The Darebin Falcons are a champion team, with team of champions.
With licenses distributed to the eight clubs in the inaugural 2017 National Women’s League, you’re going to hear a lot about them in the years to come.
Which isn’t to say you haven’t already.
Nine Falcons are currently AFL listed. They have a captain who leads Melbourne, an onballer selected as an AFL Multicultural Player Ambassador and when Swisse Wellness became the 2016 VFL Women’s naming rights partner, two of their three player ambassadors were Falcons.
A quick look through the Women’s AFL news archives will tell you that Darebin are more than just a club, its players more than just footballers.
Just look at Jess Dal Pos.
She is the Darebin prototype: a multi-purpose, hardworking player. Her pace, disposal and football brain make her an excellent winger but she can play in defence and up forward as well.
Dal Pos may be a quiet achiever in the eyes of the general public but to her team she’s a wonderful asset. Teammate Aasta O’Connor lauds Dal Pos’ hard running and ability to find space.
“She doesn’t get that because people forget her, she really works hard and smart for it.”
At the age of 20, Dal Pos was drafted by the Western Bulldogs at pick 46 in the inaugural 2013 Women’s AFL Exhibition match. As the draft pool deepened, 16 players didn’t get selected again in 2014. This was the case for Dal Pos but she was one of just four players who subsequently worked their way back onto on AFL list. She was rewarded for her hard work and self-belief when she ran out onto the MCG for Melbourne’s clash with Brisbane in April.
“It was at the time of my life where I was thinking, ‘OK, what do I want to with Uni, my career’… it was the perfect opportunity to reflect on everything,” says Dal-Pos of her axing.
“I knew Darebin were going to allow me to be the best footballer I could be so I did heaps of fitness with [Darebin, AFL Vic Women’s Academy & Western Bulldogs physical preparation coach] Tennille Hay.
“There were all these different aspects where I just followed Aasta, Daisy and Loz around. Every time we had to do something I’d try to be partnered with them so I could learn from watching what they do. Now I find myself on the same thinking wave length that they do.”
Darebin’s elite players and extraordinary depth are well-documented but Dal Pos lets us in on the Falcons’ secret weapon: extraordinary competitiveness.
“If there’s something to be won, it’s on for young and old. Everything turns into a competition, stretching, first in at the ball-up, we’ve been together so long it just keeps peaking into crazy.”
So what are these Darebin superstars who stand at the forefront of the Women’s AFL march really like when they’re “just Falcons”?
Daisy Pearce?
“Daisy is the best at being Daisy. She takes the time to talk to everybody and get involved in every aspect of the club, like Youth Girls and AusKick. She’s a competitive woman and if she wants to be good at something she’ll learn how to master it.”
Katie Brennan?
“The face of key position players in female footy.”
Lauren Arnell?
“I rotate with her and I forget where I’m playing because Loz is out killing it where the ball is and I think, ‘Am I on the ball?’”
And finally… Jess Dal Pos?
“I know football. That’s all I can say. But that creates passion and excitement.”
By Callum O'Connor
Last Modified on 30/06/2016 01:41