For North Melbourne defender Mia King, this situation brought on a flood of feelings. She rooted as she sat on the sideline watching her W league side secure their second straight AFL Women’s premiership. After suffering a knee injury that sidelined her since round nine, King’s absence was felt deeply, but her spirit remained strong as she supported her teammates during the grand final.
Under these circumstances, Coach Darren Crocker had an almost unenviable decision to make about King’s inclusion in the final match. She fought hard to stage her own return. After 50 days without playing her, he felt it was “too big a risk” to field her. He apologized profusely for excluding King from the decisive game. He would go on to describe the move as one of the hardest decisions of his football career. Crocker sought to comfort King, telling her she remained “a huge part” of their premiership’s defense. She made it clear just how important King has been to their winning ways.
A Grand Final to Remember
On an eventful day at Princes Park, North Melbourne took home the premiership. In the challenge of competition, they highlighted their love for the game and positive spirit! As the final whistle blew, jubilant players celebrated their achievement, but Mia King’s heart remained heavy with the weight of her absence. The grand final was a bittersweet chapter for King. At only 24 years of age, she was considered one of the top to bottom tough luck tales coming out of the AFLW season.
King’s teammate, Nicole Bresnehan, suffered the same fate as she was unable to compete due to an injury. Though she wasn’t around for either of those shrines, both players have done yeoman’s work this year in holding up their respective teams. In an outpouring of true respect and friendship, Bresnehan presented the winning premiership cup to captain Jasmine Garner. Coach Darren Crocker looked on, emphasizing the tight-knit bond that united these girls.
Bonds Beyond the Game
After winning that game, Mia King was able to have an emotional postgame moment with her sister Emma King on the field. With tears of pride in her eyes, Mia hugged Emma tightly. In an Instagram post, she said she couldn’t be prouder that her teammates made history. Bella Eddey, one of Mia’s teammates, focused on the grace with which Mia represented the team and the resilience she showed while gearing up for that experience. Bella shared how Mia’s spirit continued to inspire the team despite her injury.
As Mia King stood on the sidelines, her teammates cheering wildly around her. She grinned and embraced them, celebrating the momentous victory together. The behind-the-scenes photography by Tracey O’Shaughnessy perfectly erupted with the joy of victory. It was a showcase of friendship and support that underscored the unique spirit of North Melbourne.
