Hawthorn’s Sophie Locke to make AFL debut a couple of weeks after the loss of her mother, Sarah Locke

Goulburn Valley’s Sophie Locke will debut for the Hawks this weekend. Watch how the news is delivered to the family.

Seymour’s Sophie Locke will be part of history this weekend, named in the first ever Hawthorn team to play AFL Women’s.

Locke received the good news from coach Bec Goddard earlier this week with her family, her father and sister, on the phone to hear the announcement.

She will make her debut against Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Saturday at 7.10pm.

And there was plenty of emotion as the 21-year-old, her coach, and her family breaking down in tears upon the news.

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the former Port Melbourne VFL player after losing her mother Sarah Locke a couple of weeks ago.

Sarah died at the age of 51 after battling breast cancer for the past nine years.

For Locke the game itself will be exciting but tinged with sadness, knowing her mother won’t be there to cheer her on.

You can read about that below.

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“She really hoped she could make it for my first game.”

For Hawthorn’s Sophie Locke, next week could be the biggest week of her AFL career so far but it won’t be without sadness.

Locke is on track to play in the historic first ever AFLW’s match for the Hawks when the club takes on rivals Essendon at Marvel Stadium, who are also making their debut.

The Seymour and Euroa junior was the third Hawthorn player ever recruited to the club after being one of the best players in the VFL women for Port Melbourne, making the team of the year for the 2021 competition.

Locke, though, will have to prepare to face Essendon dealing with the loss of her mother.

Hawthorn’s Sophie Locke played a practice match against Richmond last Sunday. She wore a black armband in tribute to her mother who died from breast cancer recently. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos.

Sarah Locke last week died at the age of 51 after battling breast cancer for nine years.

“She loved the footy,” Locke said of her mother.

“She’s always been the number one supporter of Chloe (my sister) and I.

“She’d always help us through injuries, helping our mental state and our rehab.”

Locke and her teammates wore black armbands last Sunday in a practice match against Richmond in honour of Sarah.

The forward said her mother was one of the biggest supporters on the sideline.

“Mum’s always had a loud personality and a loud laugh,” Locke said.

“She’s always one of the most loudest cheerers.”

Locke said if she was selected for round one, plenty of her mother’s friends would come down to watch her play, alongside her Locke’s own school friends.

But not having her mum there would definitely dampen the debut, she said.

“She saw pretty much all of my Port Melbourne games on livestream,” Locke said.

“She didn’t get a chance to see me at the Hawks.

“She was always there for my home games (at Seymour/Euroa).

“She would always ask me for feedback before I asked dad for feedback.”

Originally Locke said her mother didn’t want her to play footy but after her first game she was more worried about the other players.

Locke said she had no doubt her mother could have been a good football player, playing the same aggressive football she does in the forward line.

Now she hopes to do her proud when the opportunity comes.

“It’s still surreal to be picked (drafted),” Locke said.

“I always keep thinking ‘am I dreaming (about it)’ and the season hasn’t started.”

Sarah’s death has had a big impact on her local Goulburn Valley community.

The Seymour and formerly Euroa resident will be remembered as a person who could always connect with anyone she met.

Sarah was involved with the Seymour Football Netball Club, right until her death, but her legacy goes beyond the one club.

Her father Murray Gall was part of the team of the century for Euroa, winning multiple premierships for the team and also being a part of the GVFL hall of fame.

It’s where she grew up and played netball before moving to Seymour to live with her husband Stuart Locke.

“She came to this town (Seymour) in 2001, 22 years ago,” Stuart said.

“Born into Euroa Football, her father (was) a life member of the GVFL and Euroa premiership coach.

“She came from there and met me through tennis, I also just started work in Seymour.

“We then moved to Seymour officially and she got involved in whatever she could.”

The involvement was with the Seymour Football Netball Club.

Sarah first joined the club in 1994, playing 11 A-grade games in the first season, before rejoining the club in 2002 on a more permanent basis.

Sarah Locke in her playing days. Picture: Supplied.

A dominant goal shooter, Sarah played more than 120 games for the club, winning the B-grade best and fairest in 2006 while also playing a pivotal role in A-grade.

In 2007 she was awarded the Lenny Brown ‘Best Netball Club Person’ award for her services to the club.

Sarah retired from playing in 2008 and moved to coaching, where she further excelled, coaching Seymour to their first ever junior premierships.

She won multiple premierships coaching the under-12 team with most of those players now playing senior netball for the club.

Sarah Locke (pictured with hat) with the premiership winning Seymour Football Netball Club under-12 team. Picture: Supplied.

In all her years at the club, including later while battling cancer, Sarah helped the club with fundraisers and anything else the Lions needed.

“My wife (Sarah) was a very good organiser of functions. When I was president of Seymour she would do functions for 80-100,” Stuart said.

“She’d think it would be pretty funny I’m now having to organise for her.”

Stuart said she battled bravely over the past few years as she fought cancer.

He’s going to miss her ability to quickly solve problems.

“I don’t have someone now to bounce problems off,” Stuart

“She just was very practical and very forthright.

“She didn’t suffer from fools.”

Saturday and Sunday will be two big days for the community to commemorate her life.

Seymour Football Netball Club will be having a minute silence at 2.30pm on Saturday, in her honour, as the club plays Tatura in football and netball.

An afternoon tea will follow to help raise funds for Love Your Sister, a charity started by actor Samuel Johnson after he lost his sister to breast cancer.

The club will donate all profits from the day to it, with people also urged to head to here to donate.

All netball games for the day will be moved an hour forward to make sure the club can pay their respects to a great of the Lions.

“She was just such a great person, the kind of person that would get in and help wherever she could,” Seymour Football Netball Club committee member Lyndel Feery said.

“She was just that type of person that had the buzz around her.

“She played a bit of netball with us, helped us with various roles and helped raise fundraisers with us even after her treatment.

“She was just the kind if person you want around your club.”

Feery said her influence would remain at the club for years to come.

Sarah’s funeral will be held on Sunday at the Euroa Butter Factory at 79 Boundary Road North in Euroa at midday.

Sarah is survived by her husband Stuart and daughters Chloe and Sophie.

Originally published as Hawthorn’s Sophie Locke to make AFL debut a couple of weeks after the loss of her mother, Sarah Locke