Jess adds firepower to Allies

THE cream of the nation’s women’s footballers will be on display tonight when the titans of the competition clash in the inaugural State of Origin showdown — and Tasmanian Jess Wuetschner will be there all guns blazing.

The 25-year-old forward, pictured, played for the Brisbane Lions in the AFLW grand final in March and has been named for the Allies to take on Victoria.

The Tasmanian, who lives in Brisbane where she works as a wharfie in between footy, was humbled to be named in the big match.

“I thought they’d pick the best 22, even if they were all midfielders, so I wasn’t expecting it but I was certainly delighted when I found out,” Wuetschner said.

“I guess you are your hardest critic.

“I thought I played one or two decent games but the rest were average or on par, but I played my role.”

Even if she wasn’t playing, Wuetschner is a big fan of women’s State of Origin. The match will pit her Allies, made up of non-Victorian players, against a Victorian side.

“It’s a good showcase for the best talent in Australia,” she said.

“It will quench everyone’s thirst after having to wait for so long for the next season. They get a little piece of it on Saturday.”

Wuetschner trained in Melbourne yesterday and knows what to expect tonight.

“Fast, hard, contested footy to start with and then it’s guaranteed to open up and the skills will really be on show,” she said.

“You’ll definitely see some superstars out there kicking goals and do what they do best.

“They are predicting a big crowd and hopefully people who can’t be there can get onboard and watch it on TV.”

Wuetschner says she loves Etihad.

“I’ve played there twice before — I really love it, it’s fantastic, and it’s pretty surreal when you have a roof over the top of you — I really enjoy that part of it,” she said.

Brisbane has offered Wuetschner a contract for next season but the details are being worked out, including a pay rise.

“I know I get a little bit but not sure how much,” she said.

As for being a wharfie: “I love it. It’s great, especially in winter because you still get beautiful days in winter — it’s obviously a lot hotter in summer so it gets a bit uncomfortable.”

Tasmanians Mia King (East Launceston) and Daria Bannister (Launceston) will play in the AFLW under-18 curtainraiser.