While Ben Brown, Ben Cunnington and Jamie Macmillan were celebrating a win against Carlton, their partners were singing a team song of their own.
Belinda Cunnington, Hester MacKinnon (Brown’s fiancé) and Olivia Turnbull (Macmillan’s partner) made their debut for the Roos’ community partner, the Melbourne University Women’s Football Club (MUWFC) last weekend – claiming the points in their first hit-out.
The trio celebrated the win alongside their MUWFC teammates, as they begin what looks to be very promising careers in women’s footy.
There’s no doubt interest and participation in AFLW is booming after the league’s inaugural season.
Brown said his fiancé, Hester, had thoroughly enjoyed her first game.
“A few of the girls have got together and are having a run with the Melbourne Uni girls, which is awesome,” Brown said.
“We’ll continue to see the women’s game grow over the next few years.”
Brown himself said he had paid close attention to the first AFLW season, attending many of the games.
“I loved going to watch the women’s footy this year, I love that it’s a part of the game now,” Brown added.
He had plenty of praise for North’s crop of female talent, saying the players enjoyed watching on from the sidelines as their partners played for MUWFC.
Asked if Hester had taken inspiration from Brown’s well-known goal routine, the number 50 said surprisingly, there was no similarities.
“She’s actually shortened it up, she’s not taking any advice from me in that area,” Brown joked.