2018 BLACKBURN INAUGURAL TEAM

DOC (SERENA KUO) PREMS 2021

Who and what was influential in your journey to AFL?

I think I grew up playing it in between classes at lunchtime, and I did it in year five and six in in school sports and I loved it. But I didn’t see that there was an option past that point to play. So, I closed that chapter and played netball and softball for a little while. Then when I watched the exhibition match between the Demons and the Doggies … Yeah, I saw some superstars on there and I was inspired to maybe give it another go. So, 2018 was my first season of senior women’s footy. And I had a ball and had a couple of years off because of the shoulder injury and COVID and here we are, we’re back to it.

What keeps you busy during the week?

Good question! I’m an osteopath. I graduated midway of 2020. So, by the start of 2022, I’ll be doing two part time jobs as an osteo. One in South Yarra and Blackburn, which is really cool. And I just love getting people back to what they love to do because that’s what Osteo did for me. Obviously hard during a pandemic. But when I’m able to get people back to where they want to be and have great conversations them and get to know them as people it’s a very satisfying career.

What’s your breakfast of champions?

Oh, it’s very important to me. I do consider it deeply. I have a couple of pieces of toast with some avo and a couple of eggs and maybe a piece of fruit with some tea and water of course. Must hydrate.

What is drill that you think has really helped your game?

Um, I don’t think there’s a particular drill, but repetition is key. And I love going for kicks by myself and just working on the routine and trick shots and things like that just on my own time. So, I just go until I’m exhausted.

Funniest or favourite playing memory.

There have been lots of great moments … Although we always have fun during trainings and things like that. I don’t know. I don’t have one for you right now. Probably me falling or something. Actually. I was almost stabbed to death by one of the drill poles the other day going back with the flight of the ball, completely unaware of my surroundings and that was pretty good memory for the people around me.

Do you follow an AFL or AFLW team?

I have been a long-suffering Saints supporter for the men’s team and naturally hopped on supporting the women’s team when they were introduced, but my favourite player of all time is Darcy Vescio. So, I have a very big bias towards Carlton football club.

Favourite position or where you usually get listed.

I play half forward which requires a lot more running than I thought it would involve but I do enjoy it. I especially enjoy being the link-up between the forward line and the midfield so it’s a good position for me.

Birth to Blackburn the journey.

Another great question. I was born in Melbourne, Fitzroy to be specific. And the reason why I came to Blackburn was Gilly was my school nurse and once a year we’d play an exhibition match for girls footy and she coached me one year and we somehow saw each other when I was still coaching Caulfield and she said I should give it a go. Later I shot her a message and then came down in November of 2019 and haven’t looked back since.

What’s the question you’re hoping I don’t ask?

Oh, there’s nothing about footy I don’t love talking about.

Your advice for 10 year old you.

I would have said play football earlier. Don’t give it up. Just keep pushing. Keep pushing the barriers and keep having fun.

Favourite word to describe your team.

Connected. I think it’s all about communities, especially at this level of local footy. Women aren’t paid to play. So, you play for your mates. And so, once you have those bonds, it keeps you going.

Nomination for next player profile.

Oh, I’m going to nominate Ellie Cleland. She’s one of the original Burners inaugural women’s players and deserves more attention than she gets.

CHADDY (MIA CHADWICK)

I think it was 2016 and a friend from basketball who was a good mate invited me to play with her at Blackburn. Which was great because I wanted to play for a few years, but I was too nervous because I didn’t know anyone in a team. Once I knew someone I was more comfortable, plus I found another girl I know also played for BFC.

So, we went along to training and I was like “Okay, this is this is good”. And then played the first year and although my original friends left I decided I’m gonna stay. Why not?

We won a few grand finals. I continued to improve. And I kept loving it.

What keeps you busy during the week?

Uni three times a week. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, I study at Richmond Institute which connects with the Richmond Football Club. My course his year includes a junior diploma in Sports development, and then another in Leadership and Management. I also recently got a job at a gin business in Moorabbin where I basically packed boxes of gin and fill bottles of gin pretty much every day.

What’s your breakfast of champions?

OK. My secret meal is bacon egg sandwich, with a chocolate Up and Go. Yep that’s always what I’ve had. And that’s always what it’s gonna be. Oh wait … I think I might move to porridge. I don’t know. It’s between the two now. I will keep you posted!

What is drill that you think has really helped your game?

I absolutely love three man weave. Like it was originally a basketball drill for me. But then you incorporate football into it and it’s even better. So, three men weave is like my favourite basically. And the one I love to do the most.

Funniest or favourite playing memory.

My funniest memory is probably seeing that the video of Nat dancing before the Coldstream game. Yeah!! With the sombrero. It was in our chat. It was like so funny and made me made my day. Definitely!!

Do you follow an AFL or AFLW team?

I go for the saints in the AFL. And before they joined AFLW I went for  Melbourne because of Daisy Pearce. That’s pretty much my main reason why I follow Melbourne.

Favourite position or where you usually get listed.

I love the centre. That is my absolute favourite, but I like scoring goals as well. So forward is great too.

Birth to Blackburn – The Journey.

Born in Elsternwick, at Cabrini hospital on the first of December 2002. This is like my whole backstory. We lived in Caulfield until I as 2 and my sister Bonnie was born. She only lived there for nine days. Then we moved to Glen Waverley. We were there for a long time in 2 different houses, then Boronia. And now we’re back again in Glen Waverley. So, kind of all over the place. But not far from Blackburn for most of my life.

What’s the question you’re hoping I don’t ask??

I don’t know!! How do you pick your hairstyles??????

Your advice for 10 year old you.

Start footy earlier!! That is a good time to learn, I was so nervous to start in the first place just because I didn’t know anyone. But I still wanted to play, and I feel like if I started playing earlier, I could have gone higher or possibly done more. I don’t know. Something else could have happened.

Favourite word to describe your team.

High energy is how I would describe us.

Nomination for next player profile.

MICKA (MICHAELA HATTERS)

Who and what was influential in your journey to AFL?

Okay, well I’ve never played a team sport before in my life. And then my kids started doing AusKick. So about four years ago there was an advert in our AusKick newsletter saying come and try day for mums. “Okay I thought” and then the Waverley Warriors just roped me in. I was part of the inaugural Women’s Masters Team four years ago. And then I did two years at Waverly, and this is my second year at BFC. To put it in perspective, I’m nearly half a Century old so there was a pretty big hiatus of a few decades between one sport and the next! I was being very brave.

What keeps you busy during the week?

Just housework and home-schooling, which is an absolute nightmare. And walking the dog. I have three boys in year seven, grade five and grade three. Actually, l also love to read Fantasy novels and can get quite addicted to my Kindle to the detriment of the household.

What’s your breakfast of champions?

Well l don’t normally feel like eating first thing and will normally skip breakfast but will force a banana down if l have early morning workouts. If l do eat a breakfast, l make my son and l what l call a Mega Deluxe. It’s basically muesli flakes with milk, yoghurt, strawberries, blueberries, and banana. Can’t be called a MD if it doesn’t have everything on it!

Do you follow an AFL or AFLW team?

I didn’t follow footy when l was young (but l did dislike Collingwood in primary school because the most popular girl in my class always wore a Collingwood jumper in September and got a lot of attention), however my mum loves Melbourne and well, as you did back then,you followed your parents choice. Even so, l have been a pretty poor supporter of footy all my life. I have always liked Daisy Pearce and especially now she has had twins and can still play! Her pelvic floor must be amazing. Funnily enough my husband is a Collingwood supporter and so now are my boys.

What is drill that you think has really helped your game?

Oh, keep kicking. I’m only in my fourth year and have just learned how to drop with one hand. So, I was doing the double handed drop. Just focusing on that one thing and then learning short and long kicks has been really fun.

Funniest or favourite playing memory.

Twice I’ve just got carried away and run too far with the ball. Once I ran in the opposite direction, yelled ‘Is this the right way?” NO!  Turned around and ran the other way and then got pinned for running too far with the ball. I actually gave ground to the opposition unfortunately.

Favourite position or where you usually get listed.

In the middle. I like that.

Birth to Blackburn the journey.

Yeah, I was born in Australia. In Melbourne at the RWH. Lived in Mooroolbark with my 3 brothers while l was little then moved to Montrose during school years and then my parents bought a property in Mt Evelyn where they are now. I moved out to Ashburton with my boyfriend, now husband in 2000. Bought the house we were renting a few years later and haven’t moved! Waverley and Blackburn are the two closest Master’s teams.

What’s the question you’re hoping I don’t ask?

Um gosh l don’t know! Maybe don’t ask me what the positions of the field are? 4yrs in and l still have a tendency to say things like- do you mean the corner of the big square? Or Stand at the top of the 50m line?

Your advice for 10 year old you.

Try football sooner l think you will like it.

Favourite word to describe your team.

Awesome.

Nomination for next player profile.

Reets!