Geelong Cats defender Maddy McMahon is a mother of three and rising AFLW star

Maddy McMahon had a newborn baby when she declared she was going to play AFLW. Just two years on she’s starring in defence for the Cats.

Maddy McMahon and three children Noah 7yrs, Matilda 3yrs and Louis 2yrs. picture: Glenn Ferguson

Maddy McMahon was sitting with her newborn son Louis, watching the inaugural season of AFLW, when she declared: “I really want to play that.”

“I had literally just had a baby,” McMahon said this week, laughing.

The 29-year-old has three children (Noah, 7, Tilly, 3, and Louis, now 2) but she was desperate to live her dream.

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“I’ve always loved footy so much I just kind of set my mind to it,” the former WNBL basketballer said.

Maddy McMahon with children Louis, Matilda and Noah. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

“When the AFLW started I was always just so jealous because I just wanted to do it.

“The following year when (Louis) was one, we’d had such a full-on year with him — he wasn’t a sleeper and he was ill (with numerous ear infections) — but I tried out (for Geelong’s VFL team) and luckily got in.

“I’m lucky I have a lot of support from my family and my husband.”

Maddy’s husband, Matt McMahon, is a household name in Geelong football circles.

But the captain of Newton & Chilwell Football Netball Club and two-time Geelong league best-and-fairest is happy to take a back seat now as his wife forges her own career as a defender for the Cats’ AFLW side.

“I was really proud she got that opportunity, she worked bloody hard,” Matt McMahon said.

“It’s hard enough being a parent of three, let alone playing at a really high level and then again at a very high individual standard as well.

“The amount of times I’ve been told I’m not the best footballer in my family now, the joke’s starting to wear thin on me.

“I think I’m getting more enjoyment out of watching her play than nearly what I get out of playing.”

Geelong VFLW player Maddy McMahon. Picture: ARJ GIESE

McMahon played WNBL with the AIS as a 20-year-old and was a Geelong Super Cat in the SEABL.

She won a couple of flags with Newtown & Chilwell’s A-Grade netball side.

Family has been her priority in recent years but returning to top-level sport has been a gift.

“It’s been good for my sanity,” said McMahon, who is also studying for a masters of teaching, “just being able to do something for myself”.

“I do have those moments of feeling guilty, because I’m palming them off a lot and I feel like I should be there, but it’s one of those things — if I didn’t do it, I’d regret it. I wouldn’t want that feeling.

“Sometimes I hit four o’clock and I’m so exhausted … but once I get here it’s just like I put family to the side.

“I don’t forget about them, but no one here is a mum, none of my teammates, so I don’t have to talk about them, even though that feels really bad.

“I felt like for a few years when the two littlies were really young, because sport has always been part of my life, it’s part of my identity and I don’t have that.

“Now I’m able to do it and just feel like I am a better mum because I get that me time now, even though I do have those feelings of guilt.”

Maddy McMahon with husband Matt and children Noah (right), Matilda and Louis. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Louis might not understand his mum is pretty famous now, but it’s not lost on Noah and his schoolmates. Or Maddy’s gran, Pat.

“Noah meets all his school friends in the crowd (at home games), they all come along and watch,” McMahon said.

“It’s really cute. Some of his friend see me coming into school now (and they say) “Hi Maddy”.

“My gran is in a nursing home and she’s bragging about it all, she’s got the posters on the walls.

“She’s always loved football so she’s really excited.”