AFLW 2024: Geelong’s Chloe Adams on Essendon AFLW debut, learning from star teammate Maddy Prespakis

Ex-Geelong Falcon Chloe Adams’ AFLW debut at Essendon couldn’t have started any better. Now, she’s intent to keep improving – with the help of a player she long modelled her game on.

Chloe Adams is all smiles after kicking a goal on debut for Essendon as she’s embraced by teammate Maddy Prespakis. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Chloe Adams is happy to take her place in the exclusive ‘first kick, first goal’ club.

Essendon’s Chloe Adams lines up for a kick on goal on debut during a round 2 win against West Coast. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

A late inclusion for Essendon’s round 2 clash against West Coast over in Perth, the Grovedale footballer’s AFLW debut couldn’t have started any better when with less than two minutes to go in the first quarter.

Reading an Eagles’ poor kick-in to perfection, Adams intercepted with a mark before going back to slot a goal from about 30 metres out and put the Bombers up by 14 points at the first break.

From there the 18-year-old went on to finish the game with seven touches, three tackles and her mark and goal, as the Bombers went on to secure their first win of the season — and Adams’ first of her career — with a 16-point victory over the Eagles, with mum Emma and brother Jayden there watching on.

“To finally get that experience that I’ve dreamed for and strived for, for so long was pretty crazy to me,” Adams said.

“And the girls made it even better, getting around me and having the family there too was pretty cool.”

“As a team, we’ve been working so hard over the off-season and to finally get that win, the first win of the season and I’m lucky to have it be my first game, so I think a lot of milestones and a lot of great things happened that day.”

Chloe Adams weaves her way through traffic on AFLW debut. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Intent on sticking to her routine and distracting herself in the lead-up to the game to keep nerves at bay, when it came to lining up for her first goal, the ex-Geelong Falcons captain admitted the mind kicked into overdrive.

“I definitely had a lot of thoughts going through my head, I was just thinking, oh my god, ‘this is your chance, lets try take it’ and it’s sort of the overthinking aspect, like ‘what if I miss it’,” she said.

“But once it went through obviously it was a great feeling.”

Hard work paying off

Drafted with pick 38 out the Falcons in December, Adams made sure to attack the almost six-month break leading into her first pre-season with a hard-nosed work ethic.

Still based in Geelong, Adams picked up as many extra sessions as possible in a bid to get better, as well as leaning on the teachings of her new coaches, including senior coach and ex-Geelong assistant coach Natalie Wood, who previously mentored Adams in a Next Gen squad.

“I was always picking the coaches’ brains just to get any little bit of information that could help me improve,” Adams said.

“In the end, I’m happy it did pay off, it was a pretty big off-season.”

Essendon debutant Chloe Adams (left) is embracing the chance to learn from star Bomber Maddy Prespakis (right). Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Carpooling with other Geelong-based teammates in Georgia Clarke and Ash Van Loon, Adams has embraced her first pre-season at the Hangar, working hard to improve all areas of her game, as well as her craft as a midfielder.

“I feel that’s my prime position but again, I’m doing my best to stay versatile and hopefully just be able to play in any position that they’d need me,” she said.

“I got my opportunity forward on the weekend and I just adapted to that during the week.”

With the hope of playing more games and cementing a more permanent midfield position in the future, Adams is sticking close to player she had long modelled her game off of in star Bombers onballer Maddy Prespakis.

“She’s obviously quite a physical player and I feel like that’s also what I am as well so I’ve done my absolute best to model my game off her and now lucky enough to be teammates,” Adams said.

“Still continuing to stay close with her and continue to work on my craft with her as well.”

Home is where the heart is

Adams admitted to getting “a bit teary” as her childhood club Grovedale went on to win last month’s division one women’s premiership.

Adams has long credited the club for its investment in her as a player and person, with AFLW player now beaming with pride after the hard work of those at the Tigers paid off with a long-awaited flag.

“It was pretty cool to see,” she said.

“I’ve been there since the seniors team started up and I think just to see some of the original players who had been there from the beginning and a couple of my other friends get their first premiership was pretty cool.”

Now Adams hoped to see her other ex-teammates at Geelong Falcons taste similar success, with the Mel Hickey-coached squad to play in semi-final against Eastern Ranges on Saturday.

“I popped down to training last week just to see how they were going and they all looked super keen for finals,” she said.

Originally published as AFLW 2024: Geelong’s Chloe Adams on Essendon AFLW debut, learning from star teammate Maddy Prespakis