It’s a scary thought for opposition teams, but Emma Kearney believes Jasmine Garner can get even better in 2021.
A club best and fairest, AFLW Players’ MVP and Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year were just some of Garner’s accolades last year, as she dominated both through the midfield and up forward.
But is it possible the 26-year-old can step things up again?
“Her (Garner’s) game should hopefully go to another level. She’s such a great player to play with, she’s so clean and so reliable each week,” Kearney said.
“And her natural ability to win the ball but also get in position to receive the ball makes my job a lot easier.”
Garner was ranked number one in The Herald Sun’s top 30 AFLW players, following a season in which she averaged 20 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles and 4 inside 50s a game.
“She makes football look really easy,” Kearney said.
The number 25 will be key to North’s finals chances, as part of an all-star midfield also featuring Kearney, Jenna Bruton and Ash Riddell.
And the unique challenges presented by COVID have meant the Roos' players have been connected more than any other pre-season.
“For the first two seasons, (we) had our Tasmania-based players permanently down in Tasmania, they were barely training with us and would come up for games to play,” Kearney explained.
“For them to be now based in Melbourne has been super beneficial, not just for their development, but for our development as a whole team.”
North kicks off its 2021 season against Geelong next Sunday.
