This Saturday night against the Bulldogs, Carlton will recognise an influential figure in women’s football: Julia Chiera.
A three-time premiership player for the Darebin Falcons and former president of the Darebin Women’s Sports Club, Julia has been named Carlton’s ‘Community Champion’ for the Blues’ Round 4 clash at Etihad Stadium.
Through a new club initiative, Carlton will acknowledge one of its supporters at every home game this season, recognising their work in gender equality, cultural inclusion or developing grassroots football in the community. All of these fields play a vital role in educating, growing and providing better experiences in our local community.
This weekend’s focus to celebrate the passion and dedication women bring to football made Chiera an obvious choice.
“I’ve always loved footy since I was little,” Chiera said.
“My dad’s a Collingwood supporter and he always used to take me to Vic Park. However, one of my sisters was a Carlton supporter so I wanted to be like her I guess, and I switched teams.”
After watching Aussie Rules as a child, it didn’t take long for Chiera to pick up a footy and start having a kick with the boys.
“I played a few games as a junior when I was in grade three but my parents made me stop because they thought I was probably going to get killed,” she joked.
“I was the only girl in the team, so it was a different time to now…it took me a while to start playing again, but I eventually began playing when I was 28 years old, that was back in 2010.”
Six years later Chiera has played in five consecutive grand finals (four with the seniors), walking away with three premiership medallions.
Darebin Falcons star Julia Chiera collects her premiership medallion.
“It’s a pretty dynamic time in women’s footy, there’s a lot happening at club level as well as state and national level,” she said.
“I’ve certainly noticed a big difference between 2010 and now – the landscape is unrecognisable.”
After falling pregnant with her son Toby last year, Chiera watched from the sidelines in 2015 but has now resumed training and hopes to play in the thirds this year.
“I played in a practice match and I’ve survived so far,” she laughed.
When the defender’s playing career comes to an end, she says she would “definitely” like to stay involved in women’s footy to continue driving young girls to the sport
“I’m so pleased that young women now have that opportunity…junior girls will now be able to say ‘I want to play footy’, and they’ll play footy, she said.
“It’s a completely different experience for young girls now.”
In a move to encourage more female participation, the Darebin Falcons and Carlton’s Visy Female Football Ambassador Lauren Arnell, have started implementing an all-girls Auskick clinic at Darebin.
“We just thought there’s Auskicks everywhere but there aren’t many all-girls ones. It is something that we think will work and attract more girls to play the sport,” she said.
Julia Chiera has won three premierships with the Darebin Falcons.
On Saturday night Julia will be presented with a plaque and interviewed by Carlton Media’s Emily Angwin on the big screen, so make sure you give her a big cheer!
Sixteen junior female footballers from the Darebin Falcons will also line Carlton’s guard of honour as the players run out.
To secure your seat at the game, make sure to purchase your tickets, visit: www.ticketmaster.com.au
