Emma Kearney
Elite Australian Rules Footballer & Cricketer
Profile
Growing up on a Sheep Station in country Victoria, Emma was raised similarly to most country kids who try their hand at a number of sports. For Emma, this included playing footy against the boys until the age she was no longer allowed to play which like most young girls in that era was extremely disappointing. It wasn’t until around 2010 when Emma returned to the field for Melbourne University in the VWFL that she recaptured her love of the game.
Current work
An extremely talented athlete, Emma has managed to juggle a professional cricket career alongside her AFLW career and full-time job. This has included playing for the Victorian Spirit and Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash.
Previous experience
AFLW: In only two seasons of AFLW, Emma has built quite the resume. A hard-running midfielder who is arguably the most damaging in the AFLW, Emma has won back-to-back Best & Fairest’s for the Western Bulldogs, has been named in the All-Australian Team twice, was a key member of the Western Bulldog’s Premiership Team in 2018, and also won the AFLW Best & Fairest Award.
At the conclusion of the 2018 season, North Melbourne and Geelong were preparing their playing lists ahead of their first season in the competition in 2019. Given Emma’s prowess in the game and her long-standing association with Melbourne University which was affiliated with North Melbourne, she was a high-priority signing for the Roos. Although a hard decision to make, Emma joined the Kangaroos and was announced as the inaugural Captain. Since joining the club, Emma’s strong form has continued, including being named in the All-Australian Team in both years, as well as coming to Runner Up in the Club Best & Fairest in 2019 and 2020.
Awards: In 2018 Emma also won the AFLW Best and Fairest Award.
