- Entry type: Person
- Entry ID: AWE6248
Kearney, Emma
(1989 – )- Born 24 September 1989, Hamilton, Victoria, Australia
- Occupation Australian Rules Football Player, Cricketer
Summary
Emma Kearney was awarded the 2018 Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW) Best and Fairest medal at the W Awards. She was also awarded an AFLW All-Australian guernsey in both 2017 and 2018.
In addition, Emma won both the 2017 (alongside Ellie Blackburn) and 2018 Western Bulldogs AFLW best & fairest award. She was also the recipient of the 2018 Shadforth Financial Group AFL Coaches AFLW Champion Player of the Year, tying with Adelaide Crows co-captain Chelsea Randall on 42 votes.
Details
Emma Kearney grew up on a sheep farm in Cavendish, a small town in western Victoria. As a child she enjoyed many sports, including football, cricket, basketball and hockey, however she was forced to give up football at the age of 12 due to league rules prohibiting her from playing with the boys. She attended high school at Monivae College, Hamilton, and then completed a teaching degree in Ballarat. She currently works as a physical education teacher at Mount Alexander College in Flemington.
Emma plays both football and cricket professionally. She is a midfielder for the Western Bulldogs women’s AFL team and is signed to the Melbourne Stars for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Prior to her work with the Melbourne Stars, Emma played for the Essendon-Maribyrnong Cricket Club and was chosen for the VicSpirit team in 2013-14.
Emma was a member of the Western Bulldog’s women’s team when exhibition games started in 2013 and played a key role in the Western Bulldogs All Girls Auskick Centre. Previously, Emma played football for the Melbourne University’s women’s team.
It was announced in April 2018 that Emma had accepted a position with North Melbourne for their inaugural AFLW season.