant: The Home of The Matildas, a facility that she will miss once she has made the move overseas.
“The facilities here are insane. Being able to use the gym and the ice baths and having top-quality pitches - it’s really amazing,” she said.
“My expectations are really high when I go to new grounds and nothing can beat this here, so it’s definitely going to be a bit of a change.”
"It’s going to be hard to step away from it.”
As she prepares for a new chapter overseas, Astrid remains grateful to the coaches who have supported her throughout her journey and helped shape the player she is today.
“All the coaches that I’ve had have always left a mark on me, have always pushed me and believed in me, and I’ve got to say thank you to all of them as well.”
Having taken the leap herself, Astrid had simple advice for any players in a similar position who are considering a move overseas.
“The hardest thing to do is just actually stepping on the plane,” she said.
“I was telling myself, ‘I’m going by myself, first time traveling by myself.’ The football side is going to be the easiest side because that’s what I do every day. Everything else will be a new experience, but not the actual football. So just do it.
“It’s scary, it’s daunting, but you take the next step. You've got to be uncomfortable to get comfortable.”