By RUSSELL BENNETT
KARA Donnellan’s four-year-old brother wears a slightly smaller version of her Swan District’s footy guernsey around the house. It doesn’t have her number 15 on it yet but he’s determined that it will soon.
In fact, the jumper could one day be that of a women’s AFL side if Kara, 21, has anything to say about it.
The former Berwick midfielder, now based in Western Australia due to her university studies, was recently taken at pick five in the inaugural AFL women’s draft.
All-female sides representing Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will play in an AFL women’s exhibition game as a curtain-raiser to the clash between the Demons and Bulldogs at the MCG on 29 June – part of AFL Women’s Round.
Of the 50 players chosen – enough for squads of 25 for both teams – a host of local prospects were selected. At pick five, Donnellan was the first of them.
Currently back in Victoria on a break in her Swan Districts season, the aspiring secondary school teacher admits that she “jumped in the deep end” when she made the big move across the country earlier this year.
“I really only knew three or four people from state footy,” said the multiple-time Victorian representative.
“But I’m loving it over here – it’s so much more relaxed.”
In addition to studying to become a PE teacher, Donnellan is also a gate manager for the Swan Districts WAFL side during home games, and helps coach a youth team along with team mate, and housemate, Chelsea Randall – who was taken third overall in the women’s draft. Both will line up for the Demons later this month.
Donnellan was thrilled to be selected to represent Melbourne – the oldest club in the AFL, and a sponsor of the Victorian Women’s Football League.
She had to nominate to earn a place in the ‘draft pool’ of players, and said she was “completely taken by surprise” when she was picked.
“We were actually really out of the loop over there,” she said.
“I was with Chelsea at the time and when she was taken at number three I was so happy for her.
“Then to be picked at number five was a massive shock – it still is!
“This will be a history-making event and stepping out on to the greatest ground in the world will be so surreal.”
But Donnellan doesn’t think the enormity of the situation will truly sink in until she meets her new Demons team mates at training on 26 June.
She won’t have time to be nervous prior to that though. She’ll be competing in the national carnival from 16 to 23 June in Cairns.
Donnellan hopes the general public turns out in droves for the women’s clash later this month, and aims to still be playing when a women’s AFL is expected to be launched in 2020.
If not, the footy tragic says she’ll definitely have a behind-the-scenes role in the sport.
As for her own playing style – she would use her silky skills off a halfback flank in Victoria but she loves the wide open expanses of the Swan Districts’ ground, where she gets the chance to storm through the midfield… often in 20-plus degree heat.
Donnellan’s nickname is ‘Juddy’ as she loves that Carlton star’s explosive midfield style and his ability to keep his feet in the contest.
“He’s pretty skillful and I like to think I am too,” …said the life-long Collingwood fan.
