A number of former Northern Football League juniors are in the running for the inaugural AFLW Rising Star award.
Western Bulldogs’ defender Bailey Hunt, Collingwood midfielder Brittany Bonnici and Melbourne forward Deanna Berry all received nominations for the award during the seven-round home and away season.
Hunt, who played three seasons with Montmorency, was nominated for the Rising Star in the opening round of the season.
She collected nine disposals, laid three tackles and had two clearances in the Western Bulldogs’ 32-point victory over Fremantle at Whitten Oval.
Hunt began her football career with Montmorency in 2013. The following season she was named captain of the Magpies’ under-18 girls and won the side’s best and fairest award.
The following year she played senior football with the Magpies, before moving to Melbourne Uni in 2016 to play in the VFL Women’s competition.
Following a strong debut season in the VFLW she was selected at pick No.60 in the 2016 NAB AFL Women’s Draft.
Still relatively new to the game, Hunt said she had never previously considered becoming a professional footballer.
“I always loved footy as a kid but there were no pathways. I never thought of playing football for a women’s team,” she said.
“When I was at high school a few of my friends were playing and it caught my interest because I knew how to kick a footy well. I took myself along to Montmorency Junior Football Club and have loved it ever since.”
Bonnici began her football career with Wallan Junior Football Club and spent four seasons with the Magpies before transferring to St Albans.
She had recently taken a break from football after a string of concussions, and had played only two senior matches for St Kilda in the VFL Women’s competition before being drafted by Collingwood with pick No. 27 in the 2016 AFL Women’s draft.
She won a Rising Star nomination after collecting a match-high 18 disposals in the Magpies’ six-goal win over GWS in Round 6. She also laid five tackles.
Bonnici played every game this season, and felt her effort against the Giants was her best performance.
“It goes to show the amount of effort the coaches have put into us,” Bonnici told AFL.com.au.
“They had a lot of faith in me and they’ve given me the opportunity to play that (style of) game. I’d like to think I did them proud.
“Running is one of the strengths of my game, as well as my tackling. I like to be known as a ferocious player, and because I am little (163cm), I know I need to make my presence felt, otherwise I’ll be pushed around.”
A product of the Mernda Football Club, Berry was a standout coming through the junior ranks.
After playing against the boys until the under-14s, she made the move to Epping to play in the NFL’s Youth Girls competition, before returning to Mernda to start up the Demons’under-18 girls side.
As a 17-year-old she led the Victorian Women’s Football League Division 2 goal kicking, booting 43 majors for Montmorency.
Berry then joined Melbourne Uni in the VFL Women’s in 2016 before being selected by Melbourne at pick No. 9 in the inaugural AFL Women’s draft.
She received the Round 7 Rising Star nomination after finishing with 11 disposals, two goals and three marks in the Demons’ 54-point win over Fremantle.
Berry said being part of the inaugural AFLW season had been a phenomenal experience and had left her wanting more.
“It has skyrocketed and no one expected it,” Berry told Leader.
“It was good to see everyone get on board, really take us on board and know that we can play footy.”
Meanwhile a further three players with links to NFL Women’s clubs are also in the running for the Rising Star award.
Melbourne’s Katherine Smith and Jasmine Grierson both played junior football for Whitehorse Colts, while Isabella Ayre is a product of Bendigo Thunder.
Both Whitehorse and Bendigo will compete in Division 1 of the Northpark NFLW competition this year.
