Goalkicking medallist keen to kick on to a flag

REDAN’S Jess Bokma says while personal accolades like the BFLW’s leading goalkicker award are nice, a premiership this season with the Lions would be a far greater reward.

The 26-year-old clinched the goalkicking crown with a bag of three in the Lions’ 31-point final round win over Darley.

Her main rival for the goalkicking crown, the Devils’ Kim Bessell kicked two in the match, ensuring Bokma finished atop the standings with 68, two ahead of the Devils sharpshooter.

Bacchus Marsh’s Isabella Faralla finished third on 45, with Bokma’s teammate Ellen Werts (35) and the Cobras’ Amy Garofalo (21) rounding out the top five.

Bokma, who passed the 500 career goal mark earlier this season in the Lions’ round 13 clash against Bacchus Marsh, said the excitement of winning the goalkicking was matched by the team securing the minor premiership.

“I just like to play my part for the team and hope it ends with a win,” she said.

Bokma has worked tirelessly on perfecting her goalkicking craft over the years, transitioning from a more ‘on the run’ and opportunist goal kicker to a set-shot specialist.

“I don’t mind a snag,” she said.

“I’ve always been a goalkicker, even when I started out (playing) with the boys.

“I’ve always kind of played in the forward line.

“I used to be on the run a bit – that was sort of my go-to – but it’s changed a bit over the years. I’ve worked on my set shots a lot.

“A lot more of my goals come from set shots now.

“I have played for 13 seasons now, so I guess the goals do bank up.”

True to her team-first ethos, Bokma has not been adverse to spending the occasional stint in defence or on-ball this season when the need has arisen.

Her 68 goals eclipsed her previous senior highs of 51 in 2022 and 2023.

She kicked 88 in the youth girls’ competition in 2016.

A pair of personal milestones this season – the 500th goal and the goalkicking trophy – have given Bokma pause for thought on the exciting growth of women’s football, particularly in the Ballarat region.

“When I first started playing footy, I played one season with the boys (at North Ballarat) – there wasn’t a girls league,” she said.

 

“But the year after that there was youth girls, which was under-18s and that was the only age group there was.

“There was a women’s comp in Melbourne, but never in Ballarat.

“But as I was ageing out a bit, the Ballarat league came into existence.

“Now there are a lot of age groups – women’s, under-19s, 16s and 14s – and there’s a 12s, who play on Friday nights.

“It’s definitely grown. (The women’s) game is completely different to what it used to be.

“You played until you were 14 and then you were lost to the game a bit.

“It’s awesome now. And with the AFLW now, more and more girls are getting into it.”

Bokma – a former North Ballarat Rebels representative – said the goalkicking award would not have been possible without the support and efforts of her teammates further up the ground.

“My right-hand woman, Ellen Werts, we’ve played footy together for a few years now. She plays on the forward flank and is usually delivering the footy to me,” she said.

“It was great to see her in the top five for goal kicking as well.

“But it’s all the girls, who pass the ball to me every week.

“I wouldn’t get these personal accolades without them.

“It’s definitely a team here at Redan.

“We’ve got a new coach this year – Tim Meaney. He’s changed up the game plan and it’s really worked.

“What he’s doing for us girls is really good. He’s really made us believe in ourselves.”

Bokma hopes that belief can spur the Lions, who face Bacchus Marsh in this Sunday’s second semi-final at City Oval, to their first premiership since 2022.

The Cobras, like the Lions, will be full of confidence after upstaging Darley by 25 points in last Sunday’s qualifying final at Marty Busch Recreation Reserve.

“This is the most promising year we have had in the last couple, definitely,” Bokma said.

“Belief is half our issue.”

Week one finals recap:

Darley 5.4 (34) lost to Bacchus Marsh 9.5 (59); East Point 5.9 (39) defeated Lake Wendouree 3.2 (20).

Week two finals:

Redan v Bacchus Marsh (City Oval); Darley v East Point (Eastern Oval).