EVERYDAY INSPIRATION
CROSSING THE COUNTRY
MEET FREDA...
Jamie-Lee says: “She is a star and one
day hopefully will make her dreams come
true and play in the AFLW.”
Courtney says: “Freda has the ability to
change the game. She is so skillful by foot,
fluent on both her left and right, and has
the confidence to back herself to kick any
kind of goal – snap, on the run, set shot,
from the boundary, the list goes on!”
When players come from the Top End of
Australia to follow their footy dreams in
Melbourne, it can take a bit of adjusting.
Part of Courtney’s job with Essendon is to
help make sure they’re ready to leave home
and that their transition is a smooth one.
“I help guide, support and encourage the
girls like I would my own sister, however
there’s much more to this than being a
big sister,” Courtney explains. “I do a lot of
work with the Tiwi community and the girls’
families to ensure they trust me to look
after their daughters here in Melbourne.
I think creating strong relationships with
their families is just as important as the
relationships I have with the girls.”
Both Freda and Jamie-Lee say they felt
homesick at times and Jamie-Lee also
missed her young daughter, who stayed
on the Tiwi Islands with family. But
both say the opportunity to play for
Essendon was too good to resist.
“My community and family
were excited for me and are
always proud of me; they have
supported me with all of my
football from the beginning,”
says Jamie-Lee.
FOLLOWING IN
THEIR FOOTSTEPS
Now that the First Nations Women’s
Pathway Program has been in place
for a few years, it’s generating serious
interest among young players, says
Courtney. “It’s exciting, the girls have seen
a clear vision of what opportunities can >
MEET JAMIE-LEE...
Freda says: “She is a gun footy player,
takes the game on and she supports
me all the time.”
Courtney says: “Jamie-Lee is electric,
[she has] great skills by foot and will
always look to take the game on. Once
she gets going, no-one can catch her.”
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