The clock is ticking down to Hawthorn's Round 1 clash with Essendon at Kinetic Stadium, Frankston at 7.15pm on Saturday 2 September.
Hawthorn fans can get excited about a number of players on the list but today, it's time to get to know our No. 16, Ainslie Kemp.
Nickname: Kempy
Instagram handle: @ainsliekemp
Position: Defender
Draft History: Pick 88 (2016) - Melbourne, expansion signing (2022) - Hawthorn
Previous AFLW Clubs: Melbourne (2017-2020)
Senior Clubs: Bendigo Thunder (VFLW), VU Western Spurs (VFLW), Hawthorn (VFLW)
Community Clubs: Kyneton (VIC)
Bio: Kemp first joined the AFLW in its inaugural season and went on to spend three years with Melbourne. After overcoming three ACL injuries and being delisted by Melbourne, the 26-year-old joined the Hawks’ VFLW side in 2021 as a runner under Bec Goddard. In 2022, she returned to play and made the leadership group before being recruited to Hawthorn’s AFLW team. She averaged seven disposals and took Hawthorn’s Mark of the Year in her first season in brown and gold.
Honours:
- Hawthorn Mark of the Year (S7)
Three things you might not know about Kempy:
1. She has a dog called Lexie who can only roll to her left and not to her right.
2. The first team she played for was the Trentham Football Netball Club.
3. Any day now, she is due to be an Aunty! Her sister Nadia is about to give birth to the first niece of the family.
