Sports

Jess the Lion-heart’s journey from Tasmania to All Australian AFLW glory

In the midst of months of turmoil for Tasmanian football, Jessica Wuetschner has added a far more positive chapter to the code's history in the state.

The Brisbane Lions forward was on Tuesday night named in the AFLW All-Australian team becoming the first Tasmanian to receive the honour, a bright spot in a troubled period for the game in the state.

External Link: Jess W and mum

Her selection recognises Wuetschner — who helps those having trouble pronouncing her name by offering her Twitter handle @JessicaWoochnar as a hint — as one of the league's best forwards in 2018.

She finished the regular season with 11 goals, one behind league leader Brooke Lochland from the Western Bulldogs.

As she arrived back in Brisbane on Wednesday following the W Awards in Melbourne, Wuetschner said she was still coming to terms with being named in the side.

"Obviously it's a great honour to be selected within your peers as one of the best players in your field, which is something that you strive to do," she said.

"It's a great honour, but yeah it pretty much comes from the hard work up the ground of the rest of my team mates."

The 25-year-old's journey from Hobart to All-Australian has not been easy and has seen her traverse the country.

After playing as a junior, Wuetschner returned to football in 2009 with the Clarence Football Club.

In five seasons with the Roos, she won four premierships, was a four-time club best-and-fairest winner and was voted the league's best player three times.

Andy Smith coached her from 2011 and said Wuetschner was "definitely a standout".

"She kicked 50 goals from the midfield one year for us," he said.

"A very gifted player, left-footer, very talented, we saw plenty of potential."

Smith said Wuetschner was playing hockey when not on the football field.

"She had a big work load on, which probably helped her and probably hindered her a little bit with her development."

AFLW player Jessica Wuetschner with a young fan in 2017.

Lions move pays off

External Link: Wooshna depression tweet

After the 2013 season, Wuetschner knew she "needed a change" and headed to join East Fremantle.

Sharks team mate and president Kate Argent said the goalsneak "certainly developed," in the more professional environment of the West Australian Women's Football League.

"Bit of attitude, I think when she first came over, looked quite casual about her footy and everything," Argent said, adding she soon turned it around and "developed that drive and commitment to play really serious footy".

"I think by the time that she got drafted was one of those integral players in the team that you certainly missed her when she wasn't there," Argent said.

Wuetschner's first taste of the big time came at East Fremantle, when she was selected to play in the 2015 exhibition game with the Western Bulldogs, under coach Craig Starcevich.

External Link: Woosha Instagram

Starcevich would later take up the top job at the Brisbane Lions and in the 2016 inaugural AFLW draft, he selected Wuetschner with pick 34.

"An undoubted talent, no question there," Starcevich said.

"Probably lacked a little bit of self-confidence, I think it's probably the best way to describe it.

But the move to Queensland came at a tough time for Wuetschner, who was struggling with depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

Two years on, and she is now one the game's best players, but more importantly has found herself in a much better headspace.

"I guess the transition into Queensland life was a really good one for me," Wuetschner said.

"Obviously being in those low positions makes you just appreciate where you are now and for me being in a sporting environment with a team that I really love, with people I really enjoy being with.

"There's also dark days but it's always going to get better."

With Tasmania entering next years AFLW competition Wuetschner looms as an obvious target for recruiters, but it will be hard to convince her to leave the Lions after two straight Grand Final appearances.

"Brisbane is certainly home," she said.

"Now that we've lost two, it's pretty sad but we've also made two as well, no-one else can say that.

"Hopefully next year we will make a third and actually get one."

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Sports

Jess the Lion-heart’s journey from Tasmania to All Australian AFLW glory

In the midst of months of turmoil for Tasmanian football, Jessica Wuetschner has added a far more positive chapter to the code's history in the state.

The Brisbane Lions forward was on Tuesday night named in the AFLW All-Australian team becoming the first Tasmanian to receive the honour, a bright spot in a troubled period for the game in the state.

External Link: Jess W and mum

Her selection recognises Wuetschner — who helps those having trouble pronouncing her name by offering her Twitter handle @JessicaWoochnar as a hint — as one of the league's best forwards in 2018.

She finished the regular season with 11 goals, one behind league leader Brooke Lochland from the Western Bulldogs.

As she arrived back in Brisbane on Wednesday following the W Awards in Melbourne, Wuetschner said she was still coming to terms with being named in the side.

"Obviously it's a great honour to be selected within your peers as one of the best players in your field, which is something that you strive to do," she said.

"It's a great honour, but yeah it pretty much comes from the hard work up the ground of the rest of my team mates."

The 25-year-old's journey from Hobart to All-Australian has not been easy and has seen her traverse the country.

After playing as a junior, Wuetschner returned to football in 2009 with the Clarence Football Club.

In five seasons with the Roos, she won four premierships, was a four-time club best-and-fairest winner and was voted the league's best player three times.

Andy Smith coached her from 2011 and said Wuetschner was "definitely a standout".

"She kicked 50 goals from the midfield one year for us," he said.

"A very gifted player, left-footer, very talented, we saw plenty of potential."

Smith said Wuetschner was playing hockey when not on the football field.

"She had a big work load on, which probably helped her and probably hindered her a little bit with her development."

AFLW player Jessica Wuetschner with a young fan in 2017.

Lions move pays off

External Link: Wooshna depression tweet

After the 2013 season, Wuetschner knew she "needed a change" and headed to join East Fremantle.

Sharks team mate and president Kate Argent said the goalsneak "certainly developed," in the more professional environment of the West Australian Women's Football League.

"Bit of attitude, I think when she first came over, looked quite casual about her footy and everything," Argent said, adding she soon turned it around and "developed that drive and commitment to play really serious footy".

"I think by the time that she got drafted was one of those integral players in the team that you certainly missed her when she wasn't there," Argent said.

Wuetschner's first taste of the big time came at East Fremantle, when she was selected to play in the 2015 exhibition game with the Western Bulldogs, under coach Craig Starcevich.

External Link: Woosha Instagram

Starcevich would later take up the top job at the Brisbane Lions and in the 2016 inaugural AFLW draft, he selected Wuetschner with pick 34.

"An undoubted talent, no question there," Starcevich said.

"Probably lacked a little bit of self-confidence, I think it's probably the best way to describe it.

But the move to Queensland came at a tough time for Wuetschner, who was struggling with depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

Two years on, and she is now one the game's best players, but more importantly has found herself in a much better headspace.

"I guess the transition into Queensland life was a really good one for me," Wuetschner said.

"Obviously being in those low positions makes you just appreciate where you are now and for me being in a sporting environment with a team that I really love, with people I really enjoy being with.

"There's also dark days but it's always going to get better."

With Tasmania entering next years AFLW competition Wuetschner looms as an obvious target for recruiters, but it will be hard to convince her to leave the Lions after two straight Grand Final appearances.

"Brisbane is certainly home," she said.

"Now that we've lost two, it's pretty sad but we've also made two as well, no-one else can say that.

"Hopefully next year we will make a third and actually get one."

Original Article

[contf]
[contfnew]

ABC .net

[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]

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