‘Wood’ you believe this?

By Lachlan Ellis

A former Bacchus Marsh Cobra and Western Jet player has earned a spot on an AFLW list, impressing her club with a three-goal debut in the VFLW last year, and another three in an AFLW intraclub match last month.

Jemima Woods took part in last year’s AFLW Draft Combine after playing three games for the Bulldogs in the VFLW, but unfortunately wasn’t drafted.

But when Kirsten McLeod was moved to the AFLW Western Bulldogs’ Inactive List with ongoing concussion symptoms, that left a spot in the squad free.

On January 14 this year, it was announced that the vacant spot would be filled by none other than 18-year-old Ms Woods.

The flying forward told the Moorabool News she was ecstatic at the chance to play at the top level.

“I didn’t believe it at first…I didn’t think they were playing a prank on me, but I didn’t know what to think. It took a while to sink in, I didn’t expect it at all, it was so last minute,” Ms Woods said.

“I’ve been a train-on player training once a week, but now I’m full-time like the rest of the girls, up for selection each week…so I’ll up the training a bit. I’ll take it week-by-week, it’s hard to know when I’ll debut with injuries and stuff…but hopefully soon.”

She was told by coach Nathan Burke, former AFL St.Kilda great, that she’d made the squad the day before her selection was announced to the rest of the team, and joked that keeping it a secret was “really hard”.

“That training session before Burke mentioned it, I said to him, how long until I can tell everyone? I was absolutely bursting, I couldn’t hold it in,” she laughed.

“I’d like to thank the Bacchus Marsh Cobras and everyone in that community, for all their support, they’ve been amazing.”

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-02-01/4

in the 1 February 2022 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.