O’Dea takes to Darebin Falcons captaincy with ease

ELISE O’Dea knew she had to leave Canberra in order to improve her football.

Darebin Falcons won their fourth consecutive premiership last year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

ELISE O’Dea knew she had to leave Canberra in order to improve her football.

Playing for seven years, she had achieved everything she could in the nation’s ­capital.

Elise O’Dea in action for Melbourne in AFLW. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Arriving in Melbourne in 2013, she wanted to go to a club that needed an injection of talent.

But without family and friends, she was drawn to AH Capp Reserve by familiar faces from various academies and national carnivals.

Now in her fifth year with Darebin Falcons, O’Dea has inherited the captaincy at the VFL Women’s powerhouse, has played a full season with AFLW and is generally on top of all her challenges.

Except the pre-match speeches.

“It is difficult to be creative, but thankfully the team doesn’t rely on that pre-game chat,” O’Dea said.

“Janeo (coach Jane Lange) says her bit prior to the game and I just reiterate Janeo.

“As much as I’d love to give a really rousing speech, I think it’s best to go into each game and just try and focus on what you’ve been trying to build on and not worry about the emotional side of things.”

Falcons teammates Melissa Hickey, Daisy Pearce and Elise O’Dea were all in Melbourne’s leadership group. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The reigning premier is riding the momentum of a 10-game winning run, but will be without Darcy Vescio for at least the next couple of weeks after she injured a posterior cruciate ligament last weekend.

Sitting on top of the ladder, the Falcons are primed for a tilt at finals and a fifth consecutive premiership.

“We are not putting a ceiling on any expectations, we just want to get the best out of ourselves because we don’t know how much longer we’ll all be playing together,” O’Dea said.

“So for us our expectations and goals weren’t based around winning a grand final, it was about continuing to improve our football and if we can continue to play good team football and enjoy ourselves, the results will take care of themselves.”

With Darebin boasting a line-up chock-full of talent and leadership, including Daisy Pearce, Aasta O’Connor, Vescio, Lauren Pearce, Katie Brennan, Melissa Hickey and Jessica Del Pos, O’Dea considers herself fortunate to have been voted into the position by her peers.

“I am really humbled to be captain of the club. It’s a pretty fantastic feeling knowing they see you like that,” she said.

“I’m so proud to represent the club. It’s such a successful club, but there’s so much more to it than a couple of premierships behind it.

“It has a fantastic culture and environment and that is due to the people in it.

Katie Brennan and Elise O’Dea after winning the 2013 premiership.

“(Captaincy) is a little stressful, but it’s not the toughest gig in the world because we’ve got a pretty terrific team full of leaders.

“If you give any of the girls the captaincy, I’m sure they’d thrive in that position.

“There’s no giant egos or monster personalities, they are terrific people first and great footballers as well.”

The 25-year-old said Darebin took football seriously “before it was cool to do so”, taking on the now expected recovery, extra sessions, strength and conditioning and treating their bodies like professional athletes.

“People say it’s a childhood dream to play footy and I’m living that dream,” O’Dea said.

“It is pretty surreal and I’m loving every minute.”