Lucy Burke is loving life at the top level, after being a late elevation to the St Kilda Football Club’s AFL Women’s Primary List ahead of this season’s AFL Women’s season.
Burke – no relation to fellow teammate Alice, or her father Nathan – is the MCC Women’s Football’s first AFLW player in the section’s history.A tall defender in the Saints’ backline who can also play through the ruck, Burke made her AFL Women’s debut in Round 1 against Richmond, the season-opening match of the competition’s sixth season.
“That week leading up to Round 1 and my debut was one of the most exciting weeks, but also one of the most nerve-racking weeks I have experienced,” Burke said.
“The adrenaline I experienced wasn’t like anything I’ve experienced before. It was an amazing feeling and something I will never forget.
“The girls and coaching staff were awesome about it and it made the week just so much better.”
Burke has played three matches this season – adding to her match against the Tigers, with games against Collingwood and Melbourne. It has meant standing toe-to-toe with some of the pre-eminent players of the AFL Women’s competition, including the likes Katie Brennan, Chloe Molloy and Daisy Pearce.
For Burke, she has lapped up the experience.
“That was an amazing experience. Those players are class players who have helped women’s football hugely,” she said.
“Being able to play on players like that is a dream come true and it was such a good experience especially for a player like myself in my first year.”
Burke was a mid-season recruit to the MCC during the 2019 season, impressing with a runaway Club best-and-fairest win and selection in the VAFA Division 4 Women’s Team of the Year.
Growing up with basketball as her first-choice sport, her rise through the 2019 season and a wiped-out 2020 season saw her versatility at centre half-back, in the ruck and as a tall forward win a spot in St Kilda’s VFLW affiliate, Southern Saints.
The 23-year-old would go on to play all 16 matches for the Southern Saints in 2021, record a top six finish in the Saints’ club best-and-fairest, as well as be named at centre half-back in the 2021 VFLW Team of the Year.
For Burke, the call-up was the reward of hard work and dedication.
“I found the transition a lot easier being a part of the (Victorian Football League Women’s) side at St Kilda, because it allowed me to understand everything a bit better,” Burke said.
“It also gave me the chance to get to know some of girls. That made it easier once I got to the AFLW team that I already knew most of the girls.”
St Kilda’s Head of AFLW, Tessie McManus said the club was thrilled to welcome Burke.
“Lucy isn’t a stranger to majority of our list having played for the Southern Saints (last) season, and despite her limited preparation, we believe she’ll slot right in,” McManus told saints.com.au back in December.
For Burke now, the goal posts are constantly shifting. Not least in part due to the various fixture interruptions associated with COVID-19, but also her own personal goals.
“My goal after last year was to be playing AFLW this year and it has come true,” Burke said.
“After being elevated to the AFLW list, my main goal was to get some games in the AFLW, and then become a consistent defender.”
The MCC Women’s Football Club is proud to launch the “Leadership Through Sport Program” aimed at developing leadership skills through all aspects of sport, aimed at young girls and women aged between 16 to 21.
To register and find out more, visit www.mccwomensfc.com.au or click here.
Photo Credit: Lucy Edwards/St Kilda Football Club