Friday night footy in Mackay in March, is not a term I’m overly familiar with. But like many other occasions, AFLW is leading the way in broadening new horizons and creating new history.

So, to honour this new horizon, I created my own first and went to the Pub after footy training to watch the game on the big screen. (No alcohol was consumed by me because I was driving!)

The Gold Coast Suns hosted the Geelong Cats at the Great Barrier Reef Arena that was the perfect recipe for Darcy Vescio to use her talent and wit to describe the match in one tweet with reference to the match and the natural wonder of the world.

I tipped the Cats but not convincingly, thinking that the humidity would suit their sunkissed rivals of the Gold Coast.

The first half was an even contest and the conditions were certainly playing havoc and the players ability to keep a grip on the footy. The Suns went in with a 1 goal lead into half time. It was good timing as mine and Val’s meals arrived and gave us a chance to dig in and discuss junior footy matters.

Phoebe McWilliams was shining for the Cats, I’m still convinced she’s going to take mark of the year. Nina Morrison was everywhere and will poll very well in the AFLW BnF this year.

The third quarter saw the Cats come out firing and really applied the pressure. They booted 3 goals 2 behinds to 2 behinds in the quarter to stamp their authority on the game. Again a highlight of a Cats match was a goal by Rocky Cranston who is vying for goal of the year in pretty much every match this season.

The excitement machine that she is and her hardness at the ball, plus those skills really are a delight to watch. (Why couldn’t she stay at the Dees??)

Aasta O’Connor had an amazing match and I was really hoping that she’d kick the leather off the ball when she wound up for a huge kick. Alas she kicked into the player on the mark and it wasn’t meant to be.

Meg McDonald as always was solid in defence. I have nothing but praise for Meg who goes about her role in such a relaxed manner. Reading the play, stop the forwards and creating plays herself.

The final quarter had me wondering what the Suns would throw at the Cats to see if they could wrestle back the lead. On a personal note, the final quarter became a scene change for Val and I as a huge family came into the dining area and we couldn’t see the TV, so we made our way to the bar area and decided to call the game ourselves as the sound was down.

I was commenting on a missed goal opportunity in the Cats goal square as the player (I forget who) tried to pick the ball up off the ground rather than kick off the turf. It got us into a discussion about how women are taught to play footy. I’m all for kicking off the ground to create space and also marking the ball on their chest at times.

There was a passage of player later in the quarter when the ball was kicked off the ground and to advantage and I exclaimed Hallelujah! See, sometimes it is helpful!

The point that Rocky kicked that hit the post also made for great commentary as we could lip read Rocky’s exasperation … We believe she said ‘oh dear who put that post there!?’ At least that’s what the PG version was.

The Cats ran out 20 points winners and backed up their win against the Tigers the week before.

They’ve found their form and are a good chance at pushing for back to back finals in their first 2 years in the competition.

The Suns, whilst they struggled to hit the scoreboard in the second half are bonding well as a team and really can apply the pressure. Give them a season or two and they are going to be an excitement machine.

This week the Cats take on the Roos on my favourite date of the year Friday 13th. May all the luck be with them! (Sorry Roos fans).

And yes, as I have juniors training on Friday I will be headed straight to the pub again to watch the match on the big screen!

Sunday March 8th, International Women’s Day, a day when the Australian Women’s Cricket Team won the T20 World Cup, but equally importantly it was a day the mighty Demons showed the competition that they’re here to play this 2020 season and will take no prisoners.

It was also the day the AFLW learned the awesomeness of Sinead Goldrick and Niamh McEvoy and we celebrated the return of our favourite Demon Lily Mithen but also an amazing woman’s return to AFLW where she belongs – Sarah Perkins.

The importance of International Women’s Day isn’t lost on me, recognising all women for all they do and for they stand for. I was lucky enough to be able to watch the Dees live and then head straight to the MCG to watch the T20 World Cup Final.

The Demons had to win this match against the West Coast Eagles and win it well. They dropped a match against the Saints a couple weeks prior and those who don’t believe the MFC are the real deal this season were circling, waiting to prove they were right.

Enter one Sinead Goldrick who burst through packs, who made the Road Runner look like an amateur, who is so exciting to watch that you just can’t help but fall in love with her.

The Dees start to the match was like a fairy tale, Perko had the ball within scoring range for the first score of the day, but unselfishly passed the ball to Eden Zanker who was left unattended for an eternity directly in front of goal. Eden kicked truly and stamped her authority on the match.

The game was a physical contest and the Eagles came to play. The Dees second goal came from some Irish magic that I’ve been wishing to see since preseason when I observed Sinead and Niamh carve up the training track. Goldy – my new favourite – burst on the scene, wrenched the ball out of Grace Kelly’s hand at speed and handballed to McEvoy who lined the goals up with a gaelic footy feel and kicked truly.

As far as I’m concerned that’s the play of the Dees season so far.

It set the standard for the day and hopefully the level we can expect for the remainder of the season.

The second quarter belonged to the Eagles, they won the quarter 1.1.7 to 1.0.6, which would become the only quarter they scored in for the match. They really showed some positive signs, their physical attack at a contest or on a player has been noted.

Sarah Lampard kicked her first ever goal for the Dees in the second quarter after a great passage of play. I’d’ve jumped up and down even more if I’d known it was Sarah who kicked it, alas, my shoddy eyesight and lack of scoreboard capabilities at Casey meant I had no idea …

Karen Paxman or PAXMANIA as I like to call her, was absolutely everywhere. I noted in preseason ‘Good luck to anyone who has to tag and keep up with Paxy this season’, she is a running machine combined with the energizer bunny, she just keeps going and going! If she doesn’t win the BnF for the entire competition this year something is wrong with those who vote!

Kate Hore has been having a stellar season, it has to be her best one so far, her attack on the ball and pushing forward resulted in the first goal of the third quarter after some quick hands and a succession of handballs, that looked like a training drill on a Tuesday night at Gosch’s Paddock. (See it pays to watch the training sessions  kids, I’m not a stalker I swear!)

The Dees piled on 5 goals 3 behinds – all of which could have been amazing goals had that oval ball bounced the right way – in the third to break the game wide open. I was right behind Shelley Scott when she had her shot on goal, I knew she would kick it. Timed it perfectly and allowed for the breeze to do the rest. A-mazing!

Maddi Gay was in the firing line for most of the day, which at one point had me saying out loud – don’t you hurt my Maddi! Then realised I was standing around with players family members and friends, and that I don’t own Maddi in any way, shape or form…

The Irish sensations Goldy and Niamh (I cannot for the life of me remember Niamh’s nickname… help a girl out here people! Sorry Niamh!) were everywhere applying pressure, tackling, causing turnovers. Despite the umpire’s ruling I think Goldy controlled the ball long enough and should have been paid a mark. That could have given her a shot on goal.

Goldy is your crash and bash player and Niamh is your get and go and kick player. The Dynamic Duo or Dublin Duo or Dublin Dees, I can’t quite figure out which suits them better, not the double Dees tho. The way they read the play, apply pressure, bamboozle everyone and push forward, they have to be causing headaches for the opposition.

The other dynamic duo for 2020 is Daisy Pearce and Libby Birch in defence. Whilst I am not a fan of the Range Rover (as associated with the MFC) I prefer these two are the Rolls Royce players this season. Libby’s ability to read the play to mark the ball running back with the flight of it, stopping forward flurries by the opposition is outstanding. We got the recruit of the year there.

Libby compliments Daisy, and this allows Daisy to go up the field and do as Daisy does – dominate. The defensive pressure Daisy has put on her opponents blows my mind. We all know how incredible Daisy is and it was like someone laid a challenge to her saying she can’t get any better and she accepted that challenge and went above and beyond.

Aleisha Newman was everywhere, Eden played an all round magical game, Elise O’Dea had me giggling when after having a wonderful game herself, kicked the ball out on the full in the final term and exclaimed OH NO! It’s ok, you’re allowed to mess up Junior!

There was some big hits in the final quarter and after a massive tackle on Dana Hooker inside the forward 50m, Elise wore a big shirt front in the middle of the field. Replay shows the Eagles player leave the ground to inflict the bump on Junior, last time I looked at that rule, if a player leaves the ground to enforce a bump on another it’s deemed a charge and a report. But, it wasn’t reported and that’s good, because footy is tough and so is Elise. She got straight back up, shook it off and played out the match.

Lily Mithen took a fantastic mark late in the final term basically a slips catch, possibly channeling the Aussie Cricketers I was nicking off to watch after the match. We all hoped that Lily would finally kick that goal that has eluded her so far in the AFLW. Alas the ball fell short and the Eagles defence spoilt the celebrations and rushed the ball through for a behind.

The Eagles kicked the ball back in but the Dees got the turnover and booted it back inside 50m and Lily took another impressive overhead mark. She could have gone back to line up but unselfishly passed the ball perfectly to Perko who would line up for goal after the siren. NEVER IN DOUBT.

As if it was written by a Hollywood writer, Perko’s return to AFLW was capped off by a goal and the last possession of the day. The crowd left its biggest cheer for that moment and the Dees girls got around Perko and showed her the love.

It was an emotional and magical moment.

It was a day we celebrated amazing women and I witnessed the women who inspire me the most, show no mercy to a new side to the competition, who showed to themselves and to the outside world that they are giving it their best shot to be number one in this competition in 2020.

There’s still 3 matches left in the season and a lot can happen in 3 weeks, but this I know, this team has the ‘it’ factor, whatever that it may be, it’s made this Demons tragic a very proud girl.

This week the girls take on the Blues in Alice Springs, this will be a cracking match, whoever comes home with the chocolates will have them placed nicely to play finals.

May the best Demons win!

On Saturday, I jumped in the Nikster mobile and headed out on an adventure that I had pencilled in since before Christmas.

Before we knew of the AFLW fixture for 2020, a coworker of mine and I made a promise that we would get to watch one game of AFLW together live in 2020. Why only one you ask? That’s because Andrew is based in Bendigo and I’m based in the ‘big smoke’.

Andrew and I have a great friendship and he is an amazing person who has coached girls footy and understands my passion for AFLW. He still asks me when I’ll be coach of the Dees AFLM team, even this weekend just gone haha.

When we saw there was a game being held in Bendigo we booked it in! The bonus for me was that one of the teams Geelong – who I’ve admitted to Mel Hickey are my second favourite team in the AFLW (mainly because of Mel and her awesomeness).

Sorry, I digress, this write up is about the Tigers versus Cats. A clash between two teams desperately searching for their first win of the 2020 campaign to kick start their season.

The Tigers were on the prowl to notch up their first ever win since entering the competition whilst the Cats were precariously balanced on not becoming the team who  had the longest losing streak in the competition’s existence. What a perfect recipe for a cracking game.

That was my thought process on the 90 minute trip to Bendigo. This game had the potential to become the match of the year.

I caught up with Andrew and his partner for a bite to eat in town before the game, needless to say our gossiping about work related things and footy topics meant we were running late to the game. Luckily the ground was within walking distance so I left my car in the multilevel carpark and we made our way to the ground.

In doing so, I managed to leave my sunscreen and footy in the car… Hopeless. I’m hopeless.

We got into the ground and headed toward the grandstand, only to be asked if we were members or family members of the players to be eligible to get into the grandstand. I hope that anyone who needed the shade were allowed to access the stand, We understood that this is the ruling to protect family and friends of the players.

The undercover areas were already full around the ground, Andrew and I discussed that he and his partner would go see if they could find any space in the shade, if not we could just stand where we stopped. Which happened to be right beside the Cats bench. Not gonna lie, coach Nik mode came on and I thought, this could be a great way to see how they work the bench with rotations, player management, messages, assessing injuries, barracking in the AFLW.

I decided that I would stay where I was as the shaded area looked full. I looked around and noticed a lot of yellow and black as expected. The PA system wasn’t in the mood to cooperate and the poor PR people had a terrible time trying to chat with the kids on the field. It kinda sounded like the old school mobile phone coverage when you only got every third of fourth word of the sentence and had to try and make sense of the conversation.

I definitely made the right call to stay where I was. I got to hear people in the crowd around me discuss the game. There was none of this preconception about the style of the game, the skill of the players, the endeavour of the players from both sides. They enjoyed the match on its merits and were right into the ebb and flow of the game.

I managed to absorb a little bit being so close to the bench, but between discussing the match with Andrew and getting engrossed in the game, I missed half the rotations happening and hearing the instructions, despite being smack bang in the middle of it going on!

Andrew is a big stirrer and if anyone was near us they would have heard him pay out on me saying my biggest haul last season in the masters was 8 behinds! Shithead. I said I wish I had the ball that often and could be cleaner like Rocky Cranston when she has her shots on goal. I hope we weren’t too loud.

The match was played at a pace that seemed to be next level for both sides. Having watched the Cats play live all season apart from round 1, I could see the improve in confidence and ability to back themselves in crucial moments in this match.

They were unlucky against the Crows the week before and I think they were very determined to get that first win.

The scoring from both sides was the best I’ve seen all season. Running shots on goal, snaps around the body, set shots that sailed over the goal umpire’s head. It was great to watch. Rocky Cranston, what a superstar she is. That goal from the boundary was a highlight for sure. Rocky doesn’t get the credit she deserves. She really is an amazing footballer. A natural.

I was fascinated with how the Tigers utilised Sabrina. I personally would have played her from the goal square and have her strong marking capabilities and super boot a challenge for the Cats. Sabrina was powerful up the ground, but the Cats having Meg Mac in defence, you just know she is going to read the play beautifully and if she isn’t taking an intercept mark, she’s punching the ball away from the forward who gets near her.

I watched Meg and how she positioned herself around the ground. What a brilliant mind she has. I pointed out to Andrew where Meg was and how she headed from the wing down to the goal square and sure enough, within 30 seconds she was taking an uncontested defensive mark saving a certain goal for the Tigers.

Mon Conti had the ball on a string for the Tigers, she had to have sprinted a marathon the entire match. She was everywhere! Phoebe Monahan was also playing extremely well for the Tigers.

Speaking of Phoebe’s, one day Phoebe McWilliams is going to take a massive mark and potentially mark of the year, she has given it a crack nearly each match I’ve watched her play.

After a disappointing result last week, it was great to see the Cats pile on the goals in the second quarter. The lead got out to about 7 goals at one point and the Cats looked like they were about to inflict the biggest defeat the Tigers had endured so far.

The third quarter saw the Tigers mount a comeback and I sensed the Cats were just a little bit nervous. As was I. The match rose to another level again as the pressure was growing around the ground. Just before three quarter time Jordan Ivey placed a huge bump on Katie Brennan on the ground when both were going for a contested ball.

Arguments from the Tigers faithful and AFL will say that Jordan was reckless and it was excessive. I can see that. I can also see that she went hard at the contest, bypassed the ball and landed the bump on Katie who didn’t expect such contact and didn’t embrace for impact. Regardless of the arguments for or against the incident, I hope Katie is ok and I hope that the players won’t shy away from going hard at the ball.

Being so close to the bench and the ground, I could hear some of the instructions from the coaching staff and the players. I always take an interest in how Mel is going, seeing that she’s my favourite, she really gets the girls up and about with her encouragement and advice. She is such a natural leader and you can see just how she is respected by her peers. Talking to the young players from the bench, calling out directions on the field.

Her game in itself was good, I still don’t understand the umpire’s interpretation of holding the ball and prior opportunity. Mel was pinged and Andrew and I wondered exactly how many Mississippi’s they count before they call it. Sometimes I don’t think the word is finished at all.

The Cats held on to claim their first win of the season and you could see that it meant a lot to the group. I’m sure there  was a big sense of relief and excitement amongst them. The song was definitely sung with gusto and the smiles on the faces of the players as they went  around the ground engaging with kids, fans, friends and family was a great moment to witness.

The Tigers really gave it their all and they should be proud of how far they’ve come as a team in the last month of football. The wins will come and when they do the Tiger Army will be in full voice.

But on this day as the cheers of the country crowd started to grow silent as everyone began their journey home, the day belonged to the Geelong Cats and this was their line in the sand moment. They made a statement and I think that statement read: No More Meows. It’s Time To Roar.

Friday February 28th, 2020, Marvel Stadium. A battle for the ages is about to ensue. No, not the AFLM State of Origin charity match, but the Magpies versus the Demons in game that started at a time when most people are leaving work for the day.

I wasn’t meant to be going to this match with my coaching commitments taking priority but the footy gods were looking after me and the ground was unavailable for training so my plans changed.

I didn’t have to race from work either as it turned out, having to unfortunately take the day off to attend a funeral in Mornington earlier in the day.

Most of you already know that I’ve had – quite frankly – a shit couple of weeks. I lost my best friend that I affectionately called my right hand cat KitKat the week before. Dealing with the loss of a furry family member isn’t an easy time for the best of us.

The week before when the Dees stumbled against the Saints, I wasn’t even sad about that. It was just something that happened. I sincerely was heartbroken for the Dees players especially Maddy Guerin who I have become quite fond of this season and at the same time happy for the Saints to record their first ever win. But if I am brutally honest, my heart wasn’t in it. The result just contributed to my sadness about life that week.

This week leading up to the match I forced myself back into my usual routine and went to watch the Dees train on Tuesday. They looked so determined and so focused on the track, I just knew they would be back on the winner’s list.

Fast forward to Friday evening, I made it super early to Marvel since I caught the train in and clearly have zero idea about travel times. I met up with Em and we wandered around. The Dee Army were amazing in helping me get 2 tickets to the match as I had heard it was a sellout! Amazing news for an AFLW match in Vic. I  knew this day would come!

I got a message from Ally in the Dee Army asking if I could help out with banner duties for the Dees. I said yes, I love being able to help out, even if I have no idea what I am doing. Hold onto a rope? Sure! I can do that. I’m nerdy like that.

I was happy to be at the match, but to get front row seats behind the goals was something else… I was in my element, I felt like a kid again. All giddy inside.

My excitement for this week was partially because one of my favourite souls Lauren Pearce was making her return for season 2020 and Jackie Parry was debuting. I love the way Jackie has been training and her form in the practice match was something else.

The match started off with some similarities to the practice match, intensity from the very first bounce… er… ball up. Eden Zanker started in the ruck and after some confusion, Loz Pearce started on the bench.

The Dees got their first goal through debutant Jackie Parry who joined the elite club of kicking a goal with her very first kick on debut. What a magical moment as that ball sailed over our heads.

The Dees quickly registered their second goal shortly after by a beautiful snap kick on the run through traffic by Kate Hore. That was a great goal. This got me thinking, why aren’t we playing more AFLW matches at Marvel?

The second quarter saw the Pies get a couple goals back and narrow the margin, but the Dees replied quickly through Eden Zanker.

Going into the half time break, I had a sense that the Dees had the upper hand, despite the best efforts of Sharni Layton and Chloe Molloy. They were everywhere!

The third quarter saw the Dees continue on their merry way and got the Dees faithful behind the goals very excited! We were riding every tackle, handball, kick, mark and goal! Well, at least I was.

We were all collectively heartbroken for Ash Brazill when she went down with what looks like a terrible knee injury. These ACL injuries are really starting to have an impact on the competition. Soon they may name an ACL injury team of the century as part of the history of the comp at this rate. So many talented players are succumbing to the ACL curse.

My two highlights of the night came during the three quarter time break and in the last quarter. During the break the All Star team were out on the ground warming up and having shots on goal at the end we sat at. I managed to mark a ball or two and for the most punch some away. The look of surprise on some people’s faces was priceless.

I got to use my favourite line to some males in the area when it comes to me and footy: It’s alright boys, I’ve got this!

But the biggest highlight for me was watching Maddi Gay take a fantastic mark in a pack in the goal square. It had me bellowing MADDI GAY! THAT WAS BLOODY AWESOME! I adore Maddi. I’m so happy she’s a Dees girl.

Libby Birch was sensational in defence, I watched the way she read the play and saved some certain goals at times. I was very vocal in my disapproval of the umpire paying a free kick against her in the late stages of the match, apologies to those who had to listen to that… don’t mess with my girls – plain and simple.

The match ended and we were up and about singing the song and wanting to celebrate with the team, alas, this wouldn’t happen because the men just couldn’t wait their turn and were on the ground and hogging the 50m arc. Geez boys, your match was for charity, these girls just played for 4 points!

I say this week in week out, but I am very proud of this Demons team of mine. They play with passion, determination, discipline, but most of all they play with heart and for each other. They bounced back from a loss in a manner that was amazing to watch.

They inspire me every day and this week, if for a brief moment, they helped cheer up this sad sack for a couple of hours. They bring me joy with their enthusiasm and I am so glad they are a part of the red n blue family.

Friday night wet weather footy is the perfect nightmare for the broadcasters of AFLW. I’d imagine they pencilled in another low scoring affair.

Luckily for them the Demons had an agenda and that was to apply big pressure and play some amazing footy. Whilst they peppered the goals and didn’t convert as they would have liked, they looked dangerous each time they went forward. The last time they played at the Whitten Oval Brooke Lochland broke every demon heart with her winning shot on goal in the dying stages.

But from the very first bounce it was clear history wouldn’t repeat (largely because Brooke didn’t play), the Dees girls attacked the ball and hunted in numbers, applying a pressure that didn’t give the Doggies any chance to take a moment to make a decision.

Paxy’s snap around the body goal was the perfect start for a big push forward. Got me up out of my seat!

The doggies only score in the first three quarters came courtesy of a 50m penalty against one of the Demons Irish sensations Sinead Goldrick in the dying stages of the first quarter.

With my red n blue goggles firmly on here, I protest that the umpire confused Goldrick then punished her. The replay showed she was trying to return the ball, then stopped, turned to the umpire and went to hand it to him. And I took exception to the commentators gleefully giggling at the “Oh the Irish and not knowing the rules” predictable and boring line. You can’t say it’s a boring time when Sinead is on the ground – anything can happen! Wait until she breaks away and you all get to see her magical dash at work!

Libby Birch was a marked woman, that was to be expected and that continued on from a VFLW match in 2019. I don’t care much for the arguments for or against the conversation from Libby or her former coach or teammates, but when a player leaves a club and there’s no love lost between a player and the team, this isn’t something that’s new.

A player is entitled to an opinion as much as anyone in the media. I did take exception to a deleted tweet from her former coach. Whoever it was intended for, it wasn’t what you’d expect from a coach. That’s all I will say.

I’ve had many passionate Doggies fans share their opinion on the topic with me, they kinda forget that this is my opinion too. And my loyalty lies with any player who is wearing the jumper I bleed red n blue for*

(*AFLW only. I have very different views when it comes to AFLM. Hello Bugg                        ya thug)

There was a threat of storms hitting all night and the humidity was insane. You could see the players were struggling with the conditions for the most part, which is why I was so proud of the 4 quarter effort from the Dees.

Casey Sherriff’s goal off the ground in the third, I’m claiming that goal, I yelled out from the stand at the end other end of the ground to KICK IT OFF THE GROUND!! Clearly she heard me and made the right decision to do so.

Followed by a goal from Maddi Gay, who’s skills continue to impress me with each game she plays.

The shots on goal by Kate Hore, Aleisha Newman, Niamh McEvoy and Shelley Scott, if half of those had gone through the middle the match would have been a belting.

There was a giggle during the game, the piggyback tackle that Harrier Cordner received was a highlight, but the marking prowess of Shelley Scott was really something. Marking a footy in the wet is difficult – I know – hello fat lip when I was a kid – so to see Shelley take telling mark after mark really was something special.

The match was completely entertaining from a Dees tragic point of view, especially sitting in the stand amongst the Doggies faithful. I behaved myself as best I could.

I was fortunate enough to sit with some amazing mates, Em, Kat, Andy and Meaghan and I think all of us were enjoying the match. Some Falcs masters teammates sat behind us and catching up with them is always great, especially after the match. Also catching up with Baz is always lovely. I did have an interesting encounter with a Dees fan who, let’s say, had a little too much spirit on the night. I understand that being a Dees fan can lead you to drink, but not with the AFLW. (I hope she made her way home safely and slept off that spirit that was poisoning her enthusiasm for the MFC.)

The night ended with a lot of laughs and chats with amazing people, saying hi to the players I adore and am lucky enough to chat to at training. The train ride home was a good one as I read up on the reports of the match.

Living in the heart of Doggies territory, I realise that my family’s decision to support the MFC was the best decision ever. Each week the Dees girls make me proud. They’re making my heart beat true more than ever.

We’re coming for you Saints. The battle of Heaven and Hell is shaping up to be an amazing one. Whilst I can’t be there, I will be there in spirit, cheering my heart out.

The lead up to first match of the season there’s always excitement, nerves, anticipation, concern, overthinking, lack of sleep – and that’s just the fans!

This weekend the mighty demons were kicking off their season against the captain’s flag favourites the kangaroos. Coming off an amazing debut season in 2019, the roos were unlucky to miss out on finals thanks to the – not my favourite – biggest farce – conference system.

The dees have been hit hard in the preseason by injury and my personal favourite human Bianca Jakobsson stepping away from AFLW for about 8 weeks – also known as the entire season – to concentrate on her dream career. I have finally accepted this decision, only a minimal tantrum was thrown and a few tears shed… haha

Despite the setbacks, I was still confident that the dees would take home the win in round 1. Most of you know I head down to watch the girls train every Tuesday, to show my support for the girls but it’s also my way of getting away from the real world for a couple of hours. Footy has always been a great form of escapism for me.

Dad and I started our road trip out to Casey with the now mandatory car selfie. Mum was a late out – she was unwell and shattered she wasn’t coming along. We got to the ground with minimal fuss, a lot of shaking our heads at the crazy drivers out there.

We made our way into the ground and to what has become our spot, on the outer, just inside 50m to the Demon Army end. The kangas were out there checking out the conditions, there was a footy clinic taking place on the ground too, I hope the kids had fun! In true Nik form, I left the sunscreen in the car. Thankfully the amazing dees sponsors were handing out sunscreen and sunglasses! Amazing! Life savers right there. I was a good girl and applied the sunscreen and as per usual I missed spots. Hello glowing red neck and chest…  FYI sunscreen tastes gross, don’t lick your lips after you’ve applied it.

I settled in and waited for the match to start. Checked the socials and Dad and I were asked by an AFL photographer to pose for a photo.  No one asked us for an autograph so we assume it wasn’t used…

Robbo was the MC for the day and was telling us all about the goings on. Thanks Robbo! The dees came out to warm up near us and you could tell they were switched on. Nothing was going to stop them today. Except maybe mother nature and her issue with wind. I noted that I love the training shirts that all the clubs have for this season. I’m on a mission to see if I can get one!

The wind was going to cause havoc all day, it obliterated the hard work of both cheersquads as their banners were no match for mother nature. Casey really isn’t banner friendly. I really felt for the cheersquads. Shout out to all of you who put in the hard work so that the players have the banners to run through.

Both teams were out on the field and getting ready to go. I had my phone ready to film the first bounce, filming away and I got  a text message from mum telling me to stop filming and enjoy the game! Even at home, she was keeping an eye on me!

The first quarter was a hard fight. The kangas were kicking to the scoring end and kept the dees scoreless. The attack on the ball and the pressure on the player with the ball was intense. Neither side gave an inch. The standard was set for the entire match.

Ashmore and Bateman hit the scoreboard for the kangas in the first giving them a handy lead at the end of the quarter.

Despite being behind at quarter time, I knew the dees would bounce back in the second quarter. Harriet Cordner in the ruck was really doing an amazing job, her leap and competitiveness is totally underrated. The onballers were starting to get their hands on the ball and Tegan Cunningham was starting to make her presence known up forward.

Maddi Gay, who was a standout for most of the match, reads the play well and her silky skills must make the forwards super happy when she’s delivering the ball to them. Enter Kate Hore. One of the best games Kate has played for the dees. Her quick succession goals gave us the lead heading to half time. Her second goal came from some Eden Zanker magic in the pocket. That was something else. I may have been diagonally opposite to that pocket but I knew something amazing had just happened. Eden has that magic about her.

The third quarter was the cliched arm wrestle. The kangas were kicking to the scoring end and the dees defence was denying them as best they could. The kangas managed to kick 1 goal 1 behind in the quarter and the dees managed to score a behind into the strong breeze.

The dees were once again behind at the break by 5 points. The last quarter was going to be a high pressure, keep your cool, back yourself war. Eden Zanker would kick a goal that would give the dees the lead again and from there most of the play was inside the dees forward half. I am fairly certain I helped Eden kick that goal. I was bouncing around yelling out to her from the other side of the ground to run like the wind and kick the goal. I’m so glad she listened.

The dees defensive pressure kept the roos scoreless in the second and final quarters. Perhaps the wind played a factor in this, but I’d like to think it was purely the dees relentlessness to allow the roos to get a shot on goal.

The dees won by 2 points in the end. 2. My heart rate must have been in overdrive. That last minute beyond the 15 minute mark of the last quarter had to be the longest minute ever. Like, ever! Dad and I were just saying someone blow the siren only 1 goal has been kicked!

Then, the most beautiful sound, the siren went! We jumped up and down, Meaghan who watched the footy with us, we were hi-fiving and super excited. We realised this was the first time that she and I had watched the dees play down at Casey together and they won. This win for the dees was their first win at Casey since the 2018 season.

Yesterday the dees exorcised their home ground hoodoo that cost them a finals berth in 2019 and they outlasted the flag favourites in a battle that left me exhausted just watching it.

After the game I was emotional. I was all teary, because I knew how hard these girls have been working in the preseason and how determined they are to make this season their own.

What a way to start it than with a gutsy win, in trying conditions, against one of the most respected and feared teams in the competition.

Next week we head to the Whitten Oval to take on the Bulldogs. I still maintain this should be the season opener match being the two pioneering teams, but I’m going to enjoy the battle and the rivalry that is building between them.

Keep your eye on the red and the blue in 2020.

Saturday 25th January 2020, the middle of summer, when everyone in Melbourne is lining up at Rod Laver Arena to get sunburnt watching the world’s greatest tennis stars slog it out for the ultimate glory, I was creating my own little piece of history by catching a train to Jolimont station for the first time.

The walk from Jolimont station through the parks surrounding the MCG, over the walk bridge past the queue of sunscreen lathered tennis enthusiasts, towards AAMI Park was quite memorable. It was great to see people smiling and jovial, all coming together because of sports.

Alas, I wasn’t joining these tennis people in their impending sun kissed,’quiet please’ joy, I was making my way down to watch a battle of the co-tenants in this precinct to fight it out in a footy practice match.

As I made my way down to Olympic Park Oval, I made note that it was a glorious day, that the crowd building was pretty good for a practice match, that there wasn’t any shade…

Em, who walked with me from Jolimont to the game, and I sat with some of our AFLW family on the hill that had steps / seats – like the Colosseum-eque vibe / design ummm… anyway we sat there.

I am happy to report this week I remembered to apply the sunscreen I brought along – unlike the week before where I forgot and subsequently got sun kissed… sun slapped more like it by the sun.

The game started out fast and hard as I think most of us would expect. Practice matches are really actual games but the AFL won’t award the 4 points to the victorious team at the end. The players were getting into the throws of the season again, as were the fans. Ball! That was high ump! Did you see that?

When you are watching a scratch match, it’s also good practice for the actual season when supporting to remember that at any given point of the game you can get that  caught up you kind of lose yourself and find yourself cheering on like your team depended on it. Also known as my barracking.

Chloe Molloy was on fire for the Pies early in the first quarter, fortunately for the Dees, Chloe’s sharp eye for the goals wasn’t quite on target. Watching her back in the Pies side, you just know the Pies will be a force to be reckoned with this season.

Bri Davey, another magician when she has the ball in hand, was amazing to watch for the Pies, Sharni Layton was taking some strong grabs around the ground. Sarah D’Arcy was causing the Dees some headaches up forward, poor Sophie Alexander had a headache of her own and a nice shiner after a collision with Dees superstar Harriet Cordner.

The Dees themselves looked fitter, hungrier and focused. Daisy Pearce and Libby Birch down back with Harriet Cordner and Meg Downie means the opposition will have a tough time leading into space I feel.

Speaking of space, look out AFLW – the Irish contingent is growing and their skills are amazing. Sarah Rowe was all over the place during the game, her ability to read the game is very Daisy Pearce like at times. Knows exactly where she needs to be. I still maintain she would look even better in a red n blue guernsey.

Not to be outdone by this Irish sensation, the Dees own Sinead Goldrick when on an impressive sprint through the middle of the ground. The space just opened up and she went off like a firecracker! Trust the umpires to ruin this bit of magic because she may have forgotten to bounce the ball in her 50m sprint…. where is your sense of theatre! Either way it was exciting to watch and Dees fans will be up and about for what Sinead can bring to this team.

Without our number one ruck Lauren Pearce and our super boot full forward Tegan Cunningham, many would have thought the Dees would lack marking power and height. Yeah nah. The marking power of Harriet Cordner, Jacqui Parry, Eden Zanker and Daisy Pearce is really something to watch.

Over the last couple of seasons, a criticism of the girls struggling to hold onto marks was for the best part, justified, but this season be prepared for some amazing marks. I’m calling it now, Harriet Cordner will take mark of the year or be pipped by Jacqui Parry.

The ground ball work of Karen Paxman, Elise O’Dea, Maddi Gay and Tyla Hanks, I think on this day were overshadowed by a new superstar in the making – on ball rocket Shelley Heath. She was everywhere! And like a certain Lily Mithen, getting taken high in a tackle is going to be a common thing this season. You just know it.

The half time break sent us on a quest for the bathroom. May I suggest that having more than 1 toilet to accommodate fans would be a future suggestion. There may have been more available, some signage, also helpful.  We bailed on this attempt for the loo this time. The walk around the ground was pleasant. Positives in everything.

Three quarter time Em and I made our way out to the huddles to catch a glimpse of what was happening. The vibe in the Dees camp was upbeat, even with some injury scares put through the team. That’s what you want to hear from your coaching staff and in turn your players, keep it positive. Keep the belief and back each other up.

I missed the beginning of the last quarter as I was peeing in the dark in the toilet that was finally free, but I read that Harriet kicked a goal! Hoooray! I hope this happens more throughout the season.

We settled back down to watch the last of the quarter, noticing that Aleisha Newman was helped off the ground after an amazing run down tackle inside the Dees forward 50m.

Our focus on the game slipped for a minute or two as we got the necessary group selfie with our people on the cut out hill. Andy  (@Torak) has posted this pic on Twitter.

The Dees ran out victorious and I was very impressed with the hit out, their game style and their hard at the ball display, however, I was disappointed when A Grand Ol Flag wasn’t blaring on the speakers after the game. Being a Dees fan for both AFL and AFWL, you will all know we generally don’t get to sing the song often during the men’s season, so it would have been nice to hear it so I can remember the words.

Picking out a best on ground is a tough one, Shelley Heath, Daisy Pearce, Libby Birch, but when it’s a team effort the 3 votes goes to all the players and the coaches for working together to get a win.

Practice match or not, the competitive spirit is in all players and the fans.

They’re ready. We’re ready. Are you ready for AFLW 4.0? Bring on Round 1!

My love for Australian Rules Football – one could argue, stems from when I was in utero. Ask my Mum and she will happily tell you that whilst she was pregnant with me that I was already practicing my kicking technique.  Kicking my Dad in the back, feet protruding through mum’s belly.

I grew up with a footy in my hand. Dad worked at St. Albans Football Club initially as the property steward, so he always brought the bag of footballs home. I preferred them over my own toys apparently. It wouldn’t before long that I had a collection of my own footballs to kick about.

I was part of the era that had the usual roadblocks when it came to girls playing football in a league or a team. ‘Girls can’t play footy – it’s a man’s sport’, ‘Once you turn 13, you’ll have to find a girl’s sport to play. Netball is pretty fun to play’…

Dad got a job as a trainer at the Melbourne Football Club when I was 12 years old. I watched on as AFL transitioned into a full time career for the players. This certainly fuelled my love for footy even more. It inspired me to teach myself to kick the footy better, to mark stronger, hell I even daydreamed about what it would be like to be the player who won the match off their own boot after the siren in a grand final. Maybe one day I could be a full time footballer.

In Year 12 way back in 1995, I was approached by an English teacher of mine to see if I would be interested in helping to organise an all girl’s football team and play in a competition in the western district. I jumped at the chance to fulfill a lifetime dream of playing in an all girl’s team.

I was fortunate enough to be named the captain of this first ever all girl’s team of Copperfield College / Kings Park Secondary College – (I have no idea what it’s known as now!)

I didn’t kick that winning goal after the siren but I did manage to kick a goal on the run from the boundary line from about 40m out. I like to tell everyone it was 50m… not bad for someone severely short sighted and wasn’t wearing her glasses and contact lens weren’t on the agenda yet! Maybe that’s the trick to it!

Because of reasons, I wasn’t encouraged to play footy outside of high school. My time ended up being consumed by University and work. Then life things happened, I came out, I struggled with that, I moved interstate.

During this period of time my soul was never settled. I craved something. Something more. Always came back to the footy. I missed it terribly in my 7 years in Queensland. Going once a year if I was lucky, just didn’t cut it. (And if I heard one more Queenslander refer to the game as GAY-FL to my face…)

Anyway, fast forward to when I came home in 2010. I got to get back into my footy. But, it had changed. A lot. Like, a helluva lot. Even with my dad working at the MFC still. I didn’t feel like I was a part of it anymore. There was no connection there.

When the exhibition series of the women’s footy happened between the Demons and the Bulldogs, I started to get excited that maybe, just maybe, this dream I had growing up may actually happen.

Then when the AFL announced that there would be an AFLW competition my heart soared. It was actually happening. It wasn’t a distant dream anymore. 

When the first preseason rolled along, I went down to check out the training, just to see what it was like, well, that and live vicariously through these women who were kicking a footy wearing the red n blue I grew up supporting.

To my pleasant surprise the girls were so chatty and approachable. I watched them interact with kids who came down to watch, they even spoke to me. I didn’t feel so invisible around the game anymore.

AFLW has really opened my eyes and heart to new horizons, in particular I learned so much – partly through my thirst for knowledge – about the Darebin Falcons because that’s where Daisy Pearce, Melissa Hickey, Karen Paxman, Elise O’Dea, Lauren Pearce, Maddy Guerin, Brooke Patterson, Darcy Vescio, Lauren Arnell, Katie Brennan, Aasta O’Connor, Meghan McDonald (and so many who will follow in their trailblazing footsteps) came from.

This opened my eyes to a competition I had no idea existed and how big it was. My curiosity lead me to go watch some Falcons matches and I became a fan instantly. Even dragged my family along to help cheer them on.

Fate played a big role in an opportunity to play at the Falcs and in turn put my hand up to help coach the juniors. Entering my second year of this I am just as excited, nervous and giddy as I was the first time around.

People who aren’t AFLW fans have asked me why I am so into it. It’s quite simple. It’s where I feel I belong. As a very often outspoken supporter, I feel like I am able to contribute, I feel included, I feel valued.

There’s a select few in the AFLW who have inspired me more than they’ll ever know. It may not mean much to them but it meant a lot to me. 2019 became a year of change for many people. It was the biggest year of growth and belief for myself.

I found myself supporting all the players, regardless of the teams they play for, no grudges held against players who left the Dees. It’s because we want to see them all succeed. I want to see them all succeed.

If Mel and Rocky hadn’t left the Dees and moved to the Cats I probably wouldn’t be as interested or aware of others teams outside the Dees.

I think that’s the biggest thing I’ve noticed about my mindset with AFLW.

I’m more aware of other teams and how players are travelling. I genuinely want to see them all succeed. Obviously my Dees are number 1, but now the Cats are my 2nd team, never thought that could or would happen.

I make sure I watch every single match played in the AFLW. Even if I have to record a game if I can’t watch it live.

The community that has been built basically from scratch supporting the competition, its players, the clubs, it is nothing short of magical. Some amazing friendships have blossomed, we support each other, we stand up for each other.

It has become a family for those who need it the most, for those who get it, those who didn’t know or felt like they didn’t belong in this world, they are finding their people and themselves being apart of this community. 

I cannot count my lucky stars enough to be able to talk about football with everyone I cross paths with who love women’s footy as much as I do.

So, why do I love women’s footy so much? It’s my family. It’s my home. It’s where I feel I’m supposed to be.

Heading towards the 4th season of the AFLW competition, I’ve been paying extra attention to the marketing dispositions of the AFL Clubs who are entering the competition in 2020.

Amongst the various things on offer if you purchase an AFLW membership, quite a few clubs are offering the membership itself as an add on option to the pre-existing AFLM membership. Which begs the question, how exactly are teams viewing their female teams from a marketing point of view?

Are they seeing them as a stand alone, ready to create their own history whilst wearing the team’s colours or are they just seen as an accessory like a scarf, a cap or a bumper sticker to these clubs?

It’s not just the new teams entering the competition in 2020, some established clubs are still promoting the memberships the same way.

We are quick to jump up and down when we think the AFL itself isn’t doing enough to promote AFLW, but when you investigate further, the individual clubs are just as guilty.

I know I have voiced my disapproval of my own team – Melbourne FC suggesting that they are not doing anywhere near enough to promote their own AFLW team, considering they are a pioneering club of the AFLW competition.

It makes sense to me that they should be leading the way with the membership push for their AFLW team, giving the supporters a tier type level of memberships to choose from to support the team like with the AFLM team packages available. 

The MFC had the original foundation membership in the first season, then from there it should have moved onto additional options in the seasons that followed. Perhaps something like a pioneer package, which includes an add on option to also sponsor a player of choice, a second and third tier option to pay less depending on your financial situation, even an option to make a donation to support the team alone. Taking a leaf out of the Geelong FC membership package, giving you a choice of club merchandise or instead a portion of the membership total as a donation to go towards the support of the AFLW players instead.

What a brilliant concept, god knows I have enough demons scarves lying around – which aren’t beneficial whilst the AFLW season is played in summer still.

Each club I hope has a payment plan option with all memberships available, not everyone has that kind of money available, (not all of us have big bank balances, nor do all demons fans own chalets and drive range rovers either).

Some clubs have done extremely well with their promotion of the AFLW membership, with great options to choose from and listing the benefits you get in the package. Adelaide, St. Kilda and the Western Bulldogs are some of the teams to be applauded for the packages they have available to purchase.

Being inspired by our favourite AFLW supporter Fearny, we came up with a concept of showing our own support for AFLW by purchasing multiple AFLW memberships for clubs we don’t neccessarily support for the 2020 season.

We feel this is the only way we can spend money on AFLW and know that the money is going towards the competition and the players. Under the hashtag #FearnyEffect, we’ve been amazed at how many people have had the same idea.

It’s a small gesture and we hope it helps the players whilst they fight for pay equality.  Even an AFLW membership that is equivalent to the AFL members would be a good concept.

The promotion of membership packages is challenging enough, but it leads me to another discussion that is echoed across the AFLW broader community, the subject of merchandise.

You don’t have to be Einstein to work out that the AFL are really struggling with their target audience for AFLW. It’s frustrating enough to misunderstand the audience, but not trusting the audience when they are giving you feedback is mind boggling.

In other blogs and open discussions on social media, podcasts and the like, we are well aware that the AFL doesn’t understand what it has here with AFLW, therefore it doesn’t know how to market or cater for this community. The lack of merchandise, whether it be team orientated, individual player orientated or even just AFLW in general orientated.

If they paid close attention to the discussions that are constantly going on throughout social media land, they would see they are sitting on a marketing gold mine.

The supporters of AFLW want to spend money to show their support for the players, the clubs and the competition as a whole. 3 seasons down and there is limited merchandise available, from the AFL and individual clubs.

It was pointed out how disappointing it was how quickly Adelaide FC ran out of premiership merchandise.  How could they not have taken the opportunity to utilise the photos of the players holding the premiership cup with pride?

How hasn’t the AFL jumped on the bandwagon of promoting the competition with using their catch cry “Don’t Believe in Never” with various AFLW players in team colours or a generic AFLW T-Shirt or even using former Auskicker of the year Isla as a face of the future?

They understand the sell factor of AFLX because all they need to do is scream FAST and DANGERFIELD in strobe lighting. That’s super easy, but appealing to a more female based market, it’s not as easy as they thought.

The AFL have automatically assumed that the rivalries of the AFLM competition will follow onto the AFLW. Part of the reason AFLW supporters are so often backed into a corner is because there’s a fundamental misunderstanding that we just support “our team” and the notion that we support players on other teams is lost in messaging.

That’s where the AFL and clubs are getting it wrong, they are marketing AFLW as footy and not truly recognising a big difference in the communities.

The AFLW community is inclusive and encouraging of all teams and its players, staff and supporters.

We’ve rallied around each other in the face of the trolling and people who don’t believe women’s sport can ever be a professional career. We’ve stuck up for each other when trolls have taken it upon themselves to go out of their way to tell us their ill-informed opinions, misogynistic views and personal attacks on individual players.

Our support for AFLW is a lot bigger than that. We may be one eyed when it comes to game day and we will cheer on our own team, but when it’s in between matches we are supporting everyone.

You wouldn’t be able to pick this visually due to the lack of merchandise available and when we got tired of waiting, some created their own merchandise and instead of being applauded for the foresight of the obvious void in the market, the AFL responded with a letter threatening legal action.

They didn’t offer up any alternative or timeline saying that there is merchandise in the pipeline.

If Tayla Harris’ iconic image was to be marketed by herself or the AFL, it’s been a good 8-9 months since the photo was taken, we haven’t seen anything available to purchase.

But Grand Final T-shirts for the victorious AFLM teams are available as soon as the final siren sounds on grand final day. So clearly products can be organised in a suitable time frame.

It’s interesting to ponder a future in which the male game is the one that needs to change or be left behind.

If we are to be honest, if there are those who still wish to disparage AFLW, become crowd truthers or deny that AFLW has arrived, they are about to be left behind.

The league’s evolution that its character, personality, values and community are becoming fully formed isn’t something that can be formed in a marketing meeting or a PR slogan.

It’s showing that the evolution of the game is leaving the doubters behind.  The AFL worked hard to understand the backlash it received regarding racism within the sport, going on to introducing special rounds for inclusiveness from pride rounds, indigenous rounds, to fun things like retro rounds.

It can start implementing these ideas into the AFLW as well. Why not have a pride round instead of just a pride match considering the large following for AFLW by the gay community who love attending the women’s matches because they feel safer and welcomed in this environment?

Acknowledge International Women’s Day by having the entire round dedicated to celebrating women. Doesn’t even have to be women just from football, it can be having a female athlete from any sport as an ambassador for each game as well as having groundbreaking women in the AFL ranks being recognised for the pathways they’ve created, an Indigenous round celebrating the indigenous culture and showing respect for the indigenous community, a round dedicated to the young kids who will one day become future footballers and leading athletes.

This generation who gets to grow up idolising an Erin Phillips, Mel Hickey, Daisy Pearce, Chloe Molloy, Darcy Vescio or Meghan McDonald, why not get the merchandise out there for them to show their love and support for them.                                                                                               Work with the This Girl Can organisation to create merchandise that supports both them and AFL clubs.

Have curtain raisers for the AFLW matches with junior teams or even the masters teams participating, showcasing the impact the AFLW competition has had on participation for more women taking up the sport from the junior ages through to the masters ages, daring to dream and now be able to play the game they were denied to be a part of in a playing capacity for so long. (The masters game at Marvel in season 3 was a wonderful thing to see, but shouldn’t be a one off thing).

AFLW is so much more than it is currently given credit for. If the clubs listened to their own supporter’s requests for more merchandise, listened to the stories that the community shares with each other, how the introduction of AFLW has had such a positive impact on their lives.

How they are cherishing being apart of this community and just want to be able to show their support for their team or the competition in general where they feel safe and included, they would see that they can help make this competition a celebrated and respected competition.

There’s supporters for all teams who don’t care for AFLW, that’s fine, the clubs shouldn’t be catering to them, they have enough available for their AFLM interests. The notion of build it and they will come is still appropriate right now.

You have a foundation here, now you need to start building up on this foundation, work with the people who want to see this competition thrive.

Clubs that have a united front have more power to push back onto the AFL and start negotiating ways to make this workable for all AFLW clubs. The AFL have no issue whatsoever to keep making concessions for the flailing Gold Coast Suns AFLM team, they’ve even given them a licence to have an AFLW team! So, in theory they should be more than open to discussions by all clubs on how to make AFLW a raging success.

If they can constantly pump money into a sinking ship, imagine how well a competition who has supporters screaming TAKE MY MONEY would go if the AFL invested in better marketing and promotion, employing the right people who actually want to see this competition succeed, who understands that women’s and men’s sports whilst they are the same in concept, are completely different and can recognise that a marketing strategy isn’t going to be a blanket strategy across the board.

Get sponsors on board for clubs, who put pressure on the AFL to make it an equal playing field for the players. (I am not talking dollar figures here that will come in the near future as the competition grows) By this I mean equal access to sponsorship, employment opportunities, access to training facilities, logical and realistic seasons, from the number of games in a season to the time of year the season is played.

The AFL association standing up to the media and not allowing them to dictate when and how the game is to be played to appease an executive who has zero interest in the sport. Shop around and find a network who understands the importance of the growth and acceptance of women’s sports and is willing to promote the sport and broadcast it. Not hoping it becomes a filler between other sports or programs for ratings glory.

AFLW is more than an add on to the AFL, it’s a stand alone competition, it’s something long overdue and it should be celebrated as the pioneers of equality in sport here in Australia.

We shouldn’t have to be still fighting for inclusion, acceptance and equality. We should be celebrating the amazing pathway being created for our future generations and the trailblazing women who continue to forge ahead and fight for equality.

Nanook Boofhead Clare

On February 2nd 1997 (when I was 19 years old) I fell in love with the most gorgeous puppy I had ever seen. I was finally getting the puppy I had wanted for over 10 years.

We went to the breeders to pick him up in Nar Nar Goon and got greeted by his mum who jumped in the car and sat next to me in the back seat (I think I had to change my underwear at this point). Alaskan Malamutes are HUUUUGE for the record.

When we got him home he pottered about taking in his new home. For the first few weeks, I was a good mummy I stayed with him as he slept in the laundry – I slept on a matress in the dining room. I did the midnight toilet runs, the early hour plays etc.

This boy made friends thick and fast. And he grew and grew and grew … and then some. By the time he finished growing he could stand on his back legs, put his front paws on my shoulders and look down at me! He topped near 60kg.

We would have many adventures, we’d go to Brimbank Park and walk around, he’d pounce on the ripples of water in the river. I took him to the beach only once – he was shit scared of the waves haha. I never got to take him to the snow I wish I did.

We would hang out and play in the backyard. He learned to play with the hose, he loved the water, and the cheeky bugger learned how to chase us with the hose and soak us all too!

He was the best goal keeper I have ever seen! We would play soccer and he would catch most of the balls I kicked his way! Then he discovered that he could catch the soccer balls, basket balls in his mouth and deflate them. And so it became an Xmas tradition that he would get a basket ball from Santa. He would open all his presents by himself, he knew what Xmas was! He would master the deflating on the balls in under 2 seconds!

We would have wrestlemania in the lounge – I don’t think I ever won, but by geez it was funny! We would hang out on my bed during thunderstorms protecting each other from the thunder and lightning.

He learned to take my blanket off me and drag it down the hallway, mum and dad used this to their advantage on the mornings I refused to get out of bed!

He was such a flirt with the ladies, he loved the ladies, the men however not so much.

He even saved me from getting beaten up one day from a bully I went to high school with.

One day he developed a lump on one of his front legs. It didn’t seem to be bothering him but it wasn’t going away. I had a dream one night that he died. When I woke up I was sobbing and beside myself. I took him to the vet to get looked at. They removed the lump drained it, it had blood in there, the vet said it looked like old blood so it was probably an old wound or something. They sent it off to get a biopsy just to be sure. The results came back that it was a tumor but they had successfully removed all of it.

In 2003, I had made the decision to move to Queensland. I had to make the heartbreaking choice of leaving him behind with my parents. I knew he would be happier with them so I took comfort in that and visits back to Melbourne were all that more fun because I got to see him.

In 2005 I got woken up by a phone from mum who was sobbing and beside herself. I could hear Nanook howling constantly in the background. She said that overnight he had developed a lump on his nose and had been howling in agony all night. She and dad took him to the vet first thing. He was diagnosed with cancer throughout his body and the lump on his nose was a tumor. They said we could have given Nanook chemo but there was no guarantee it would work because he was so far gone. I then had to make the devastating choice to put my baby and best friend to sleep forever and out of pain and suffering. And the worst part was I wasn’t there with him. I wasn’t going to be able to say goodbye and hold him as he took his last breath.

Mum told me that Nanook knew when they got back to vet that it was his time. He didn’t fight like he normally did, he was placid and calm. They put him on the bench and he rested his head on mum’s hand. She patted his head and gave him kisses and told how much we all loved him. They gave him the injection and soon he would close his eyes forever.

Thank you Nanook for picking me that day all those years ago, thank you for letting me share your life and for everything we got to do together. I keep you locked away in my heart where you are safe from harm and pain and suffering.

I miss you so much, I will love you forever and ever, my baby elephant, my boofhead, my Nanook xx