AFLW best and fairest Emma Kearney to captain North Melbourne in its first AFLW season
REIGNING AFLW best and fairest winner Emma Kearney has been named the inaugural North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos captain ahead of the club’s first season in the competition next year. She’ll lead a five-woman leadership group.
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REIGNING AFLW best and fairest winner Emma Kearney has been named the inaugural North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos captain.
Kearney, who left premiers Western Bulldogs to sign with the expansion club, will lead a five-woman leadership group for the club’s first season in the competition next year.
Tasmanian recruit Britt Gibson has been named vice-captain, while former Collingwood utility Jess Duffin has been named deputy vice-captain. Former Collingwood ruck Emma King and former Brisbane midfielder/forward Kaitlyn Ashmore round out the leadership group.
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“It’s fantastic. It’s a really good honour,” Kearney told the club’s website. “North Melbourne is such a great club and they’re so genuine about women’s footy and I’m really proud to be the first captain of the club.
“When I was told that I would be the first captain, I just had a huge smile on my face.
“I’m so honoured and proud, and I just have that feeling of overwhelming excitement and happiness.
“It’s fantastic to know we’ve got great leaders around us, and they all bring different attributes.”
North Melbourne will begin pre-season training for their first season in the competition, the third season overall, in a fortnight.
The Kangaroos are expected to be one of the strongest sides in the AFLW in 2019 after poaching a number of established players from rival clubs, including Kearney, King, Ashmore, Duffin and ex-Collingwood forwards Mo Hope and Jasmine Garner.
The AFLW season will kick-off on February 2 next year with fellow expansion club Geelong hosting Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium.
The Kangaroos will play their first ever game in Tasmania, at North Hobart Oval against Carlton on February 3.
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