Emily Bates will lead her team out at the Kennedy Community Centre for the first time this Sunday, in what will also be her 100th game of AFLW football.
Bates addressed the media in a press conference on Tuesday morning in front of the entire AFLW playing group and staff cohort.
The Hawthorn skipper spoke about what the milestone means, captaining the Hawks, her favourite and more annoying teammates, and the excitement of the historic first game at KCC this Sunday.
We summarised the key points from Bates’ press conference below.
On the milestone
“It means so much... But it means the world. It's been such a journey, I think. Growing up, all I wanted to be was a professional athlete. My email account was sportstar@hotmail.com and my password was athlete, so I think it was always a dream to be a professional athlete. And then to do it for 11 years now and to finally reach 100 games, it's huge. But yeah, so many amazing memories along the way and just so many special people you meet along the way, as well.”
On her preparation and dedication
“I think I'm just a very competitive person. I always want to get the best out of myself, so I think I'm always, you know, researching different ways, whether it's diet, whether it's different forms of exercise. I just want to squeeze everything out of my body. I think I'm not the most talented person or gifted with crazy speed or power or anything like that. So, I guess I've always had to find a way to go to that next level. So, I think, yeah, I think, you know, we're blessed to be in this position. We have all the resources available. If you don't take advantage of that, you'd be silly. So, I think I've just always tapped into that and always just want to get better.”
On being Hawthorn’s AFLW Captain
“It's meant the world. I think, you know, I think when you're younger, you sort of dream of being a captain of a team. Well, I certainly did, but I never thought I'd get that opportunity. I don't know, sometimes you have, you just think you're not capable of certain things. But I think it's just been a dream come true. I think it's such an honour to represent this club. And I think these girls, like, we're such a connected group. They're so hardworking, they're so, I don't know, just inspiring people in their own right. So, I think to be their leader, yeah, will easily be the greatest achievement I have in my career.”
On playing the first home game at KCC this weekend
“Oh, it's so special. I think, you know, we haven't really had a home to call ours since we've existed in this competition. Obviously, we played at Frankston. While that's been great, like, it hasn't really felt like ours, we haven't trained there. So, to create a fortress here and to try and get as many fans as possible here to support us, you know, it's going to be huge and such a special moment for our team, but also the club. So, we're really looking at it as a homecoming, and we really hope to fill out the stadium.”
Watch Bates’ full press conference below.
