By JARROD POTTER
JOINING the likes of Rohan Smith and Matthew Boyd to don number five at the Whitten Oval, Bianca “Beej” Jakobsson started her own AFL journey on Sunday in her Western Bulldogs debut.
The 2016 pre-season has been a whirlwind for the 22-year-old utility who was recruited by the Bulldogs, and her jumper was presented by Bulldogs skipper Robert Murphy before the match.
The Western Bulldogs battled Melbourne in the opening clash of the 2016 AFL Women’s Exhibition Series and Jakobsson wowed the crowd at Highgate Reserve on Sunday.
She took her chance with both hands – roaming across centre-half-forward and the flanks to boot two goals and flourish on the national stage in the Doggies 6.5 (41) to 3.3 (21) victory.
“It was a pretty special feeling – and you’re not just a player you become part of the club and the Doggies,” Jakobsson said.
“Love the Doggies, they’re so great down there and to get the jumper and pull it on to represent the club as a whole -as they say three teams, one club – was a really special moment.”
After missing out on her first AFL opportunity back in 2013, after rupturing her ACL in the weeks before taking the field for Melbourne, Jakobsson was thrilled to make her national league debut.
“Honestly, it was a surreal feeling – amazing to get back to that level after going through such a serious knee injury,”Jakobsson said. “To represent the Doggies as well – everything they’ve done for women’s football has been amazing and to pull on that number, with those other 22 girls, was honestly surreal and an amazing feeling.
“Something everyone dreams of – playing for an AFL club and pulling on an AFL jumper, so it really was a dream come true.”
There was no off-season for Jakobsson and other footballers enlisted to the inaugural Women’s Academy as she’s loved every second of the high-calibre training program, designed to boost Victoria’s most talented players ahead of the 2017 AFL Women’s season.
“The women’s academy has been a massive learning curve for me – since November I‘ve learned so much,” Jakobsson said. “All the girls are great and we’ve gelled really well.
“You don’t just learn off the coaches but the other girls as well – we’ve had amazing facilities and opportunities we’ve got have really stepped up my game.”
While her Doggies’ experience is over for the time being, Jakobsson returns to Cranbourne to feature in the VFL – and she’s ready to take the step up to the first season of the women’s state competition.
“Performing like that at that level really boosts your confidence; knowing you can match it with the top, elite AFL players,” Jakobsson said.
“Coming back into the VFL will definitely bring my confidence up, knowing I can play at that level and that high standard and bring some confidence back for club level.
“It’s a completely different ball game going into the state league and we know we’ll have tougher competition – we’re training as hard as ever and going through all the things we usually do.”
The AFL has ramped up its involvement in women’s football this year – scheduling 10 exhibition matches to replace the Hampson-Hardeman Cup clashes of the last three seasons until the debut AFL Women’s season in 2017.
