Smiles all-round: Eloise Ashley-Cooper with the premiership cup, alongside her brother Ben Ashley-Cooper and mum Sally Bickerton.
Finley-born football star Eloise Ashley-Cooper has made her mark in the AFLW scene, following an impressive VFLW season with Essendon Football Club.
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The Bombers capped off their undefeated season with a grand final win over the Southern Saints, claiming the premiership with a 35-point victory.
Still on a high from Sunday’s game, Ashley-Cooper told the Southern Riverina News she felt a mixture of elation and relief at the sound of the final siren.
“It was so great to make it through the season undefeated, but it is always a bit of added pressure on the day,” she said.
“But we were able to bring home a win, which was so special to be able to share that with such a unique and special group of girls.”
Ashley-Cooper said she was “so incredibly proud” of her teammates and thankful for the experience.
She said everyone involved worked so hard throughout the season.
Victory: Essendon Football Club’s VFLW premiership-winning team.
“From the outside it would have looked like a pretty close-knit group of girls who had a great season, but this has been in the works for years,” Ashley-Cooper said.
“The Essendon coaching staff, in particular my coach Brendan Major, Charlotte Miller (team manager) and Ash Brown (former team manager) have worked on a program which has helped us all perform to the best of our ability, so to be able to bring home the premiership means a lot and I’m so proud.”
Ashley-Cooper’s football career started in 2016, when her hometown friend Jorja Daniel convinced her to join the Finley Wild Cats.
From there she played for the Murray Bushrangers, where her talent was noticed by Essendon scouts.
Now five years on, the 21-year-old has a VFLW premiership under her belt and has been selected to play for Essendon’s first ever AFLW team.
In Essendon’s 150th year, Ashley-Cooper will forever be a part of the club’s rich history.
“It’s been such an incredible year,” she said.
“The skills I have learnt throughout the VFL season will help me so much going into the AFL.
“The coaches and support staff have been wonderful and we will be able to bring that same mentality of always putting in 100 per cent.
“To be a part of a club which has such a wonderful culture and rich history — it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”
While Ashley-Cooper didn’t have too much time to celebrate the premiership win, having training for the AFL season the next day, she said she was “stoked” to be able to share the experience with her family and friends.
“I had mates from home, work mates and family there,” she said.
“It was so special to share this with them and play in front of such an awesome crowd.”
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