When Jemima Woods stepped onto the field to make her debut for the Western Bulldogs AFLW team last Tuesday, it was a lot earlier than she had expected.
The 18-year-old tall full forward from Bacchus Marsh had been training with the Bulldogs but was only elevated to the club’s list on January 14, with Kirsten McLeod moving onto the inactive list due to ongoing concussion symptoms.
“I was shocked…I’ve been training there for a while,” she said of getting elevated to the list. “I’d been told there are things going on and I could end up on the list but I don’t know if I ever really believed it,” she said.
Just two and half weeks later on February 1, Woods made her debut against Fremantle.
She said the game was a “bit of a blur” but that it was “a lot of fun”.
Woods played almost a full game, only being off for five minutes in the first quarter, and said she felt she did what was asked of her and kept up the pressure.
“There was obviously lots going on and it was a bit hard to just focus on the footy but I’m happy with my game and obviously disappointed with the loss, that’s always tough.
“I didn’t get too much of the footy but I think I did what I needed to do.
“I’m glad I got the first game out of the way so I can just focus on the footy now.”
Having the chance to play alongside women Woods has looked up to was “crazy”.
“I got told I was going to play and I turned to Bonnie Toogood and was like, ‘I get to play with you!’,” she said.
“I was so excited just because I’ve been watching them on the telly…It was just amazing watching. You just learn so much from them and to play alongside them was incredible.”
Going forward, Woods said having some more preparation will help her game.
“Just getting back to training, knowing what’s the speed of the game and what’s expected now and focusing on just the skills of it under pressure.
“I think…because it was a bit last minute getting the call up, I think I just need to prepare a bit better.”
Woods said her family and friends have been incredibly supportive, with the news of her being in the AFLW still sinking in for some of them.
“I think it’s taken a while to sink in for them as well. I think obviously they’ve been there through the whole journey. I’ve played footy since AusKick and I’ve always wanted to play at the top level, so I think they’re just really happy for me,” she said.
“My little sister is always saying ‘I get to tell all my friends you play AFLW!’
“I just want to thank everyone for all their support in the community, the team and my family.”
The Bulldogs are set to play Richmond on Sunday.
“I’m not sure whether I’m getting another game again but from the team’s perspective, we’ve had a couple of losses in a row but we’re really going to come into that game firing i think. We really want to get that win bad so, Tigers better watch out.”
