Jesse Wardlaw Explained

Jesse Wardlaw
Birth Date:13 January 2000[1]
Fullname:Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw
Originalteam:Coorparoo (QWAFL)
Draftpick:No. 61, 2018 AFL Women's draft
Debutdate:Round 1, 2019
Debutstadium:Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex
Height:185cm
Weight:56
Position:Forward/Ruck
Years1:2019–S7 (2022)
Games Goals1:49 (47)
Years2:2023–
Games Goals2:10 (8)
Games Goalstotal:59 (55)
Statsend:the 2023 season
Careerhighlights:

Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw (usually known as Wardlaw, born 13 January 2000) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for in the AFL Women's competition (AFLW). She played for from 2019 to season seven (2022).

Wardlaw plays as a key forward and led Brisbane's goalkicking for the first time in 2020. Her breakout season as a power forward came in season seven when she won the AFL Women's leading goalkicker award with the highest average goal haul in the league at more than 2 goals a game.[2]

Early life

Wardlaw was born in Ashburton, New Zealand to an Aucklander mother and Christchurch father.[3] Both her mother's parents and father's parents are Māori.[4] She migrated to Australia with her family at the age of 4.

While growing up, Jesse's father would join in kick-to-kick with a rugby league ball. At Slacks Creek State School and John Paul College she participated in cross country and basketball, netball and touch rugby.[5] A talented netballer, Wardlaw was chosen in the Queensland Under 17 and Under 19 state representative sides.[6] Her first introduction to Australian rules was through her friends, who encouraged her to be part of the AFL 9s social non-contact team in the Yeronga competition and the umpire of one of these games Tayla Harris seeing significant potential in her to be successful recommended she play at club level. She started with Coorparoo junior women's before being part of the Brisbane South Under 17 representative team and the Queensland Under 18 side. During this time, Wardlaw was approached by the Brisbane Lions who signed her to their Academy program.

She was playing for Coorparoo in the AFL Queensland Women's League when she was drafted[1] by with the 61st pick in the 2018 AFL Women's draft.

AFLW career

She made her debut in the Lions' round 1 game against at Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex on 3 February 2019.[7]

She was nominated for the AFLW Rising Star Award in Round 2, 2020, after kicking three goals in the Lions' win over Geelong. Wardlaw achieved selection in Champion Data's 2021 AFLW All-Star stats team, after coming runner up in the league for average marks inside 50 in the 2021 AFL Women's season, totalling 2.0 a game.[8]

Wardlaw was celebrated by AFL Queensland on International Women's Day 2020 as a cross-coder who plays multiple sports.

At the end of season seven (2022), she was traded to as part of a five-club deal.[9]

Personal life

Wardlaw's partner is NRLW player Felicity Powdrell.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brisbane Lions AFL Women's Players. Brisbane Lions. 4 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190203095550/http://www.lions.com.au/afl-womens/afl-womens-players. 3 February 2019.
  2. https://www.womens.afl/stats AFLW stats - average goals
  3. https://aflnz.co.nz/blog/2021/05/13/i-would-love-to-represent-my-country-aflw-star-paving-the-way-for-kiwis-playing-afl/ I would love to represent my country – AFLW star paving the way for Kiwi’s playing AFL
  4. https://www.womens.afl/news/110587/culture-swagger-and-engineering-there-s-more-to-jesse-wardlaw-than-meets-the-eye Culture, swagger and … engineering: There’s more to Jesse Wardlaw than meets the eye
  5. Lions AFLW draft choice Wardlaw
  6. Web site: 2020-03-07. International Women's Day: Wardlaw celebrated as one of many cross-coders. 2021-03-31. AFL Queensland. en-AU.
  7. Web site: AFLW Team: Five Lions set to debut. Brisbane Lions. Fielding. Josie. 1 February 2019. 4 February 2019.
  8. Web site: All-Star stats team: Shock leaders, lone Lion makes the cut. womens.afl. 19 June 2021. 19 June 2021. Black. Sarah.
  9. News: Seven players, five clubs: Biggest AFLW trade ever in motion. womens.afl. Black. Sarah. 17 March 2023. 18 March 2023.
  10. Web site: AFLW AWARDS, Jesse Wardlaw of the Lions (right) and her partner Felicity Powdrell pose for a photo . Imago . Imago . 30 October 2023.