North Melbourne star Emma Kearney recalls playing football at Melbourne University more than a decade ago, facing off against women’s football legend Debbie Lee, who was in her late 30s.
“I said to my teammates, ‘If I’m still playing then, tell me to retire’,” she joked.“Here I am, 36 [years old] and still playing. I understand why [Debbie] was still playing. It’s such a great game. I love it.”
AFLW North Melbourne player Emma KearneyCredit: Joe Armao
It’s no surprise that Kearney, now a legend herself, broke her own promise. She’s still supremely fit, notwithstanding a calf injury that delayed her start to the 2025 season, and plays a critical role in the record-breaking North Melbourne team that will be gunning for back-to-back premierships in Saturday night’s AFLW grand final against Brisbane at Ikon Park.
Kearney, by her own admission, thrives on the pressure of big games. So, will this grand final be the ultimate swansong? A full stop on a glittering career that includes 10 seasons, two premierships and eight All-Australian selections.
The defender said she thought about her footy future often, acknowledging the clock was running out on her career. She makes no secret of her ambition to be a coach.
When asked if she planned to keep playing next season, Kearney said she was still weighing things up, adding a premiership win could potentially change things.
“I’ve got a contract there waiting for me,” she said. “I’ll sort of play this last game and then see from there, but I’m really enjoying it.”
One of the league’s inaugural players, Kearney signed with the Western Bulldogs and won a premiership in 2018 alongside current teammate Libby Birch before joining North Melbourne and captaining their inaugural side in 2019. In 2022, Kearney joined North’s men’s program as a development manager and coach, working with the club’s first-to-third year players.
She stepped down from the coaching role in August this year, ahead of the AFLW season, to focus on her playing career, and handed the captaincy reins to Jasmine Garner.
There are senior AFLW coaching vacancies at Melbourne, Sydney, Geelong and Adelaide.
Emma Kearney celebrates a preliminary final win with fans.Credit: AFL Photos
Daisy Pearce and Lauren Arnell are among the former AFLW champions to have taken up senior coaching roles, with West Coast and Port Adelaide, respectively, while Gold Coast just appointed three-time premiership player Erin Phillips as their new general manager of women’s football.
“I do want to stay within the game, and that’s [through] coaching, at the moment,” Kearney said. “So I’ve done a bit before and something that I’ll look to get into.”
But first, the business of confronting the formidable Lions for the flag.
This is the third time the two sides have faced each other in the decider; Brisbane won in 2023 and North last year.
Jasmine Garner during the preliminary final against Melbourne. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The last time North lost a game was the 2023 grand final. Since their 2024 round two draw with Geelong, the Roos boast a 26-game winning streak.
North boast the league’s best defence, which will make for some fascinating grand final duels with All-Australian Lion Courtney Hodder and spearhead Dakota Davidson, who is a proven finals performer and broke Carlton hearts with two goals in last week’s preliminary final.
North conjured a comeback victory over Melbourne in a classic prelim, which Kearney said had given the Roos confidence they could still win with their backs to the wall. Garner, as always, was immense, while Irishwoman Blaithin Bogue booted three critical goals.
Then there’s Ash Riddell, the Eltham teacher who was overlooked in two drafts and was this week crowned league best and fairest, and yet another elite midfielder in Jenna Bruton.
Ash Riddell (left) at training this week.Credit: Getty Images
Both teams are unchanged for the grand final.
“Our overall team defence was quite poor against Melbourne,” Kearney said. “So we’ve looked at that and we’ve looked at ways that we can implement that in grand final.”
Kearney, known for her lippy banter to opponents, won’t back away from any flashpoints. She wrote a column for this masthead in 2020 and said one of her favourite sledges was asking a prominent player if she’d been to the Olympics because she was so good at diving.
Kearney has learnt to temper her feedback to teammates.
“I’m not afraid to give a spray, if a spray is required,” she laughed. “Sometimes it depends on player that I’m giving it to. I’ve probably learned along my journey with my leadership that I can’t give certain players a spray. I’ve got to be a little bit kinder in the way that I give I suppose criticism or growths of where they can get better.”
Kearney admits she will still be nervous ahead of the grand final. “If I’m not nervous, then I’m probably not at my best and I probably just float through the motions a little bit. Finals brings out the best in me because I like the high-pressure games.”
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