Tamisha Kelly, Sammy Rourke, Miliana Naicori and Claudia Leyton-Daly.
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Barooga FNC has announced its women’s and youth leadership cohort for the 2025 season.
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At the helm of the senior women’s side as co-captains will be Sammy Rourke and Miliana Naicori, while Claudia Leighton-Daly and Tameisha Kelly are the Hawks’ vice-captains.
Meanwhile, Emily Nolan and Emmah Guastella will provide leadership support.
In the youth girls’ side, Taylor Waldron will lead as captain with the support of vice-captains Kiara Stephens and Ava Kruizinga.
It’s an exciting year ahead for the Hawks, with women’s co-captain Sammy Rourke highlighting the extra efforts put in by several of the players over pre-season.
“I’ve been at pre-season since straight after Christmas, and there’s been a huge improvement. Everyone’s making the effort to get to training and everyone wants to be there, so they’re putting in 100 per cent,” Rourke said.
On field, the left-footed Rourke is at home between midfield and half-forward, but is still contending with the shin splints that plagued her last season.
Kiara Stephens, Taylor Waldron and Ava Kruizinga.
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But she’s not letting that get in the way of leading her group alongside Naicori to bigger and better things this season.
“I’m super stoked to have been named co-captain and so excited to work alongside Milly and the leadership to bring the best out of the girls this season,” Rourke said.
“I’d like to see us not just be competitive, but for everyone to have fun and want to come to footy.”
One of Rourke’s biggest aims this season is to enhance the Hawks’ team bonding.
“On the field, we’re in game mode, but at the same time, off the field, I’d really like us as a team to get together and do social things together,” she said.
“It’s huge, having them in [Bushrangers] because the rest of the team looks up to them. Especially at training,” Rourke said of the trio.
With a big season ahead for the young side, Rourke had one key message for her team.
“My key message is to just go out there and give their best, enjoy it and have fun,” she said.
“We’re a second-year team, we’re still developing that core, so at the moment [the key message] is to take the girls under our wing and let’s enjoy the season.”
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