Twelve up-and-coming Hawthorn stars will play AFLW for the first time on Saturday night when the Hawks do battle with Essendon at Marvel Stadium.
The list of debutants includes 2022 draftees Jasmine Fleming, Charlotte Baskaran, Mackenzie Eardley and Lucy Wales who will all wear the brown and gold for the first time.
Hawks VFLW-turned-AFLW players Dominique Carbone, Zoe Barbakos, Bridget Deed, Eliza Shannon and Catherine Brown are all familiar with the colours but will now get the chance to don them on the elite stage.
Rounding out the debutant dozen, Tahlia Fellows, Sophie Locke and Tamara Smith will also realise their dream at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Among the 12 are some great stories, with Hawks fans set to be undoubtedly excited to see the club’s first AFLW recruit in Bridget Deed and first AFLW draft pick Jasmine Fleming running through the midfield.
Ruck Lucy Wales could also line up against her twin sister Stephanie, who was drafted by the Bombers.
Dominique Carbone’s debut is a great moment not only for her but the entire Northern Territory community as another talented Top End product makes it to the big time.
Zoe Barbakos has worked extremely hard for this opportunity after sustaining a serious lower leg injury earlier this year while playing for Hawthorn’s VFLW side.
After previously playing elite-level soccer, Catherine Brown has made the seamless transition to AFLW after captaining the Eastlake Demons in Canberra before being recruited to the Hawks.
Sophie Locke’s story is quite incredible, having gone from training with the boys in rural Victorian town Seymour to making her AFLW debut with Hawthorn. She will play against Essendon in memory of her mother Sarah, who recently lost her long battle with cancer.
Tamara Smith's and Eliza Shannon’s stories follow a similar path of success, having come from the Geelong region and gone from being overlooked in a series of drafts to making their AFLW debuts on Saturday night.
Charlotte Baskaran, like Jasmine Fleming, is remarkably balancing her AFLW commitments with her Year 12 studies and is set to be a promising midfielder.
Mackenzie Eardley has made an immediate mark on Hawthorn’s AFLW program with her composure and leadership in the backline, having previously co-captained the Dandenong Stingrays in the NAB League Girls competition.
Away from football, Tahlia Fellows works with children with a disability, engaging them in sporting activities and helping them, like herself, also realise their dreams.
Hawthorn AFLW Senior Coach Bec Goddard was delighted to reward these players with an opportunity after a big pre-season.
“We’re really excited to see Dominique, Jasmine, Zoe, Tahlia, Charlotte, Bridget, Mackenzie, Sophie, Tamara, Lucy, Eliza and Catherine all make their AFLW debuts,” Goddard said.
“All 12 players have shown they are capable of taking their talents to the next level and have worked extremely hard in pre-season to bring their games up to AFLW standard.
“I want to again praise the work of our VFLW program led by Cherie O’Neill, which has played a big part in getting Dominique, Zoe, Bridget, Eliza and Catherine ready for the next step in their careers.
“I’m particularly proud of Sophie Locke, whose mother sadly passed away just over a week ago. The courage she has shown to not only turn up for training but to continue her trajectory towards an AFLW debut is truly inspiring.”
Hawthorn takes on Essendon in its first-ever AFLW match on Saturday at Marvel Stadium, with the game kicking off at 7.10pm.
Hawthorn AFLW Round 1 debutants
- Dominique Carbone- #4
- Jasmine Fleming- #5
- Zoe Barbakos- #6
- Tahlia Fellows- #8
- Charlotte Baskaran- #14
- Bridget Deed- #15
- Mackenzie Eardley- #17
- Sophie Locke- #21
- Tamara Smith- #24
- Lucy Wales- #31
- Eliza Shannon- #33
- Catherine Brown- #42
