Below is the chronological list of AFLW Indigenous players to have represented Hawthorn over the club's history.
Kaitlyn Ashmore
Born 8 November, 1991
Recruited North Melbourne AFLW
Played 2022-
Guernsey 10
Debut order 3
First game Round 1, 2022
Games 9
Goals 0
Kaitlyn Ashmore became the first Indigenous Hawk to play AFLW when she made her brown and gold debut in Round 1, 2022. The match also marked her 50th in AFLW overall, following stints at Brisbane and North Melbourne. With that, Ashmore became just the second Indigenous player in AFLW history to play 50 games. The 31-year-old is still on the journey on finding out more about her family’s cultural heritage but has a simple message for young Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander women and girls – be proud to be who you are.
Janet Baird
Born 12 January, 2000
Recruited Gold Coast Suns AFLW
Played 2022-
Guernsey 2
Debut order 30
First game Round 9, 2022
Games 1
Goals 0
Janet Baird is a proud Yolgnu, Arrente, Kaytete, Tiwi and Iwadja woman who grew up in East Arnhem land. She speaks Yolgnu Mantha as her mother tongue and her Indigenous name is Waymadiwuy (her family calls her Wayma). Baird first played for Hawthorn in Round 9, 2022, making her the Hawks’ second Indigenous AFLW player. The 22-year-old is passionate about closing the gap in education and her Mum is her biggest role model.
Mattea Breed
Born 31 July, 2001
Recruited AFLW Season Eight supplementary draft
Played 2023-
Guernsey 4
Debut order 33
First game Round 1, 2023
Games 8
Goals 0
Mattea Breed is a proud Tiwi woman. She became the first Indigenous player to make their AFLW debut for Hawthorn after fellow Hawks Kaitlyn Ashmore and Janet Baird played their maiden league games at AFLW clubs.
