Naomi Ferres - The Quiet Achiever!

Just after Naomi Ferres was rookied by the Western Bulldogs we spoke about what she hoped to achieve this AFLW season. We then spoke after the season to see just how things actually panned out.

BW Hey Nai, congratulations on being rookied last Friday.

NF Thank you.

BW Now, we've known each other, what, about 10 years? 

NF Yeah, I think so.

BW (Naomi & my son Ryan played their junior footy & cricket together at Werribee Centrals). 

BW I know you've grown up & still live in Werribee with Mum, Dad & your younger sister. Fair to say they're your biggest fans? I don't reckon I've seen you play without them being there.

NF Yeah, there's always at least one of them there, which is good having that support on the sidelines.

BW What are some of your memories of those days at Werribee Centrals?

NF It was quite physical playing against the boys.

BW So, when did you stop playing against the boys?

NF I could only play against the boys until I was 14, then I went to Wyndhamvale & played Youth Girls, where it was much less physical. Sadly some teams didn't have enough players back then & many games were forfeited. 

BW How did you end up at VU Western Spurs?

NF My coach at Wyndhamvale Jess Heath, played at Spurs, so when I turned 18 a few of us from Wyndhamvale went there & played with Jess.

BW You're currently at VU's Footscray Campus, what are you studying?

NF I'm studying Nutrition & Food Science.

BW Did you nominate for the inaugural AFLW Draft last year & did you talk to any clubs?

NF Yes, I nominated & along with a few girls from Spurs we went to Ikon Park & spoke with Carlton.

BW Did you expect to be drafted last year, or was it more a hope?

NF I didn't think I'd be drafted, but there's that tiny bit of hope.

BW Did not being drafted last year strengthen your resolve?

NF Very much so. From November to January AFL Vic ran 2 academies, one in Essendon & one in Seaford. Every Tuesday I went to the one in Essendon with about 15 other girls where we did skills, running, gym etc.. & I used to buddy up with Reni Hicks who was drafted by Carlton.

BW Now I got to know Reni a bit this season watching Diamond Creek & a bit like you, she's very quiet, there wouldn't have been much talking between the 2 of you!

NF (laughs)

BW OK, so season 2017. Did you do anything different at Spurs this season? Did you train differently or have a different role? What position do you play?

NF I play in the midfield & had very specific instructions for stoppages. One game against Darebin, my coach Deb Lee told me to follow Daisy Pearce for a half.

BW I was at that game, Katie Brennan was just starting to get going after injuring her ankle. How was it playing on Daisy?

NF She's amazing, she gets to every contest & if you switch off for even a second, she's gone! I don't think I've ever concentrated so hard!

BW Bit of an up & down season for Spurs, how do you think you went? I see you won the Most Improved. Congratulations on that. 

NF Thank you. I think my season was similar to Spurs, a bit up & down. Towards the end of the season I was tired & I struggled a bit late on after hurting my ankle in training.

BW I spoke with your Dad when you played down at Geelong & he told me about your ankle. The ground that day was like concrete. That wouldn't have helped. It was the second time Ryan had umpired you & he was impressed with how well you moved with the ball in congested traffic.

NF No, it was hard underfoot, not good with a sore ankle.

BW Did you have a team mate you sought out for advice & looked up to at Spurs this season?

NF Yes, our captain Bree White (Collingwood) & Shelley Scott (Melbourne) who are both midfielders & are physical & tough in their attack on the ball.

BW Tell me a bit about your coach, Deb Lee, how did you find her?

NF She's fantastic, a great coach who's so approachable & makes everyone feel comfortable.

BW Prior to the draft, did you have much contact with any AFLW clubs?

NF Yes, I had a medical with Melbourne & an interview with the Western Bulldogs. 

BW Now, you didn't receive an invite to the Draft Combine, did that worry you?

NF Not overly as I was selected to play in the Young Guns game after the season. Damien Keeping (Carlton) was our coach that day. I played well & kicked a goal, so I thought I hadn't done my chances of being drafted any harm.

BW OK, let’s go to draft day. Did you watch it online? 

NF Yes, I got home from Uni & watched it with my Mum.

BW I guess you were hopeful that your name would be called out. When that didn't happen, what was your immediate thought?

NF When the Western Bulldogs passed with their final pick, I thought, that's it, I'm not going to get drafted & was upset. Both Melbourne & the Western Bulldogs had mentioned that if I wasn't drafted then they'd look at selecting me in the Rookie Draft, but I really didn't want to have to wait for another 48 hours!

BW I've seen the video of you being at the Western Bulldogs for the Rookie Draft, how did that all come about?

NF 20 minutes after the draft finished, Mick Sandry from the Western Bulldogs rang me to say that the Bulldogs had the first Victorian pick in the Rookie Draft & they were committing to me.

BW I guess you had to keep this quiet, which wouldn't be hard for you as anyone know knows you knows it's almost impossible to get a word out of you at the best of times!

NF I was so excited, I wanted to tell everybody, but I couldn't.

BW Were you allowed to tell the family? What was their reaction?

NF Mum was home at the time & she was happy for me, as was my Dad when he got home from work. We picked my younger sister up from school & she started crying when I told her. 

BW I guess your Dad will now have to barrack for the Doggies in the AFLW & not Adelaide.

NF True.

BW Gotta admit Nai, I was at work & following it on Twitter & was absolutely rapt for you.

NF Thank you.

BW It's worked at well for you as The Western Bulldogs & VU Western Spurs are now aligned, so no need to change clubs or anything like that.

NF Honestly, it couldn't have worked out better.

BW As I said, I've known you for a long time & you're extremely level headed, so you'll just take this in your stride I'd imagine, but you must be proud & excited?

NF Yes, very excited, I'm still pinching myself.

BW The Western Bulldogs huh, who do you barrack for?

NF You know that Barry, I've followed the Western Bulldogs all my life.

BW I understand you went to the MCG & watched the Doggies win the flag in 2016.

NF Yes, my Pa & Dad took my sister & I. A wonderful day!

BW I'm sure you would have been thrilled to be on any club's list, but the fact it's the club you barrack for must make the whole experience surreal?

NF Yes, very much so, still can't believe it!

BW You're a rookie, what does that mean?

NF I can only play if someone gets injured & I get upgraded to the Primary List.

BW Given the quality of players who didn't get drafted, I guess you're not too concerned that you are a rookie? I mean, it's a foot in the door, isn't it?

NF Absolutely. I now feel part of it. Last year I watched every AFLW game, but I felt I was on the outside looking in.

BW So tell me, what are you most looking forward to?

NF Just getting together with all my new team mates to start pre season training, I can't wait now!

BW Is there someone at the Western Bulldogs you want to model yourself on with training, preparation etc...?

NF Yes, I really want to learn as much as I can from 2 of the best mids in the comp; Emma Kearney & Ellie Blackburn. I know just training with them is going to improve my game.

BW Have you been allocated a number?

NF Yes, I've got number 16.

BW I know it's only just happened, but what are your hopes & expectations for yourself in season 2 of AFLW?

NF My hope is to make every post a winner & put my best foot forward. I'd love to get a game in 2018, so we'll see, but ideally I'd really love to learn, improve & be upgraded to the Primary List in 2019.

BW Fingers crossed, you're very determined Nai & I know you'll give it everything. Gotta get me one of those number 16 badges now!

NF Thanks Barry.

      http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/video/2017-10-20/meet-the-rookies

BW Well Nai, looking back to when we last spoke, your hope was to put your best foot forward, maybe play a game & have yourself elevated to the primary list in 2019. How do you think you went?

NF Pretty well.

BW Pretty well! That’s an understatement Nai! Let’s look at it, you were elevated before round 1, played every game, received a Rising star nomination & played in a Premiership! It doesn’t get any better than that!

NF When you look at it like that.

BW Let’s go back to pre season, how did that differ to what you’d previously experienced?

NF The hardest thing was getting to know all my new team mates. Fortunately we did a few things socially & that helped all of us get to know one another & I felt it really helped me come out of my shell. From a training perspective there was a much greater emphasis on collating data with regard to the amount of running & speed as well as time spent in the gym conditioning & strengthening our bodies.

BW How did you feel the closer the season got?

NF I was excited. We played a few practice matches at the Whitten Oval & had plenty of my Spurs team mates fill in to even up the numbers.

BW I was watching one of those matches when one of your Spurs team mates, Ellyse Gamble hurt her ankle. I guess with that & Kim Ebb having a stress fracture to her leg there were possibly opportunities opening up.

NF I didn’t really think about it until Paul Groves hinted to Bonnie & myself that we could possibly be elevated.

BW So you played in the practice match against Carlton in Ballarat. With a weakened side we did really well that night & you ran 10 kms too.

NF Yeah, I’d never really measured how far I’d run in game so it was all new to me, but everyone seemed happy & we were able to implement most of what we’d been practicing, so everyone was up & about.

BW When did you find out that you’d been elevated?

NF On the Monday prior to round 1 Grovesy told both Bonnie & I. I was pretty sure I was playing in round 1 & was so excited. I couldn’t wait to get home & tell my family.

BW So round 1, playing Fremantle at the Whitten Oval, what do you remember?

NF I got caught high at the start of the game as I came in off the wing & received a free kick. It helped settle the nerves. It was the biggest crowd I’d played in front of & had family & friends along to watch. We won & I did ok, so I was very pleased.

BW Bitter sweet in round 2 huh?

NF Yeah, it was so hot in Brisbane, really muggy. I played for a while on Kate McCarthy, gee, she’s quick. Just before half time Izzy hurt her knee, Straight away we just knew it was serious. We got the win & to be honest were all feeling a little flat until we saw Izzy come out onto the ground to celebrate the win & it really lifted our spirits.

BW Welcome back Erin Phillips huh!

NF Yeah, playing Adelaide was always going to be tough after they’d lost their first 2 games. To be honest their season was on the line. Not the ideal time to play them. Even on one leg Erin Phillips was a different class. I could only watch & admire that goal she kicked from the boundary line. Had KB not hurt her ankle when she did, we would have won the game as Brooke Lochland was unmarked in the forward 50.

BW Carlton, what a night!

NF Everything clicked that night, we couldn’t do a thing wrong & they couldn’t do a thing right. That was probably my best game & it was great to be there seeing Brooke kick 7 goals. Late on in the game I rolled both my ankles inward & the left one was very sore.

BW That Collingwood game in Moe started willingly. I was sitting with Libby Birch’s grandmother Barb & in the first minute Choch collected Libby high & Libby had blood pouring out of her head. Poor nana Barb went white. Fortunately Libby returned with her head bandaged & by quarter time nana Barb had regained some colour, only to lose it again as Libby was reported for striking Mo early in the second quarter.

NF That was a tough game, particularly after half time. Collingwood really were up & about & I had to watch most of the second half from the bench. My ankle started playing up & I was only on the ground for 2 minutes in the last quarter. Still, it was a good win.

BW We only had to win one of our final 2 games against GWS & Melbourne to be assured of playing in the Grand Final. It didn’t go according to plan against GWS.

NF No that was our worst game for the season & my worst by a long way. They were all over us after quarter time & Courtney Gum was in everything. Grovesy was disappointed after the game & told us we’d let an opportunity to play in the Grand Final slip.

BW I spoke with you after that game & you were worried you might get dropped. Not the ideal time to miss a game I would have thought.

NF No, but fortunately I managed to hold my spot.

BW Huge build up to the Melbourne game, a Preliminary Final in effect. 3 of the round 7 games would have a bearing on who’d go through.

NF Yeah, it was a tight game with a strong wind blowing to the Geelong Road end. That didn’t stop Melbourne scoring 2 goals into the wind, one of them by my opponent at the time, Kate Hore who got separation on me & protected the drop zone to mark & goal giving Melbourne the lead late on. Fortunately Brooke Lochaland found herself in the right spot at the right time to kick the winning goal with about a minute to play. The roar war was the loudest I’ve ever heard whilst playing!

BW My memory of that game was Hannah Scott chasing Aliesha Newman in a forlorn attempt to stop her running into an open goal in the third quarter. Scotty ran & ran & remarkably Aliesha kicked a point.

NF I was on the bench having a breather thankfully as I played with Aliesha at Spurs & know how quick she is. It really gave us a huge lift.

BW So, a win & a berth in the Grand Final. It was a huge week for you in more ways than one.

NF Yes, when I got to training on Monday there was an invitation to the AFLW awards night. We had a team meeting & Grovesy announced that I’d received a Rising Star nomination.

BW Congratulations!

NF Thank you.

BW So, fast forward to Saturday & the Grand Final v Brisbane at Ikon Park.

NF Yeah & it was really raining hard all morning & for the bulk of the game.

BW It was a dour affair for much of the first half with Brisbane scoring the only goal through Sophie Conway.

NF Grovesy told us at half time that we hadn’t played well & were only trailing by a goal. We knew if we lifted our intensity we’d win & in the third quarter we kicked 3 goals.

BW you had a good view of the first goal, didn’t you?

NF Yeah, I could see the ball at half forward & the whole ground ahead of me was open. I just took off & sprinted. As Deanna kicked the ball I was alone running into goal. Fortunately her kick skidded off the wet ground through for a goal as I got to the goal square.

BW Late on Brisbane kicked a couple of goals through Woosha & it got very tight with us holding a 6 point lead.

NF Yeah, at one stage I knew there was 3 minutes left, but that last 3 minutes seemed to take forever as there was stoppage after stoppage, but with each stoppage Brisbane managed to move it forward. I remember being on my own praying that the ball wouldn’t come down & I could hear Ellie Blackburn imploring me to hold my ground. Woosha managed to get the ball & bang it onto her boot & I wanted to impact the contest but the ball just fell into my arms. As I marked it the siren sounded.

BW I’ll never forget that moment. Did you hear the siren sound? I’m assuming you did as I saw you pump your fist.

NF Yeah, I did. It was such a feeling of relief then all hell broke loose as Scotty lifted me to my feet & we all embraced one another.

BW I’d imagine it was a wonderful feeling going up onto the podium to get your medal.

NF Yes, very surreal.

BW Ryan & I were so happy for you & I’ll confess, knowing you’d won a Premiership, made me cry, happy tears though Nai, very happy!

NF Yeah, it was good to see you after the game.

BW The function that night was awesome & just rolled on into the Best & Fairest a few days later where you finished a very creditable 11^th from memory.

NF It was a crazy few days that’s for sure.

BW So, how did your exit interview with Grovesy go?

NF Yeah, pretty good I think, he said he loves the way I play which was nice to hear. He said he wants me to develop my game with a view to playing more in the midfield & assisting Kirsty Lamb so I have to get stronger so as not to be pushed off the contest.

BW So, what’s the plans for the current VFLW season?

NF I’m very lucky as my club Spurs, have aligned with the Western Bulldogs, so no real changes there for me. Like most of the girls, it’s about managing me to ensure I don’t get burnt out, so I’ll probably be in & out of the side.

BW Nai, I look back at the little girl who played with my son all those years ago at Werribee Centrals  & can honestly say that I’m so proud that you will forever be Naomi Ferres AFLW Premiership player! How good’s that!

NF Pretty good.

BW Thanks again for you time Nai & again congratulations! Oh, by the way, I’m your player sponsor this VFLW season.

NF That’s so nice of you, thank you!

BW It’s my pleasure.