story series: the privilege of giving
It’s been too long since you’ve heard from us, but rest assured we’ve been busy preparing for our 2026 programs. I wanted to share some reflections on the power of paying it forward.
In April, six premier AFLW athletes volunteered their time to travel to the Red Centre and lead our footy clinics. This story isn’t about their accolades, goodwill or sacrifice, although they are exceptional people. It’s about why giving is one of the most powerful things you can do with your life.
DREAMD: The Stars Playing It Forward. Video by Oli Roe @i_shot_jerry
I’ve been part of the professional sporting world for over a decade now. I’m no superstar athlete, far from it, but I’ve navigated elite environments with grit, competitiveness and resilience. It’s easy to be consumed by the pursuit of personal excellence. You focus on maximising your potential, improving yourself and constantly striving for better. In many ways, it’s a selfish lifestyle, and to some extent it has to be.
But reflecting on my career, the moments of deepest fulfilment haven’t come from personal success. They’ve come from seeing the impact I can have on young girls and women who dream of being in my position.
It’s not lost on me how fortunate I am. Some say becoming a professional athlete isn’t about luck, but I disagree. The reality is, no matter how hard some young athletes work, they’ll never be afforded the same opportunities I’ve had. In Central Northern Territory, our athletes face challenges I will never encounter in my lifetime; racial, geographic, financial, educational and social. So where is their luck? Who’s paying it forward for them?
Facilitating the inaugural Dreamtime Academy camp was a profound reminder of just how privileged I am. It reaffirmed for me that the greatest thing I can do in this game is make it possible for someone else.
We had league best and fairest winners, premiership players and some of the most electrifying athletes in the country at our camp. While I know they are proud of their onfield success, nothing lit them up more than being role models, leaders and sources of inspiration for our young women in Central Australia.
The AFLW players were genuinely grateful for the opportunity to be part of Dreamtime Academy. Opportunities to win games of football come and go, but to be proudly welcomed into a remote Central Australian community is rare and deeply meaningful.
We often talk about inspiring participants, but our athletes left inspired themselves, with renewed perspective, humility and a hunger to keep paying it forward.
Women’s sport, and AFLW in particular, receives its fair share of criticism. People question its entertainment value, financial sustainability and future. The women’s game is in its infancy, but the growth is unstoppable. And the women driving it, are remarkable.
They are invested in the game, the community and the next generation. They travel thousands of kilometres to run footy clinics. They spend hours under the blazing desert sun, passing on wisdom, lacing up boots and learning about the communities that welcome them so proudly.
And the best part? None of this is an obligation. It’s a privilege.
With that said, I’m proud to share a video that captures the voices of these athletes and the spirit of what we’re building. We might miss goals we should kick, drop marks we should take, and run slower than our male counterparts, but make no mistake; we are impactful, inspiring and we care deeply about playing it forward for the next girl.
