‘I’m seeing the silver lining in it’: How AFL WAGs are coping with life in lockdown
From having babies to working from home, running Instagram empires and even launching a virtual talk show, AFL WAGs are making the most of life during quarantine.
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From WFH outfit selfies to a virtual talk show, the AFL’s WAGs are adjusting to life in lockdown.
Emma Hawkins, the wife of Geelong forward Tom Hawkins, has been spending her days juggling family life on the couple’s farm with her social media career and designing her kids’ clothing line, Homegrown.
The Brownlow fashion star, 32 has launched a weekly Instagram series, dubbed The Lady Bunch, with a group of influencer friends (Rozalia Russian, Elliot Garnaut and Rebecca Harding) that was born out of quarantine boredom.
“While it looks like I share a lot, I’m not typically that vulnerable on my socials,” Hawkins told News Corp.
“I don’t like to share a lot – I do want to guard myself a bit.
“I have definitely learnt that if you are to put yourself out there, you have to have a thick skin.
“I am talking with my good friends, so I am feeling comfortable to open up.”
The family has been self-isolating for about six weeks, as they started a self-imposed lockdown in the lead up to the AFL season, which so far spanned only one round.
“I’m seeing the silver lining with it and I’ve settled into isolation life pretty well. When I’m on the farm, I’m pretty isolated anyway,” she said of the family’s rural base, which includes horses, a dog and about 30 cattle, which are in the “calving” season.
“We have two children under three and they’re hectic ages,” she said of daughters Primrose, one, and Arabella, three. “Tom is home … and he’s able to help me while I’m working.”
Starting the day with a family walk, Hawkins said she and Tom “kind of tag-team” their day.
“Tom will go off and do his training. We kind of tag-team – then I’ll do some work.
“We’ll have lunch, if it’s a good day I’ll get the horses saddled up for my eldest, and do as many activities outside as possible.
“It’s an adjustment period for everyone, not just us.”
Of course, not every day – or Zoom call – goes to plan.
“The amount of times I’ve had conference calls where (one of the kids) has interrupted and is screaming at me that she wants Bluey, and I’m trying to put Bluey on just to get through the conference call,” Hawkins said.
“Primrose, my one year old, had a poo explosion on me and it went everywhere, and I was trying to do a (work) call and I had to say, ‘I’m so sorry, I’m going to have to call you back.’
“It’s a juggle that everyone is doing at the moment.”
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As one of the most recognisable WAGs on the social scene, Hawkins said she had noticed more interaction from her Instagram followers during the current self-isolation era.
“I’ve grown with social media and this new way that individuals can brand themselves,” she said.
“I am very much aware that if you put yourself out there, it’s with the good and the bad.
“The trick is to be able to block out the bad, know who your friends and are whose opinions are important.
“I’m seeing less and less of it (trolling) now, to be honest.”
Hawkins is busy WFH on Homegrown, her line of kids clothing made from all-Australian cotton, and dealing with the new lockdown reality.
“We have to shoot differently because we can’t get a studio of models and a photographer,” Hawkins said.
“So a stylist and photographer who has her own kids is going to shoot the whole campaign at home with her children.
“Then we’ll put it up on line and I’ll be packing the orders myself because we can only have one person at our headquarters.”
Online orders are still holding strong during the retail downturn, as busy mums like Hawkins shop for everyday basics.
“A lot of people are focusing on gifting at the moment because they can’t visit the new mum themselves,” she said.
‘WE ARE VERY LUCKY’
Ruby Keddie Ward, the wife of GWS midfielder Callan Ward, has been juggling life as a new mum while running her fashion business, Bykane, from her home office in Randwick.
“It’s such a strange time but we are handling it as best as we can,” she said.
Ruby, 29, gave birth to the couple’s son, Romeo, in February before the coronavirus lockdown. “All of our family live in Melbourne so we haven’t been able to see them since we visited at the start of March, which is quite distressing when you have grandparents missing their new grandson,” she said.
“At the same time we are very lucky to have just had a baby.
“Callan being home means he gets see a lot more of Romeo during this newborn stage so we are loving that aspect.”
“At the same time we are very lucky to have just had a baby.
“Callan being home means he gets see a lot more of Romeo during this newborn stage so we are loving that aspect.”
Ruby has been used to working from her home office as the creative director of Bykane “so isolation doesn’t feel a whole lot different to me”.
“The only thing I have to get used to is having Cal at home for a while,” she said.
“He usually works five days a week so it’s been a huge change for him.”
With her mothers’ group cancelled and WhatsApp and Zoom replacing IRL catch-ups with friends and family, Ruby said she was trying to “look at this crazy time in a positive light”.
“During isolation I have become obsessed with prepping at least four to five home cooked meals and snacks in bulk for the fridge/freezer as we are only going to the shops once a week,” she said.
“One of my favourites is pre-making toasted sandwiches to freeze for a quick snacks that you can put straight in the sandwich press.
“I didn’t realise how much Cal ate until I had him home with me 24/7.”
The couple has also been planning at-home activities. “We have had facial and pedicure nights this week, and we are going to join the tie-dye bandwagon when our online order of white tracksuits arrive this week,” she said.
“We usually alternate getting Romeo to sleep for naps and nappy change so we both have time to work and get things done.”
Other WAGs like Bec Judd have been posting daily outfit selfies sporting WFH uniform (of Jaggad activewear), as well as homeschooling her four children, and sharing pilates workouts.
Nadia Bartel documented her at-home beauty routine (vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serums), as well as working on her own clothing line, Henne.
Megan Gale wrote on Instagram that she was “doing activities that we wouldn’t perhaps normally think to do together”, sharing a photo her and her son, River, washing the family car.
And Carlton WAG Jessie Murphy wrote about doing her own hair and makeup for a “shoot at home”, while the fashion blogger been spruiking Australian fashion brands including Aje.