By Marc McGowan
North Melbourne premiership captain Emma Kearney has revealed she may have only one season left in her brilliant career after leading the Kangaroos to a history-making triumph on Saturday night.
Kearney’s serious right hamstring injury dominated headlines in the lead-up to North’s grand final win over Brisbane, but it was actually a fresh calf strain on her left leg that threatened to stop her from playing.
Emma Kearney overcame a calf setback to captain North Melbourne in their premiership triumph.Credit: Wayne Taylor
Speaking to The Age at the Kangaroos’ euphoric celebrations at Arden Street on Sunday, she detailed how the calf setback prevented her from running for a week after the club’s qualifying final victory.
“It’s funny because the hammy [I injured in September] was completely fine,” Kearney, 35, said.
“I usually have a few calf issues when I start transitioning to boots, and my load goes up [but] this is usually at the start of pre-season. I knew that it might flare up at some point when my loads went up, and unfortunately, it went after the qualifying final.
Captain Emma Kearney and coach Darren Crocker led North Melbourne to their first AFLW premiership.Credit: Wayne Taylor
“I was pretty down in the dumps, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to get up ... but it pulled up really well [and] I was able to play limited minutes in that prelim.
“I was very clear in mind in the grand final. It didn’t even cross my mind at all about my hammy or my calf.”
Kearney described North Melbourne’s seven-season journey to this year’s flag, including losing last year’s grand final, as “really special”. They are the first expansion club to achieve ultimate success.
“We recruited to try to win a premiership from the get-go,” she said.
“We’ve had to change-over our list, bring in other talent, and bring in young players to replenish the ones we let go. To get success like this after all the hard work that not only the girls put in, but the staff, and everyone involved in the footy club, is pretty amazing.”
Kearney has worked as a development coach with the Kangaroos’ AFL team the past two years but has aspirations to coach in the AFLW once her playing career ends, which could be as soon as after the 2025 season.
“I’ve got one year left on my contract. I love this group, and I love playing,” she said.
“It helps that we train during the day now, not at nights, so that’s given me a lot more confidence that I can keep playing. I feel like I can still contribute at the highest level. It’s probably just whether I want to keep doing it mentally – but at this stage, I’ll play another year, then assess after that.”
Sonja Hood (left) and Jennifer Watt are the first female president/CEO duo operating at this elite level in AFL. Watt says they enjoy a “comfortable familiarity”.Credit: Eddie Jim
“It feels better than you can even imagine”: North boss celebrates flag
North Melbourne chief executive Jen Watt has called for fans to revel in their AFLW team’s historic premiership success as she predicts better times ahead for the men’s team.
The Kangaroos, led by captain Emma Kearney and superstar midfielder Jasmine Garner, avenged their grand final defeat to Brisbane in a dominant five-goal win that made them the league’s first expansion club to claim a flag.
“You see others win grand finals, and you think, ‘I wonder what that feels like?’, and it feels better than you can even imagine,” Watt told The Age.
“Then, to be here with the supporters today; just the joy, 25 years since the club last won a flag [in the AFL] is special.
“It’s terrific to give supporters and members bragging rights, and they all get to go to work and school feeling like winners.“
Watt was cautiously supportive of the first night grand final and would like to see it continue in the women’s league, but wants the AFL decider to remain during the day.
“Everybody, I think, was curious to see how it would go,” she said.
“There were some absolute pros about it. We won, so it obviously suits us, and I think the entertainment and atmosphere were terrific, although I think you’ve got to think about it with young families as well.
The undefeated Roos celebrate their maiden AFLW flag.Credit: AFL Photos
“W’s been such an important family piece. I’m not sure it was great for young kids, but it was a terrific night, and I think when you win it, it feels like the best idea ever.”
Watt credited the building blocks AFL football boss Laura Kane put in place when she was still at North Melbourne for ensuring the club’s women’s program was strong from the start.
Kearney also said having three full-time coaches, including senior coach Darren Crocker, was “really rare in the women’s game” and a critical part of their success.
“I think the club was actually pretty unlucky not to get one of the original licenses, but there’s been determination and some excellent people building lists and developing talent,” Watt said.
AFLW coach Darren Crocker and North Melbourne men’s team coach Alastair Clarkson celebrate.Credit: Getty
“I love that Darren Crocker won one of our last men’s premierships [in 1996], and now is the person who delivers the club the next piece of silverware.”
The Kangaroos’ excellence on the women’s side has contrasted with the men’s team, which has finished in the bottom two the past five seasons.
However, North recruited veterans Luke Parker, Jack Darling and Caleb Daniel in the trade period, and swapped their future first-round selection during the draft, in signs they believe they can finally ascend the ladder.
Watt shares that optimism.
“We definitely need to make progress, and people need scoreboard progress, and I think that they are absolutely right and justified to expect that,” she said.
“I’ve been here for only two years, but I got a real sense from supporters and members that hope had started to fade a little bit - but that’s back now, and people see the progress.
“They see system, they see players re-signing, and they believe in the future.”
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