Greater Western Sydney’s Haneen Zreika to make history as first Muslim woman to play AFLW

Greater Western Sydney’s Haneen Zreika will make history this weekend as the first Muslim woman to play AFLW — and her reasoning for why coach Alan McConnell should pick her was very simple.

Haneen Zreika will make her AFLW debut on Sunday. Picture: Richard Dobson

Haneen Zreika will make history on Sunday as the first Muslim woman to play AFLW.

And her reasoning was simple when asked by coach Alan McConnell why she should win a berth in the Giants’ side to take on Brisbane.

“‘Cause I want it,” the 19-year-old declared.

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In an emotional video captured by Greater Western Sydney, Zreika — who will also be the first woman of Lebanese descent to play in the burgeoning competition — was informed she had earned her place.

“Thanks Alan. You don’t know what it means,” she said through tears.

“I have no words to tell you how much it actually means. Like, I’m actually speechless.

Haneen Zreika will make her AFLW debut on Sunday. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I knew this year was going to be hard. I didn’t know what to expect. They’re such a good group and it was going to be hard. And you did tell me that there was no promises.”

McConnell had delisted Zreika at the end of last season, having not played a game as a rookie, but said she had truly re-earned her place on the Giants’ list.

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“She’s had a fabulous preparation,” he said.

“She’s done it pretty hard — I delisted her on the end of last year and she’s had to earn her spot back on the list and had a great pre-season, so she’ll make her debut.”

WATCH THE EMOTIONAL VIDEO AS ZREIKA IS TOLD SHE’D BE MAKING HER DEBUT IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE