THERE is a sincere push from the Indigenous AFLW cohort to get a women’s Indigenous All Stars match off the ground, in the wake of this weekend’s men’s exhibition game.
As part of the All Stars camp leading into Saturday’s game, a host of AFLW players were invited to join the group for a number of community activities and functions, and watched on at training with the hope of one day being a part of their own Indigenous showcase.
“It would actually just be unreal just to get the numbers up in the communities as well, to play footy and especially women’s footy. Would be really exciting for our future, but it’s just been an unreal experience.”
Heading into her 10th AFLW season, Ashmore noted that conversations have been swirling for a number of years.
Other current and former Indigenous AFLW players involved in the camp included Adelaide premiership star Danielle Ponter, new Collingwood recruit Mattea Breed, Port Adelaide all-time leading goalkicker Gemma Houghton, and Brisbane premiership duo Ally Anderson and Courtney Hodder.
For new Sydney recruit Zippy Fish, a Larrakia, Noongar, Wongi, and Nunga woman, the camp was a welcome star to her AFLW career. Selected with pick No.5 in December’s Telstra AFLW draft, Fish returned to her home state of Western Australia to be involved in the festivities.
“Some of the girls I already knew, Courtney (Hodder)’s my cousin, and Heidi (Talbot) I went through the draft with her. So, coming in, meeting all the new girls, and then going around the environment with the boys as well has been awesome,” Fish said.
There have not been exhibition matches of any kind in the AFLW since 2017’s State of Origin match, while any Indigenous teams have only been junior pathway sides.
2024 Gold Coast draftee Talbot played in the 2022 edition of the match.
As for Saturday’s game, both Fish and Ashmore have their own predictions.
“Bobby (Hill)’s kicking (the first goal). He’s taking a speccy, he’s kicking it,” Fish said.
But Ashmore was more focused on backing in her Hawthorn clubmates.
“I’d love for Karl (Amon), or Jarman (Impey) to get the first goal, off the backline,” Ashmore said.
