AFLW 2024: New Hawthorn captain Emily Bates pushes higher standards

Hawthorn is the latest AFLW team to make a leadership change, with the influence of a top rival sweeping through the club.

Hawthorn has turned to an ex-Brisbane double act to take charge of its “next chapter” with Emily Bates appointed the club’s second AFLW captain.

Bates will take the reins from inaugural skipper Tilly Lucas-Rodd in 2024 and lead the Hawks under new coach Daniel Webster.

Departed foundation coach Bec Goddard sold Bates the vision which brought her to Hawthorn last season, but the star midfielder was excited to join forces with Webster, who was her longtime midfield coach at Brisbane.

Bates talked down the role of senior Hawthorn players in leading the push to bring in Webster, but said she had given him a “raving review”.

The 28-year-old said the training intensity at Waverley Park had gone “through the roof” as the Hawks worked on bridging the fitness gap between them and their strongest rivals.

Emily Bates has been appointed Hawthorn’s AFLW captain ahead of her second season at the club since crossing from Brisbane. Picture: Tony Gough

“I didn’t expect to be so emotional … I cried quite a bit actually. I think it just shows how much it means to me, I’m really honoured,” Bates said after she was told of her elevation by Webster and Hawks AFLW boss Max Bailey.

“We’re really excited with what this chapter looks like. Early on, it was all about potential and being a really young, developing list, but now it’s all about what we can achieve and high performance.

“That’s been the big shift with ‘D-Web’ coming in, and we’re a good partnership, we’re both really competitive people, so I think it’s a good little duo.”

Bates, who won a flag with the Lions in 2021 and took out the competition’s best and fairest the following season, estimated the Hawks were running “seven or eight more kilometres” per week compared to last pre-season under their new regime, which has been designed by new high performance manager and former Australian men’s cricket fitness coach Aaron Kellett.

“Everything we’re doing is all about intensity and power – ‘what speed are you doing things at?’,” Bates said.

Bates hailed the immediate impact of Melbourne recruits Casey Sherriff (right) and Eliza West (centre), who has been appointed vice-captain without playing a game. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

“The intensity is through the roof in drills … all our training drills are at high speed, because that’s how we want to play.”

Bates will be supported by a new vice-captain in Eliza West, who was voted in by teammates before even running out for the first time in brown and gold.

‘I knew she’d come in and have a massive impact, but I’ve even been shocked by how much of a natural leader is,” Bates said.

“I think she’s got the perfect balance of being a great player and pushing players, but also this warmth, and caring nature.

“We probably needed another inside mid last year just for me to work off I guess, so I’m excited to work alongside her and Jas (Fleming) as well, it complements our style really well.”

Bates heaped praise on new Hawthorn coach and her former midfield coach at Brisbane, Daniel Webster (centre). Picture: Brendan Radke

A deputy captain along with Bates in just her second season last year, Fleming has relinquished the role, but Bates said there was no doubt the emerging midfielder would one day captain the club.

“She’ll have many, many years of being in that leadership group and I’m sure one day she’ll be the captain of this football club, because she’s an incredible person and incredible leader,” she said.

Lucas-Rodd will also remain in the Hawks’ leadership group, along with new inclusion Jenna Richardson.

Webster, who was Craig Starcevich’s right-hand man as the Lions returned to the dais in 2023, had the ability to “get every inch” out of his players, Bates said.

“He really makes you see your weapons, what you’re good at, and instil belief in you,” she said.

“He’s really good at simplifying football and making you understand the game better.

“He’s also a really passionate and charismatic person, so when you come to training everyday, he’s full of energy – he makes football fun as well as challenging.”