by Murray Silby

The NT Thunder women hit the road again this week with the goal of maintaining an unbeaten record in the VFL W’s Round 4, but to do so they’ll have to beat Melbourne University, which is led by superstar Emma Kearney.

It’s probably fair to say Kearney’s record in the past 12 months is unmatched.

The 28-year-old not only won the AFLW premiership with the Western Bulldogs in 2018, but was also the 2018 AFLW Best & Fairest, the Bulldogs’ best & fairest, AFL Coaches Association MVP and was selected as an All-Australian for the second-straight year.

North Melbourne was quick to recruit her to build its side when granted an AFLW license for 2019.

As midfielders go, there’s possibly only Melbourne superstar Daisy Pearce, who is comparable.

Although Melbourne Uni’s record this season is mixed, sitting eighth on the ladder with an eight-point win over Essendon in Round 2 and a 39-point loss to Geelong in Round 1, it’s been something of a factory of fine football talent in recent years.

In the 2017 AFLW draft, graduates from the University program, such as Kearney and Western Bulldogs star Ellie Blackburn, along with 13 other players were snapped up by AFLW clubs.

So, although those players may not line up against Thunder, the MUGAR’s depth runs deep.

The club has also had a long link with North Melbourne and is coached by Scott Gowans, who will coach North Melbourne’s inaugural AFLW side from next season.

In its first two games in the VFL W competition though, Thunder has shown it has the potential to build a similar heritage.

Thunder defeated Victorian power Darebin by 54 points and last week, Essendon by 72 points.

Led by Emma Swanson, Jessica Sedunary, Georgia Bevan and Angela Foley, Foley with 28 possessions, who were all goal scorers and among the best, Thunder stepped on the gas after trailing the Bombers by two points at quarter-time to keep their opponents scoreless for the remainder of the match.

Thunder is now fourth on the VFL W ladder with two wins and no losses, sitting below Hawthorn, Geelong and Collingwood, all of which are undefeated.

All three teams have played three games, including a draw between Collingwood and Geelong in Round 2.

Alice Springs-based Jordann Hickey kicked a goal against Essendon and says Thunder’s results reflect how well the squad is working together, despite being based in Adelaide, Central Australia and Darwin.

“We all gel really well, we’ve all became a tight unit straight away I’d say,” she said.

“It didn’t take long for us to develop a strong bond. We all get along really well and I think that shows on the field when we don’t all train together, but are able to play together and perform the way we do.”

It’s been a rapid rise for Hickey, who plays for Rovers Centrals in Alice Springs and is one of four women who train with the men’s Redtails program in Central Australia.

She said it wasn’t until last season that the women’s competition began playing on full-sized fields, but with the help of the Thunder program, the women’s game is going from strength to strength in the Centre.

“It’s definitely growing,” she said. “We used to play on a third of the field with 12-a-side and the year before that nine-a-side so yes, to have the full field only last year and to already be in the Thunder Women’s team is pretty amazing.

“It’s definitely something that’s growing and very exciting around the community here in Alice Springs, especially for the younger girls to see the pathways they’re possibly going to be able to take.

“There’s a huge amount of talent, especially with our younger girls coming through, yes, massive amounts of just natural talent, if they put the hard training in they’ll be amazing.”

Hickey, who was born in Alice Springs, but has lived around the Territory, including Groote Eylandt and Darwin, says it’s an exciting time to be a female footballer, with the pathways that are now in place.

“I’m loving the whole experience I’m getting with the Thunder women, being able to play at that level and playing with the AFLW girls is just amazing,” she explained.

“It’s been very exciting. I think each game I’ve been more excited than nervous just to see how challenging the game’s going to be so I rise to the challenge.

“I get more excited than anything, just to represent the NT for one, and just to play with the talent we’ve got in the team is just awesome.

“The main focus at the moment is playing my best footy for Thunder, but then seeing what that can bring me. Hopefully, if it leads me into being a draft pick that would be fantastic.”

A good showing against another of Victorian football’s strongest clubs in Melbourne University would go a long way towards making that dream a reality.

VFL W Round 4 – Melbourne University v NT Thunder, Saturday 26 May, 11.10am (AEST), Avalon Airport Oval, Chirnside Park.