Women to make their mark
Breanna Koenen (above left) will be one of four from the Far North who will debut in the first round of the new AFL Women’s competition this weekend. The inaugural season kicked off last night with a clash between Carlton and Collingwood before Koenen’s Brisbane Lions meet Melbourne tomorrow. Cairns’ Selina Goodman (centre) and Leah Kaslar will also feature for the Lions while Mossman’s Tiarna Ernst will line up for the Western Bulldogs.
ALL those long, weary hours on the Bruce Highway will finally feel worth it when Breanna Koenen runs out for the Brisbane Lions tomorrow afternoon.
Koenen, a North Cairns Tigers product, will be one of four from the Far North who will debut in the first round of the new AFL Women’s competition this weekend.
The competition kicked off last night with a clash between Carlton and Collingwood before Koenen’s Brisbane Lions meet Melbourne tomorrow at Casey Fields in Victoria.
Originally from Magnetic Island, the 21-year-old took her first steps towards becoming a professional footballer at Watsons Oval.
“There was no women’s league in Townsville so in my last few years of high school, I would travel to Cairns to play footy,” Koenen said.
“I started playing when I was five years old and got selected in a few rep teams during school.
“I played with the boys up until the age of 14 then started playing in Cairns a few years after. We would travel up every Saturday and back that same night.
“I think we did that for two years. All the driving is certainly worth it now.”
Koenen credited dual international and eight-time AFL Cairns women’s premiership winner Jo Butland for much of her growth while in the Far North.
Cairns’ Selina Goodman, Leah Kaslar and Koenen will feature for the Lions in Round 1 while Mossman’s Tiarna Ernst will lead the Western Bulldogs ruck division.
“Breanna can play at half back or as a medium-sized midfielder and is a good ball user with an outstanding intercept mark,” Lions coach Craig Starcevich said.
Koenen comes from a talented sporting family – her brother is in the Suns Academy and her sister in the National Netball League’s new Sunshine Coast Lightning team.
She was named on the halfback flank to face the Demons.
“I have been training with the midfield group so I will likely be in a midfield rotation early on,” Koenen said.
“I sometimes play from half back as well.
“We are all really excited to get into the first game.”