AFL Women’s star Moana Hope works long days and nights for her love of football and family
COLLINGWOOD star Moana Hope defines selflessness. Her typical work day is often 18 hours long, but it’s all for love of football and family.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Mo wants to take it all in slow
- ‘She’s more popular than some of the guys’
- Fresh Hope for footy’s future
AFLW star Moana Hope has opened up about her 18-hour workdays juggling a job, football commitments and being a fulltime carer for her sister.
The Collingwood full forward, 24, who is one of the high profile faces of AFLW, lives with her sister, Lavinia, 21, who has a rare neurological condition.
“I love my job. It gives me a good income, enough to support Lavinia, myself and my family,” Hope said. “I love football and I love Lavinia. When you combine the things you love, sleep doesn’t matter much.”
Hope works at a traffic management company from 3am to 6am; sneaks in a run or gym session at 7am; wakes, showers and makes breakfast and lunch for her sister at 8am; takes client meetings and conducts other business (while Lavinia is at a school program) until 3pm; makes dinner for her sister at 4pm; trains from 6pm to 9pm; and prepares the next day’s work until 11pm.
Lavinia, or Vinny as she’s affectionately called, often accompanies her sister to footy training.
“If it looks like she’s settled, I get one of my best mates to take care of her while she sleeps,” Hope said, then laughed: “They get to watch my Netflix, so they can’t really complain.”
Hope, from a family of 14 kids, grew up in a two-bedroom housing commission home in Broadmeadows, two blocks from the childhood abode of Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire.
She said Vinny asked Santa for a phone charger and DVD for Christmas.
“Not an iPhone or computer,” Hope said.
“It’s the little things in life that mean the most to her. I love the way she sees the world.”
The inaugural AFLW season launches with a Collingwood versus Carlton match at Ikon Park on Friday night.
‘I wouldn’t even s*** that’: What you missed on Wentworth
Wentworth does WikiLeaks in the third episode of the new season, as the Foxtel drama welcomes a new face. And there’s drama for Reb and Lou. Warning: Spoilers.
Cocaine Cassie trades nude snaps for cash
Convicted South Australian drug smuggler “Cocaine Cassie” is swapping nude photos with men in Australia for cash while serving out the remainder of her sentence on parole in Colombia.