Suns AFLW: Jordann Hickey was the first player from Central Australia to be drafted to the AFLW
24 hours is all it took for Jordann Hickey’s life to change.
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24 HOURS is all it took for Jordann Hickey’s life to change.
In late 2018, the 25-year-old became the first player from Central Australia to crack an AFLW list.
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Listed by the Melbourne Demons, the Alice Springs product was soon being mentored by AFLW stalwart Daisy Pearce and training in hope of a league debut.
“Just being in the environment was a big step up and I grew as a person and a footy player,” she said.
But her debut never came and Hickey was delisted by the Dees after the 2019 season.
Overcome by disappointment, it took less than 24 hours for Hickey’s AFLW dream to receive a much needed revival.
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“It was very upsetting because I was thinking my dream had gone before it had even started,” she said.
“I took it in my stride and thought that if one door closed then another would open and it did when Lakey (coach David Lake) called me up.
“It was a pretty whirlwind 24 hours from being really upset and devastated to then seeing there was another opportunity for me to grab.”
Like many AFLW players, Hickey’s AFLW introduction was born out of necessity.
She was asked by a netball teammate whether she’d be interested in filling in for her football team in what was then a four-team, nine a side competition.
“I fell in love with it and they asked me if I wanted to keep going and I thought yes,” she said.
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From there, Hickey began to self-fund and fundraise flights to and from Darwin each weekend to play for the Darwin Buffaloes in pursuit of her AFLW dream.
“It was a very big commitment for me and I’m also very lucky for my parents who helped me out a lot and I probably wouldn’t be where I am,” she said.
Hickey went on to play in the NT Thunder’s inaugural VFLW side, finishing fourth in the Club Champion award and being crowned Rookie of the Year when the Demons took notice.
After playing with the Suns during the winter series and earning her list spot via free agency, Hickey said she was refusing to take her second AFLW chance for granted.
“I’d be so excited for it and that I’m finally getting my opportunity to get out onto the field and make history,” she said.
Hickey was one of 24 Suns named in their squad to take on St Kilda in a practice match against St Kilda on Saturday.
The session is open to the public, kicking off at 12pm at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport Sharks.
The simulation will consist of four 20-minute quarters.
Emma Pittman and Kitara Whap-Farrar were not considered due to injury while Ellie Hampson, Tori Groves-Little, Charlotte Hammans and Georgia Breward were not named.
GC SUNS squad v St Kilda:
#1 Paige Parker
#2 Lauren Bella
#4 Jordann Hickey
#5 Jacqui Yorston
#7 Lauren Ahrens
#8 Sally Riley
#10 Maddy Roberts
#11 Leah Kaslar
#12 Molly Ritson
#13 Taylor Smith
#14 Serene Watson
#15 Tayla Thorn
#16 Britt Perry
#17 Jamie Stanton
#19 Tiarna Ernst
#20 Jasmyn Hewett
#22 Sam Virgo
#23 Kalinda Howarth
#24 Hannah Dunn
#25 Dee Heslop
#26 Kate Surman
#29 Cheyenne Hammond
#30 Lexi Hamilton
#42 Jade Pregelj
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