By RUSSELL BENNETT
IT was like something straight from a Toyota AFL advertisement … Oh, what a feeling!
Endeavour Hills 18-year-old Ellie Blackburn received a handball from Bronwyn Davey, sister of AFL stars Aaron and Alwyn, on the MCG’s hallowed turf. She turned, snapped from the forward pocket, and goaled.
Blackburn had become the first woman to kick a goal in an AFL-sanctioned match on the MCG, and days later she still can’t get her head around it.
She, along with a host of other local players – including Katie Loynes, Bianca Jakobson and Kara Donnellan – were drafted in to take part in the inaugural women’s match between the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs as a curtain-raiser to the sides’ AFL clash on Saturday night.
Blackburn, Donnellan, and Jakobson represented Melbourne, while Loynes lined up for the Bulldogs.
Perhaps in a sign of things to come, or maybe inspiring what was to follow, the Demons secured a memorable win – 8.5 (53) to 3.3 (21).
“It was just a surreal experience out there,” said Blackburn, who also represents the Beaconsfield Eagles in the South East Juniors Youth Girls.
“Hopefully it will keep going for years to come.
“I’d definitely love to be a part of it as much as possible.”
Blackburn could be forgiven just remembering her memorable goal, but overall the perfectionist said: “I went alright in stages”.
She said the goal pumped her up even more than when she first took to the field, as hard as that is to believe.
“Everyone jokes when they’re a kid that one day they’ll be on the MCG playing AFL,” she said.
“I used to say that if I got the chance to create history, I’d kick the first (women’s) goal.”
Blackburn was encouraged by the show of support she, and her team-mates, received from both the 7500-strong crowd in attendance, and the sporting public in the lead-up to the clash.
“It was really unexpected, the attention it received,” she said.
“But it was a great surprise to see how accepting everyone was.
“This is something I’ll remember for a very, very long time.”
Donnellan, Blackburn’s team-mate for the Saturday twilight clash, took in the whole day – from warm-ups prior to the game, to running through the banner.
At least, she thought she did.
“It all happened pretty quick,” the now Perth-based Donnellan said.
“To be honest, I don’t think it really sunk in – what we were doing – until three-quarter time.
“Then I just stood there and was like … ‘whoa’
“No-one was at the ground during the warm-up, and there was this weird, eery echo but by the time the game started there was 7500 people there watching us.
Donnellan got her first touch of the Sherrin in the first 30 seconds, putting her nerves at ease.
She played in the back-line throughout the game – alternating from the back-pocket to a running role off half-back.
Not only did her the side win by five goals – she, Blackburn and Jakobson got to sing the club song on the ground before a lap of honour. Talk about a perfect day.
