Emily Pease never had that football hero growing up - and that's just why she wants to be that person for the next generation.
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The Belconnen Magpies prospect joins Queanbeyan Tigers duo Tarni Evans and Jayde Hamilton on the radar of AFLW clubs in Queensland this week.
The Canberra trio will suit up for the Eastern Allies in their opening game of the AFL women's under 18 championships against the Central Allies at Carrara Stadium on Monday.
For all three it is one step on the path to realising an AFLW dream.
"The way it is progressing at the moment is really good, and I do want to be a part of that," Pease said.
"It's becoming so much more well known and there are so many more younger girls coming up. It would be really cool to have younger girls look up to you.
"I'm so stoked. It'll be really good because we're playing with the best of the best for our age group.
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"It's a really good opportunity for me and the other girls to show what we've got, the talent we have, and the reason why we got picked."
Sixteen-year-old Hamilton is the latest member of a family football factory determined to make a name for herself after her sister Alexia became an All-Australian last year.
While she is trying to make it happen in Queensland, it feels like family is never far away.
"The Canberra girls are always like my sisters in the team," Hamilton said.
"We all connect pretty well on the field together. It's good when you go away to have someone on the field you can connect with.
"It's a big opportunity for all of us to put our front foot forward, so it's pretty exciting. We have a lot of games so a lot of chance to show what we can do.
"It's a lot of the girls' dreams, so being here is a good start. I'm just hoping I can go the full way."
It was family that lured Evans to the Tigers after her brother Kel moved from the coast to play in Canberra - and pick up the Mulrooney Medal in the process.
Not one to die wondering, the rising star took a punt and she hasn't looked back having helped Queanbeyan to an unbeaten start in the AFL Canberra competition.
"When he moved over I realised it could be an opportunity for me so I went with that," Evans said.
"It'll be good to play with such a talented group and have a good few games. It's definitely a goal for me [to reach the AFLW] over the next couple of years so we'll see how we go.
"Stoked, it should be good. It's been fun already so I'm keen to have a game."
AFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Canberra connection
NSW/ACT Rams (under 16)
Joshua Fahey - Queanbeyan Tigers, Mackinley Miller - Belconnen Cats, Brad Rauter - Queanbeyan Tigers
NSW/ACT Rams (under 17)
Jarred Gardiner - Marist, Maximus Monaghan - Belconnen, Fraser Kelly - Marist, Sam Frost - Queanbeyan, Sebastian Quirk - Maris
Eastern Allies (under 18 girls)
Jayde Hamilton - Queanbeyan Tigers, Tarni Evans - Queanbeyan Tigers, Emily Pease - Belconnen Magpies
Fixtures
Monday: Under 17 future series - NSW/ACT v Queensland at Southport, 10.30am.
Monday: AFL women's under 18 championships - Eastern Allies v Central Allies at Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast, 3pm.
Tuesday: AFL under 16 championships - NSW/ACT v Northern Territory at Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast, 10am.
Wednesday: AFL women's under 18 championships - Eastern Allies v Vic Country at Southport, 1pm.
Friday: AFL women's under 18 championships - Eastern Allies v Vic Metro at Bond University, 10am.
Saturday: AFL under 16 championships - NSW/ACT v Tasmania at Aspley, Brisbane, 10am.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
