Crows new recruit Hannah Munyard talks through the toughest time of her life, losing her mother during 2020

For Hannah Munyard, life is all about family and football. She opens up about the pain of losing her mother and returning home.

Hannah Munyard in action during the under 18s for South Australia. Picture: Dean Martin

There are few things more important, or more precious, to Crows new recruit Hannah Munyard than her family. Family and football.

After the 19-year-old’s mother, Teresea, died in April this year, it was football that helped drag Munyard out of bed, and it’s her mother’s memory she will play for now in the 2021 AFLW season.

The South Adelaide product had moved to Victoria in 2019 after being picked as a free agent by the Western Bulldogs and made her AFLW debut in February against West Coast in Perth.

She played three games, kicking one goal and averaging seven disposals, two tackles and two inside-50s, before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended the 2020 AFLW season.

Munyard made the decision to return to Adelaide.

Her brother, Brody, flew to Melbourne and the two drove back to SA together and as they crossed the border the siblings were required to quarantine for 14 days.

Hannah Munyard represented South Australia in the U18’s AFLW competition. Picture: Dean Martin

A couple of days before their quarantine ended, their mother – “one of my biggest supporters” — died after battling mental health.

“That was the hardest thing that I’ve ever been through,” Munyard says.

“It’s been nine months, but I’m still dealing with it every single day.”

Teresea had been in the crowd at Perth’s Leederville Oval on February 29 for Munyard’s first game at the top level. It was the last time they would ever see each other.

“She was ecstatic for me when I got drafted and the Doggies flew her over for my debut game … that was the only game she got to see of me in person, she did watch two games on TV, but that was quite a special day that I will never forget … that will be close to my heart forever.”

The three months after her mother died were incredibly difficult and Munyard says she “didn’t really do anything, I wasn’t really in the gym, I didn’t do much running”.

But then came the announcement that the SANFLW was restarting after being halted by COVID-19 and Munyard had the option of returning to the Panthers.

Hannah Munyard celebrates after kicking a goal for the Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

“I knew that I wanted to play, that was one thing I did know and as hard as it was to sometimes get out of bed and to go to training and even just to talk to people some days, I knew it was something that I really wanted to do and I knew it was going to bring me out of pain a little bit,” she says.

“I also knew that mum wanted me to play footy, and so I guess I just had to make a conscious decision to, just run, I suppose.

“After having that time off, it was hard because I did feel unfit, so I just put in as much as I could to get as fit as I could before SANFLW season started and I wasn’t as fit as I could have been, but I just had to accept that it was what it was and that I couldn’t control what had happened, but I could control what I could do next.”

Munyard was part of the South Adelaide side that lost to North Adelaide in the SANFLW grand final on August 23.

A fortnight earlier, the Crows had announced they’d successfully traded with the Bulldogs to secure the 163cm utility for the 2021 season.

“When the 2020 AFLW season ended and I lost my mum, I couldn’t really comprehend leaving my dad, Glenn, my brother and sisters, so I felt that if the Crows were going to offer me something I was going to take it,” Munyard says.

“Obviously, I’m upset to not be able to play with the girls back at the Bulldogs … the club has been so supportive and did absolutely everything to make me feel welcome and at home.

“I will never forget my first season of AFLW, but looking at it now … being able to be fully here for my family is probably more important to me.”

The Crows held their final pre-season training session of 2020 on Tuesday night and will return to the track on January 4, with the countdown well and truly on to their January 30 opening game against Melbourne at Casey Fields.

Munyard in action for the Bulldogs in 2020. Picture: MICHAEL KLEIN

Munyard, who grew up a Port Adelaide supporter, is grateful for the chance to be at West Lakes and train alongside the likes of Crows champions Erin Phillips, Chelsea Randall and Anne Hatchard, as well as her best friend Maddi Newman, all of whom are looking to put Adelaide’s disappointing 2020 season (in which the 2019 premiers managed only two wins from six games) behind them.

“I think one of the biggest things at the club is that we’re going to have a fresh start, we’re going to work really hard and we’re going to have a good season,” Munyard says.

“One of the things I heard from last year was that they were probably a little bit too focused on the footy side of things and so coming in this year, we’ve been focused on our trademarks and being united, not that it is too much effort because there’s a really good vibe here and we have a lot of fun.

“And, personally, I hope I can perform well for the Crows.”

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