Lions’ ‘heart and soul’ captain Zielke retires on a high
LIONS skipper Emma Zielke will set her sights on coaching after announcing her retirement from AFLW footy just moments after the final siren in Saturday’s thrilling grand final win.
The club’s inaugural captain from the 2017 team finished up her decorated five-year career in “the best way possible”, holding the AFLW trophy aloft for the first time.
Zielke has been a stalwart of the Brisbane club, with coach Craig Starcevich labelling her the “heart and soul” of the Lions.
The 32-year-old said she planned to take on a coaching role to help mentor the future stars of the AFLW.
“My passion is coaching as well,” Zielke said. “I’ve done all the certificates you can probably do, it’s just getting out there and actually coaching, which is what I want to do now. Obviously I can’t do that while playing. I want to get into that and the club is pretty supportive as well.”
Her decision to retire came as a surprise to many supporters but Zielke revealed it had been in the back of her mind for several weeks. She told her coach in the lead up to the preliminary final against Collingwood, “if we win (the grand final), I’m calling it”.
“It was a fairytale ending,” she said. “I hadn’t made a decision and thought to leave it all settle and make a call in the following weeks.
“I struggle with full-time work, the older body can’t keep up with the young ones anymore. I just thought I’d go out while I was still playing all right footy and keep my pride intact.
“It was getting too much for the old body now.”
Zielke hoped Brisbane’s 6.2 (38) to 3.2 (20) win over Adelaide to claim the 2021 AFLW grand final would be an inspiration for many of the younger generation.
“I’m so proud Brisbane were able to get a flag,” she said.
“The participation numbers in Queensland – for boys and girls – has gone through the roof.
“I hope this helps the younger girls pick up the footy earlier now.
“They’ve got 30 more role models in Queensland and I’m really proud to bring the cup home.”