by Moana Hope
I am constantly impressed by the great players like Geelong’s Patty Dangerfield and Marcus Bontempelli from the Western Bulldogs. Dangerfield is like the God of footy to me. And he’s such a wonderful person. One of the players I admire the most is Jordan Roughead, who played alongside Bontempelli in the Bulldogs’ drought-breaking Grand Final win over the Sydney Swans. He’s another great man.
The only negative thoughts I have about footy these days are when I think about having to retire one day. I wish I were invincible and could play footy forever. My greatest ambition is to play in the AFL Women’s competition for ten years, which would take me to the age of thirty-eight. Who knows? Maybe my body is strong enough and I will be able to play for that long. All I know is that it will be a very, very sad day when I finally have to hang up my boots.
I am so excited by all the developments in women’s footy, whether they are the AFL Women’s competition or the many, many new teams starting up at grassroots level. If I can give the people running the game two messages, they are these: don’t ever try to base the image of women’s footy around what people look like. And make sure you look everywhere for the best players.You never know how many kids growing up in poor families all around the country might have the talent to be superstars at the highest level. These kids need to be given the opportunity for success, no matter what they look like or how much money their parents have.
Another thing that must happen is the sexuality-related stigma associated with women who play footy be gotten rid of forever. I know there is still a whole swathe of people out there who think that every woman who plays footy is gay. That kind of stereotyping is from the Dark Ages. Seriously, why do people want to judge female athletes at all?
I know that people look at me and think that because I have short hair and tatts I must be gay. I’m sure that the people who do this have never had a strong woman in their lives. When I meet people who have that corporate straight-man look I don’t start presuming they have a wife and kids. It’s none of my business, anyway. People can be so quick to judge a book by its cover. That’s what I hate about society and that’s what I want to see change.
I am glad to say that in the last few years, since the start of the AFL exhibition matches between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne, the focus is now more on the talent of the players. If women want to play footy—and clearly thousands of us do—then they should be able to do it without any pressure to conform to outmoded expectations. They should be allowed to be themselves. My friend Susan Alberti is right behind me on this one when she says:
It’s the women’s right to play AFL football. It’s not a privilege. For too long it’s been considered a privilege. People saying, ‘Oh well, we’ll let you do it and we’ll keep it quiet.’ That kind of thinking is not on. It’s their right to play football and they shouldn’t have to go begging to anyone to get the opportunity to play football. Young women must have the choice to play whatever sport they choose. You think back to the days when the VWFL got off the ground, the women who wanted to play football were treated as second-class citizens. The best female footballers had to pay to play the game. It just wasn’t fair. Thankfully, things have now changed for the better.
The most important lesson I have learned in my life so far is to stay true to myself. I want people to know that no matter what life throws at you, just be yourself. If you want to be somebody who flies to the moon, then do that. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you you’re an idiot. If you’re a girl and you want to play football, then play football. If you want to have dreadlocks, have dreadlocks. If you want tattoos, go and get some. Because if you get hit by a bus tomorrow, at least you’re going to die knowing that you did what you wanted to do. You don’t want to be like my dad on his deathbed, saying, ‘I should have done this and I should have done that.’ Better to know you will die having done everything that you could have done. No regrets.
I truly believe that you only live one life, and you are put on this earth to live your life in your own way. That’s what I’m doing.
Moana Hope Statistics
Victorian Women’s Football League
Acknowledgements
Thanks to my family. The love, good times and acceptance from my dad, Gary, and my wonderful mum, Rosemary, and also my siblings—Ethan, Livinia, Elena, Gary (Barney), Bree, Melanie, Renee, Corey, Jamie, Shona and Jennifer—who have been so important to me. Thanks also to Kim and Ellenor—they are also sisters : )—and the rest of my family. They have made me who I am.
Thanks to my friends who have helped me through the highs and lows. To Susan Alberti, Tegan, Nicole Graves, Emily Woods, Amy C, Peta Searle and Linda Gumley.
Thanks to my footy and cricket families, past and present, including Glenroy, Merlynston Hadfield, Hadfield, Eastern Devils, Darebin Falcons, St Kilda Sharks and Collingwood Football Club, for welcoming me and Vinny with open arms, and making it so very easy to do what I love most in the world—play footy.
Thanks to my manager, James Pitcher, who has been there for me with advice, support and good cheer.
Thanks to Adam McNicol for helping me to tell my story.
Thanks to Melbourne University Publishing, to Louise Adler, Sally Heath, Louise Stirling, Perri Palmieri and Monica Svarc, for publishing my story.
And thanks also go to our supporters who have been with us from day one with their messages and attendance and support. They have shown that we are just at the very beginning of a women’s footy competition that is only going to get bigger and better.
Picture Section
Appetite for life. Me and Dad at home in Glenroy in 1989.
The station wagon that ferried us around. Of course not all of us had a designated seat . . .
My family posse on a road trip to Brisbane. Always enough members for a kick-to-kick.
Perfecting the grip. The Sherrin looks so much bigger when you’re small.
True colours. I loved the Hadfi eld Football Club, because their jumpers matched my beloved team, Hawthorn. I am the in the second row, at the far right in the Under 10s team photo from 1996.
My mum, who is my inspiration.
Listening to the coach at half-time. On the ground with Emily Woods and my sister Bree in Hadfi eld’s open-age women’s team.
The Australian International Rules football team that travelled to Ireland in 2006. I’m kneeling third from left.
All in the family. Practising my ball skills before my Darebin Falcons Grand Final in 2006 with nine of my siblings looking on. Sebastian Costanzo/Fairfax Syndication
Mutual admiration society. Susan Alberti and me post-match.
Left: Kicking the ton. A record 100 goals in the women’s 2016 VFL season playing for the St Kilda Sharks. Tim Carrafa/Newspix
Larking around. The marquee players for the inaugural 2017 women’s AFL competition. Wayne Ludbey/Newspix
Dabbing. Teaching Gillon McLachlan the fi ner points of dabbing at the announcement of the 2017 AFLW marquee players in July 2016. Collingwood Football Club
Hero worship. Vinny and I are rapt to meet Eddie McGuire, president of the Collingwood Football Club. Collingwood Football Club
My date, with her trademark pearls, at the Brownlow Medal Count in September 2016. Pat Scala/Fairfax Media
A dream come true. Training with Lauren Tesoriero at Collingwood in January 2017. Robert Keeley Images
Premier AFLW’s match against Carlton at Ikon Park on 3 February in front of 24, 000 spectators. The atmosphere was electric. Michael Willson/AFL Media
My fi rst goal for the 2017 AFLW season against Melbourne. Finally! Michael Dodge/AFL Media
One of the few photos I have of the family together at a nephew’s baptism in 2016.
scale(100%); -moz-filter: grayscale(100%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
