A VFLW debut, a club best and fairest award and an AFLW call up all in the space of a year.
2017 has been one hell of a ride for Box Hill’s – or should we say Hawthorn’s - Emma Mackie.
Mackie was a pivotal member of the Box Hill inaugural VFLW side and, despite having found her AFLW home at Whitten Oval, has committed to running out with her brown and gold family when they become the Hawthorn Hawks in 2018.
Read: Meet the new Hawthorn Hawks
While the 33-year-old will forever be grateful for her time as Box Hill player, she believes the name change is a necessary step toward the club’s AFLW ambition.
“To be a part of Hawthorn is a dream come true for a lot of the girls, it’s a huge thing and it’s so exciting,” said Mackie.
“We all loved and respected being a part of the Box Hill Hawks Football Club.
“But, to the outside world, this change just makes people sit back and go ‘wow, Hawthorn are really serious about what they’re doing, they’re committed to having an elite program and they want to get these girls drafted.’
“It’s something that needed to happen, and it’s really great to get that backing from Hawthorn and for everything to take shape so quickly.”
Mackie was watching with teammates when she heard her named called at by the Western Bulldogs with Pick 27 in the 2017 AFLW draft.
“I was just in complete shock,” she recalls.
“Coming into draft day I gave myself a 50 50 chance of getting selected.
“I knew there was a possibility, but I also knew there was a bigger possibility that it might not happen.
“So when it eventually did, it was so surreal and so overwhelming.”
Nine of the AFL’s 10 Victorian clubs are set to field a VFLW team in 2018, with six new licences having been granted earlier this year.
Thus, with a new AFLW home came the possibility that Mackie would shift to play with the Western Bulldogs’ VFLW affiliate.
But location and some good will on the Dogs’ part fell in Hawthorn’s favour, as the midfielder was granted permission to rejoin her VFLW side at the conclusion of the 2018 AFLW season.
“I’ve been really open to the Bulldogs about what’s going to be best for me in terms of next year’s VFLW season,” Mackie said.
“Footscray is a decent travel for me, so in terms of the drive and making sure I get enough rest throughout the VFLW calendar, the Bulldogs and I have agreed that it’s probably best for me to play at a club that’s a bit closer.
“And obviously because I’ve had such a strong connection with the Hawks, being a part of the inaugural team and being awarded the best and fairest, I’d love to continue the journey that we’re on and assist in helping some of the younger girls develop.
“But, first and foremost, my focus is on the AFLW season ahead.
“The Western Bulldogs are my first priority, and I’m so excited to be there and so grateful to have been given such an incredible opportunity.”
