Southern Districts captain Lateesha Jeffrey says ‘I’ve got plenty more games to go’ after bringing up 150th NTFL match v Wanderers
FEATURE STORY: Southern Districts captain Lateesha Jeffrey believes she has a few more milestone games to come, and she is well and truly on track. Jeffrey, still only 29, brought up her 150th Premier League game against Wanderers on October 31.
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SOUTHERN Districts captain Lateesha Jeffrey believes she has a few more milestone games to come, and she is well and truly on track.
Jeffrey, still only 29, brought up her 150th Premier League game against Wanderers on October 31 – a big 51-point win by her reigning-champion outfit.
And her teammates lifted for the occasion, bringing up their first win of the season.
There is no shortage of Premier League veterans for Jeffrey to look up to and emulate as she tries to build a lengthy and successful career.
“I’m 29 and I look up to someone like Lisa Roberts at Waratah. I can’t believe she’s played so many years,” Jeffrey told the NT News.
“I’m still loving playing and I feel like I’ve got a few more years left in me before turning to coaching.”
With this ambition to be a mentor, Jeffrey is getting plenty of practise at the Crocodiles.
“We’ve lost a few players from our premiership team who have moved interstate,” she said.
“But we’ve got some great under-18 players coming through, and I’ve got a very good co-captain in Megs (Megan Craufurd) helping me.”
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Jeffrey has made countless sacrifices for her club, and the ultimate reward was leading it to the NTFL title last season.
“I started playing Premier League in 2009 when I was 17, and my first game at Crocs we lost by 150 points,” she said.
“But I remember thinking it wasn’t that bad and we could build on that.”
After a turbulent journey at Districts, Jeffrey knew the team was finally ready for something special in the 2019-20 pre-season.
“We were getting great numbers at training and everyone was keen to play,” she said.
“Everyone was putting in a lot of effort and the team bonding was great. I knew we’d win the grand final (an 18-point victory over Waratah).
“(When the fulltime siren sounded) it was an exhausting feeling, but an amazing feeling.”
With this sort of dedication and passion for her club, it is no wonder her 150th Premier League match was a wonderful occasion for her family, teammates, Crocs coaches and officials.
“It was an amazing day,” Jeffrey said.
“My daughter Kimara has been there with me throughout my journey – she came out with me for my 100th game, and for my 150th.
“We went through a banner made for me which was extra special, and my mum, dad and brothers were right there to support me.”
Football is in the blood of the Jeffrey family, with her father Russell a former St Kilda and Brisbane player in the AFL.
And younger brother Joel is rated a strong chance to get picked up in the AFL Draft next month, with Gold Coast Suns taking an interest in the talented forward.
“I can’t fault my mum – I couldn’t have done this without her,” Jeffrey said.
“Dad has always given me great feedback, and my brothers have always supported my journey. I hope Joel can make it (to the AFL). He’s worked really hard for it the past three years.”
Jeffrey said the Crocs would give plenty of under-18 players game time away to Tracy Village in Round 7 action on Saturday.
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