Just as easy as calling out, “Pick 19, Western Bulldogs select Daria Bannister, from the Launceston Football Club”.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Those words from coach Paul Groves on AFLW draft day first breathed life, not only into Launceston as a community, but women’s football as a destination.
It wasn’t so much back under the spotlight as it was finally on the map.
Not to be outdone either, Courtney Webb, from the same Blues lineup, was set to line up for a big-girl Blues when Carlton a couple of days later named the state cricketer one of its rookies.
Bringing the inaugural TSLW premiership home to Windsor Park changed everything.
All inside one year.
It should be celebrated.
A testimony to the hard work of low-key Launceston coach Alex Gibbins.
But another happening one July afternoon in Launceston shaped a high-profile name that months later overshadowed the groundbreaking roles of women in the game.
Just a week or so before the AFLW draft, it was hard not to shake your head over the axing of Hawthorn chief executive Tracey Gaudry.
The first female in charge of – not an AFLW side, but – an AFL club alone.
On paper, that looks pretty impressive.
But apparently, it what was on paper that was bizarrely overlooked.
Among all the bells and whistles of her appointment, she had never been a CEO.
Hardly new news, but after just four months on the job, it was all starting to unravel at the family club.
The cringe factor showed at her first press conference at Waverley headquarters.
For someone with no real connection to football and Hawthorn going through a rare identity crisis, as it tumbled from grace into its second year following a triple-peat premiership, June wasn’t the time to tell the side to “pull their socks up”.
Worse still, in the same first public appearance in the role, to refer to the club colours as brown and yellow, rather than gold is simply unforgivable in charge.
Fairfax Media reported that the last straw was a clear failure to engage with key staff and, with a lack of football experience putting her at odds with the footy department, her leadership style was overtly confronting to senior figures at the club.
Hawthorn put out a media statement that would be on a parallel to suggest it was just as pleased that Luke Hodge was donning Brisbane Lions colours next season.
“Unfortunately, Tracey has faced extenuating family and personal circumstances this year, which have made it difficult to continue in the role,” Hawks chairman Richard Garvey, at the time, said before he swiftly fell on his sword as Gaudry’s biggest backer.
But a media opportunity with The Examiner fell short of farcical when the Hawks came to Launceston for the first time since weeks into her chief executive role.
As far as calls go, this one was up with the best of them when the public relations team rang beforehand to request what questions would Gaudry be asked.
Taken back, the response was directed onto issues surrounding Hawthorn’s future role in Tasmania.
Simply, did the club have plans to extend its deal past the end of 2021? And really, would it take on the AFL who clearly wants a one-team North Melbourne model in place for the state.
The question on the future had to be asked three times before Gaudry gave something vaguely resembling a response to the subject.
It wasn’t so much a club leader trying to play their cards close to their chest, but someone who was actually not up to speed more than a month into the most important job behind Alastair Clarkson’s.
Truth be told, she did not know when Hawthorn’s contract to play at UTAS Stadium would end.
Looking back it appeared indicative of a legacy that has lumbered women that are fighting to be a part of a game they often love as much as the men.
Gaudry’s commercial position in cycling – a sport she achieved much acclaim participating – and athletics proved a bad choice had the club chose to make a point.
Let’s instead look forward to Bannister and Webb do their talking on the field.