Nurse by day, AFLW star by night: The Alfred proves a perfect training ground

She nurses heart patients by day and plays for St Kilda’s AFLW team at night. Here’s how Hannah Stuart makes it work.

Hannah Stuart is a cardiac nurse by day and St Kilda co-captain by night. Picture: Ian Currie

Nursing and football may not seem like obvious teammates, but for AFLW player Hannah Stuart the two complement each other well.

A cardiac cath lab nurse at The Alfred by day, Hannah plays for St Kilda’s AFLW team at night.

In her medical role she provides specialist nursing care to patients having heart procedures. As a footballer Hannah, 29, is a powerful half forward tasked with a strategic role of getting the ball to bigger targets.

In her medical role Hannah provides specialist nursing care to patients having heart procedures. Picture: Ian Currie

Both, she says, dovetail nicely. They require strategic thinking, critical analysis and anticipating the play with a focus on a successful outcome.

Following her debut with the Saints last year, Hannah now has a senior leadership role with the club, a move she says that has been helped by her training as a nurse.

“I really enjoy football,” she said. “As a nurse I am on my feet for eight hours a day so I have always been active.”

It is a job that also keeps her fit. Hannah wears 8kg lead aprons for eight hours a day at work to protect her during diagnostic radiology procedures.

“I go from wearing the lead aprons all day to four hours of football training,” Hannah said. “It is hard, but I love it.”

Hannah Stuart in action in her debut season with St Kilda’s AFLW team in 2022. Picture: Supplied

While Hannah says women’s football is a different landscape to the men’s game, and that the success of the Matilda’s in the Women’s World Cup put a much-needed spotlight on women’s sport, she still describes herself as a nurse first, rather than a professional footballer.

“I think one day women will be professional AFL players, but I can’t see that in my time as a player,” she said. “I am grateful that nursing allows me the flexibility to do both.”

She now works three days a week at The Alfred and trains four times a week at St Kilda as she prepares for the season ahead that kicks off for the Saints next weekend against North Melbourne in Hobart.

“We have had a really successful recruitment in the off-season,” she said. “So I think we will be a better team this year.”