AFLW 2023: Adelaide’s original premiership pair Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard from inaugural premiers to genuine stars

They were teenagers in Adelaide’s first premiership team, now, seven years on, Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard enter another finals series as genuine stars of the AFLW.

31st October, 2023: Crows AFLW players Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard in Victoria Square ahead of AFL finalsPicture by Kelly Barnes

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard were just teenagers when Adelaide defied the odds to win the inaugural AFL Women’s premiership in 2017.

Eight seasons on, the competition has transformed. So have they. As players, and people, too.

But a mainstay of the game has been the Crows being a dominant force – that hasn’t shifted, with the foundation team finishing the season atop the ladder and beginning its finals campaign against old rival, and opponent from that 2017 premiership decider, Brisbane on Saturday.

A teenage Ebony Marinoff after the Crows won the 2017 AFLW premiership. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images

Back then, Marinoff – now 25 – worked as a deli assistant at her local Foodland supermarket. Hatchard – also 25 – was a trainee at the club, working under skipper Chelsea Randall for minimum wage.

Come this season they’re one of the game’s most dominant one-two punches in the midfield – and still great mates.

“It’s crazy how much it’s changed,” Hatchard said of the competition’s evolution.

“Even in the first year, we had half the team up in the NT. It’s just crazy. How we even got into that grand final is insane, and then winning it with all the odds against us … it’s just changed so much since that first year.

“I look back and think, s …, I was only 18. I was lucky enough to get a traineeship, so I was working under Chelsea Randall and she was my boss. I was the little trainee here getting paid (not much).”

Marinoff laughs that Hatchard, who got married to wife Georgie earlier this year, is “still the same” despite the shift from baby-faced teenager to wife and homeowner.

“We all are similar, really. We’ve all grown as players and grown on and off the field, but I think the best thing is … this footy club and this team and even the coaching staff, you can just be who you are,” she said.

“Everyone’s always evolved as players and been challenged to be better in different areas, but we’re all pretty much the same people.

“Hatch is now married, she’s got a house, got puppies. Then we’ve got Stevie (Lee-Thompson) – before, she was one of the younger ones and now she’s an old fart and a mum.

“Back then, you had Jess Foley, Erin (Phillips), Loz O’Shea … not much has changed, but hopefully we’ve all gotten a bit fitter and a bit more mature.”

Even Marinoff, Hatchard jokes, who won over the game early with her laughter and fun as she claimed the inaugural AFLW rising star award and declared she could quit her day job.

“Do you know what, she actually really has (matured),” Hatchard said.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 25: Anne Hatchard of the Crows celebrates a goal hugs Ebony Marinoff of the Crows during the round five AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Wigan Oval on September 25, 2022 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

“She’s grown into such a great leader. Especially with these young girls coming through. They just look up to her and it’s awesome to see.

“She’s still fun and energetic and all those things, but she has come a long way.”

In 2017, just eight clubs featured in AFLW with the grand final contested between the top two-finishing sides.

Conferences followed, before the 18-team competition established late last year paved the way for a full finals series.

This year, it’s argued, presents the most level playing field the game has seen – bar a full fixture – with all teams having the same lead-in to the season for the first time.

Adelaide won the first, third and sixth premierships, with 2020 wiped due to Covid.

“So that didn’t really matter,” Marinoff said.

“It’s so bizarre to think about … and now, we’re at the football club all day and you just would never have imagined that (then). We’re here from 9 til 5 and everyone else is at work, and this is work.”

Things could have been so different, they acknowledge, as expansion threatened not only the Crows’ playing group, but their formidable midfield partnership.

Cross-town rival Port Adelaide – which snagged former Crows skipper Erin Phillips, who retired last week – came hard for Hatchard last year, while Marinoff has long had interest from across the competition and particularly Victoria.

“One year, Phil (Harper) said he had five girls who weren’t contacted (by other clubs),” Marinoff said.

Anne Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff pictured with Marijana Rajcic and Chelsea Randal during season 7 of the AFLW. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“We could have easily gone and chased money and opportunity … it’s not what we’re about. Because you’ve had that success, you know what it feels like.

“Clubs have chased many of our players. But when you look at us in the midfield and when all those expansion teams came in, one of us could have left and that would have really sucked because you want to play football with someone like that by your side. It’s a testament to each other.

“I love playing with Hatch. The best thing that I realised and playing with her as long as we have, I can’t be the player I am without Hatch and vice-versa.

“You get a sense of appreciation of having someone like Hatch on your team, and then more closely it’s my midfield mate.

“Back in the day, you probably didn’t appreciate it or you felt like you were coming along this journey and everyone was just doing their bit. But you have a real sense of appreciation (now) and hopefully we can pass that onto the girls.

Crows AFLW players Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard in Victoria Square ahead of AFL finals Picture by Kelly Barnes

“You’re on this journey together and just get the best out of each other. I chase her arse around that oval and she’s running a marathon next year (in Louisiana) so I’ll be chasing her arse around her training too.”

Hatchard can’t disagree.

“That’s probably why we’ve been so successful over these years – we’ve stuck together and our midfield crew has just been so strong,” she said.

“The young kids come through and we get them to join on with us and keep building every year. It’s been awesome that I’ve been able to play with her for this long and the success we’ve had, when you think about it, it’s because we’re so strong in there.

“Hopefully we can stick by each other for a long time to come.”