Emma Kearney
Kearney with North Melbourne in March 2021
Personal information
Full name Emma Michelle Kearney
Date of birth (1989-09-24) 24 September 1989 (age 34)
Place of birth Hamilton, Victoria
Original team(s) Melbourne University (VFLW)
Draft 2016 priority player
Debut Round 1, 2017, Western Bulldogs vs. Fremantle, at VU Whitten Oval
Height 165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club North Melbourne
Number 9
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2017–2018 Western Bulldogs 15 0(3)
2019– North Melbourne 59 (10)
Total 74 (13)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2017 Victoria 1 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2023 season.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 2017.
Career highlights

AFLW

VWFL/VFLW

Source: AustralianFootball.com

Emma Michelle Kearney (born 24 September 1989) is an Australian rules footballer and former cricketer. A decorated midfielder in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, Kearney won the league's best and fairest award while playing for the Western Bulldogs in 2018 and has captained North Melbourne since 2019. She previously played cricket for the Melbourne Stars in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and for Victoria in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL).

Early life

Kearney was born in the Victorian town of Hamilton, and raised on a sheep station in nearby Cavendish.[1] She played football through her early years, but was forced to give up the sport at the age of twelve when barred from playing with the youth boys team.

She attended high school at Monivae College in Hamilton.[2]

Australian rules football

State league and representative football

Kearney returned to football while studying a physical education teaching degree at university in Ballarat.[3] She began playing state league football in 2010, joining Melbourne University in the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL).[3] Kearney won her club's best and fairest award five times,[4] and she was a member of the 2016 grand final team that ultimately lost to the Darebin Falcons.[5]

In 2013, Kearney was a member of the triumphant Victorian team at the AFL Women's National Championship in Cairns.[3] That same year, she was selected by the Western Bulldogs with the tenth overall pick in the first national women's draft,[6] and played for the club in AFL-sanctioned exhibition matches through to the end of 2016.[5]

AFL Women's career

Western Bulldogs

Kearney was signed by the Western Bulldogs as a priority player in August 2016 as part of the inaugural AFL Women's draft. Per the newly formed league's rules, her off-field work at the club made her eligible for the special pre-draft signing.[7][8] She faced a limited pre-season, missing eight training sessions due to cricketing commitments across the 2016–17 summer.[5]

Making her AFLW debut in the club's inaugural match, in round one of the 2017 season against Fremantle at VU Whitten Oval, Kearney recorded a game-high 23 disposals on the night.[5][9] In round six against Brisbane at South Pine Sports Complex, she gathered 30 disposals during the match, becoming the competition's first player to achieve the feat.[10] At the end of the 2017 season, Kearney was listed in the All-Australian team and finished equal-first in her club's best and fairest count alongside Ellie Blackburn.[11][12]

Having re-signed with the Western Bulldogs during the trade period in May 2017,[13] Kearney enjoyed a standout individual 2018 season, winning the league's best and fairest and the AFL Coaches Champion Player of the Year (tied with Chelsea Randall from Adelaide) awards.[14][15] She also shared in ultimate team success as the Bulldogs defeated Brisbane in the 2018 AFL Women's Grand Final. With five minutes left in the match, Kearney ran down Kaitlyn Ashmore to win a crucial holding-the-ball free kick. She subsequently converted a set shot 30 metres out from goal to give her team a twelve-point lead and help clinch the premiership.[16]

North Melbourne

In April 2018, Kearney accepted an offer to play with expansion club North Melbourne for the 2019 season.[17] In November 2018, she was announced as the inaugural captain of the team.[18] In each of the following three seasons, Kearney finished runner-up in the club's best and fairest award.[19][20][21] She also polled well in the 2020 league best and fairest count, receiving eleven votes to place third.[22]

Kearney earned her fifth consecutive All-Australian selection in 2021, making her one of only two players to manage the accomplishment (the other being Karen Paxman from Melbourne).[21] In June 2021, North Melbourne confirmed she was contracted with the club for the following season.[23]

Kearney was forced to miss the first round of 2022 AFLW season 6 after contracting COVID-19.[24] She returned shortly thereafter and became a consistent player across both the backline and in the midfield. She was named captain of the 2022 season 6 All-Australian team, and her presence in the team made her the only player in the history of the competition to feature in all six of the league's first six representative teams.[25]

Cricket

Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2013–2017Victorian Spirit
2015–Melbourne Stars
Career statistics
Competition WNCL WT20
Matches 20 43
Runs scored 55 83
Batting average 13.75 5.18
100s/50s 0/0 0/0
Top score 30* 23
Balls bowled 768 811
Wickets 9 20
Bowling average 59.77 41.75
5 wickets in innings 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 2/22 3/13
Catches/stumpings 3/– 4/–
Source: CricketArchive, 7 February 2018

Kearney played grade cricket for Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies Cricket Club in Melbourne's inner-north.[26] She was selected for the Victorian Spirit during the 2013–14 season for the first time, and played 20 WNCL matches with the team through to the end of the 2016–17 season.

Having been signed by the Melbourne Stars ahead of the inaugural WBBL season,[27] Kearney took seven wickets from twelve matches in 2015–16,[28] then claimed eight wickets from fourteen matches at an economy rate of 5.27 in 2016–17.[26]

Dual sports controversy

Kearney garnered media attention in December 2016 on account of her dual-sports status. She revealed that she had been asked by Cricket Australia to sign documents committing her to prioritise cricket training and matches over AFL Women's training sessions held during the cricket season. At the time, Kearney voiced public criticism of the decision by cricket bosses in light of the semi-professional nature of the league.[29][30]

Personal life

Outside of cricket and football, Kearney has worked as a physical education teacher, including at Mount Alexander College in Flemington.[8][1] She holds a bachelor of physical education from Ballarat University.[28] As part of her move to play football for North Melbourne, Kearney accepted employment as sport and recreation coordinator at the club's community organization, The Huddle.[17]

Kearney's partner is Kate Shierlaw, a fellow footballer who has played for Carlton and captained St Kilda.[31]

AFL Women's statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2021 season.[32]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
  #  
 Played in that season's 
premiership team
  †  
 Led the league for 
the season
  ±  
 Won that season's 
AFLW B&F
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2017 Western Bulldogs 5 7 0 4 82 68 150 17 20 0.0 0.6 11.7 9.7 21.4 2.4 2.9 7
2018# Western Bulldogs 5 8 3 5 123† 29 152† 27 41 0.4 0.6 15.4† 3.6 19.0† 3.4 5.1 14±
2019 North Melbourne 9 7 1 2 96 45 141 22 36 0.1 0.3 13.7 6.4 20.1 3.1 5.1 3
2020 North Melbourne 9 7 3 1 91 53 144 24 31 0.4 0.1 13.0 7.6 20.6 3.4 4.4 11
2021 North Melbourne 9 10 4 3 118 90 208 28 46 0.4 0.3 11.8 9.0 20.8 2.8 4.6 4
Career 39 11 15 510 285 795 118 174 0.3 0.4 13.1 7.3 20.4 3.0 4.5 39

References

  1. ^ a b Nicholson, Larissa (12 August 2015). "Meet Emma Kearney: AFL player, state cricketer, teacher". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  2. ^ "#20 Emma Kearney". Victorian Women's Football League. SportsTG. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b c O'Neill, David (26 June 2014). "Cavendish export Emma Kearney leads the way in footy and cricket". The Weekly Times. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Awards | Melbourne University Women's Football Club". MUWFC. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Navaratnam, Dinny (10 February 2017). "From Big Bash to teaching to AFLW, weary Kearney can still find the pill". AFL Media. Bigpond. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  6. ^ Twomey, Callum (16 May 2013). "Pearce the first pick in AFL's inaugural women's draft". AFL Media. Bigpond. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Kearney chosen as Dogs' priority player". Western Bulldogs. Bigpond. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  8. ^ a b Matthews, Bruce (25 August 2016). "Envious Bulldog reunites with teammate for women's league". AFL Media. Bigpond. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  9. ^ Cavanagh, Chris (5 February 2017). "Bulldogs star Emma Kearney lights up Whitten Oval in first AFLW game". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  10. ^ Cheadle, Josh (11 March 2017). "Lions topple Dogs to lock in AFLW Grand Final spot". AFL Media. Bigpond. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  11. ^ Navaratnam, Dinny (28 March 2017). "Lions, Crows dominate AFLW All Australian team - AFL.com.au". AFL.com.au. BigPond. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  12. ^ @bulldogsw (18 May 2017). "Your winners of the 2017 Western Bulldogs AFLW Best and Fairest!! #RealStrength" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "AFLW: All the clubs' full lists after trade period - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Telstra Media. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  14. ^ Navaratnam, Dinney (27 March 2018). "W Awards: Dogs star named League B&F". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  15. ^ "AFLW: Tie in coaches' champion player vote". afl.com.au. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  16. ^ Cherny, Daniel (24 March 2018). "Bulldogs win thrilling AFLW grand final". The Age. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  17. ^ a b Cherny, Daniel (4 April 2018). "AFLW star Kearney walks out on Dogs to join North". The Age. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  18. ^ Black, Sarah (2 November 2018). "AFLW: Superstar recruit named Roos' inaugural captain". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media.
  19. ^ Hopkins, Ben (9 April 2019). "Jenna Bruton named Kangaroos best and fairest". The Courier. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  20. ^ Wood, Lauren (24 April 2020). "Inside footy's weirdest awards night". Herald Sun. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  21. ^ a b "AFLW: Garner goes back-to-back". nmfc.com.au. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Young Blue caps incredible rise with top gong". afl.com.au. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  23. ^ "AFLW: Roos eye the future". nmfc.com.au. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  24. ^ "AFLW Rd 1: Kangaroos captain Emma Kearney ruled out of season opener".
  25. ^ Anna Harrington (5 April 2022). "Emma Kearney makes AFLW All-Australian history, as Mimi Hill named Rising Star". The New Daily.
  26. ^ a b "Emma Kearney". Melbourne Stars. Cricket Network. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  27. ^ "Stars sign Cameron, Lanning for WBBL02". WBBL. Cricket Australia. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  28. ^ a b "Emma Kearney". Cream of the Crop. Cream Communications. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  29. ^ Sewell, Eliza (7 December 2016). "AFLW players asked to prioritise cricket training over football". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  30. ^ Gearin, Mary (6 December 2016). "Cricket administrators 'threatened' by AFL, women players asked to prioritise cricket". ABC.com.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  31. ^ "Shierlaw earns AFLW contract". saints.com.au. St Kilda Football Club. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  32. ^ "Emma Kearney". Australian Football. Retrieved 20 June 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emma Kearney (sportswoman).
North Melbourne Football Club (AFL Women's) – current squad
Captains of the North Melbourne Football Club
Current AFL Women's captains
Western Bulldogs 2018 AFL Women's premiers
AFL Women's best and fairest winners
AFL Women's All-Australian captains
Emma Kearney in AFL Women's All-Australian teams
AFL Women's club best and fairest winners in premiership years
Western Bulldogs best and fairest winners (AFL Women's)
Inaugural Western Bulldogs AFL Women's team
Victorian team – 2017 women's State of Origin
2013 AFL women's draft
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