Danielle Ponter made her mark on women’s football in 2019, becoming a premiership player and Rising Star nominee at just 19 years of age.
Her breakout debut season in the AFLW has made her a role model for the next generation of Indigenous youth chasing their football dreams.
She may have been based in Darwin, but Ponter still managed to make quite an impact on the Crows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Academy participants in Adelaide.
In November last year, she helped launch the Inaugural Academy, funded by Quitline, and has supported several sessions at West Lakes alongside teammate Chelsea Randall and Academy coach Bronwyn Davey.
“I think it is really good, I really enjoy the fact they get these opportunities. They get the chance to represent themselves, family and their Aboriginal groups,” Ponter said.
“It obviously helps them take their footy to the next level.
“I had the opportunity with academies to gain knowledge to understand what it’s like to be in that elite environment.”
Ponter booted 13 goals during the 2019 season, including three in the Grand Final at Adelaide Oval in front of a historic crowd of 53,034.
“It was very special, I was very nervous, I’ve never been on a stage that big and played in front of such a big crowd,” Ponter said.
“When the final siren went, I thought it was three-quarter time, so I didn’t realise the game was over, and then I was like ‘oh my god, we won’.
“It was an amazing feeling.”
Amongst the 53,000 fans was 17-year-old Tesharna Maher, a participant of the Indigenous Academy, who said she was in awe of Danielle Ponter.
“She is an amazing player and watching her in the Grand Final, I was blown away with her performance and just how skilled and talented she is,” Maher said.
“Being my former teammate for Central Allies, I hope to play alongside her again in the AFLW.
“She is a great role model and someone us girls aspire to be like as there are not many Indigenous female players out there.”
Ponter taking a strong mark in the 2019 AFLW Grand Final
Quitline’s support has given girls in the Academy the opportunities and access to AFLW role models like Danielle Ponter.
Ponter’s one piece of advice was for players like Tesharna to take every opportunity.
For many of the girls in the Academy, football plays such a significant role in their lives and culture - something Ponter could relate to well.
“A lot of us young girls, particularly Aboriginal girls, watch our uncles, grandfathers, brothers play,” she said.
“For us to be able to play too is amazing, it’s a healthy distraction to lead healthier lives, otherwise you get bored and get caught up in other stuff”.
Ponter recently re-signed for another season with the Crows and hopes to be involved in the Academy in 2020.
