Ex-AFLW Brisbane Lion Jess Wuetschner on her footy return for Tasmania
A Tasmanian footy star thought she was happily retired after her AFLW career but suddenly she’s about to pull on the state colours for the first time in over 12 years. Here’ show it played out.
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A Brisbane premiership player will pull on the Tassie guernsey on Saturday for the first time in 12 years when they run out against VFLW premiers North Melbourne at North Hobart Oval.
Jess Wuetschner retired from AFLW at the end of the 2023 season, finishing with 55 games across Brisbane and Essendon.
The 32-year-old tore her meniscus last season in her first year back in Hobart, causing her to miss the remainder of the season.
Now fit and ready to go, Wuetschner is keen to get back to playing footy.
“I had a few cheeky conversations with Jodie throughout the pre-season about playing and I said ‘no, no I am coaching now’ and things like that,” Wuetschner said.
“I started training four to six weeks (back) and I said I was available next weekend and she said are you serious? and I said yeah if you want?
“She obviously spoke to the leadership group to make sure they were all okay with it.
“I retired end of 2023, in that space I have played one game of football but I have been training pretty hard the last six weeks or so.
“My one off game had a pretty nasty meniscus injury that took about seven months to rehab so I wasn’t really sure if I was going to get up to play this season.
“Just got old wear and tear but as far as the injury is concerned I am all good.”
Tassie are coming off a tough match against Port Melbourne, going down by 45 points at UTAS Stadium.
“As far as we have talked about and what Jodie has talked about is just being competitive and bringing that edge,” Wuetschner said.
“I think North Hobart does suit our game style more than what UTAS does and I know the girls have the feeling that they want to prove they can compete against a really good side.
“So hopefully we can bring that Tassie pressure and make it a close call.”
The Tassie men will take on Frankston before the women in the afternoon with 26-year-old Harrison Gunther adamant his side will focus on getting back to the Tassie identity.
Tassie went down to SANFL side Norwood with Gunther missing out on the 16.16 (112) to 7.3 (45) defeat.
“Walking away from the game and reviewing the game, it just wasn’t the Tassie way,” Gunther said.
“We just looked like we were second to the footy but I think this week, on a smaller deck, getting back to contested footy.
“That’s sort of been the main message and proving the doubters wrong.
“We are coming up against some good quality opposition, VFL side, it is a fantastic competition.
“We just want our boys to put their best foot forward, crash in and under and get the ball going forward.”
Tassie will go in with a full strength side against Frankston, making some changes from the loss to Norwood.
“We have a mixture of old and new in the squad and it’s all about opportunity,” Gunther said.
“I guess the first three games and then the two state games later, it’s all about giving guys opportunity.
“That’s all it was for the first game, we had a few guys out with injury, probably experimental as well but more opportunity and just probably mixing it around.
“We probably balance up against these guys really well this week so it is good to have a mix of old and new and really looking forward to that.”
The mens clash against Frankston kicks off at 10:30am on Saturday at North Hobart Oval with the women's to follow at 1:15pm against North Melbourne.
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Originally published as Ex-AFLW Brisbane Lion Jess Wuetschner on her footy return for Tasmania
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