THEY will be in away team colours, but Saturday’s clash between Corrimal and Woonona-Bulli promises to be an emotional homecoming for Cougars pair Georgie Brooker and Jade Etherden.
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It will be the first time either have played a game at Hollymount Oval in more than a decade since cutting their rugby league teeth as kids in the red and white of the Woonona Bulls.
It will extra significant for Brooker as it will be the first time she has played at the ground since the passing of her father Andrew, who was fixture on the sidelines throughout her junior days.
“It’ll definitely be emotional,” Brooker said.
“Dad was a massive part the Bulls. I started playing there when I was seven and from there my whole family played there.
“He was our manger every year and coached my sister and I in our last year together. He was very much a dad to a lot of players at the club not just us.
“I’ve been there for training and things like that but playing and knowing Dad’s not on the sideline will be emotional for me, but hopefully we can play well and get the win.”
Etherden also first kicked a footy with the Bulls at the age of five before both their careers were abruptly halted by rules that prevented girls playing alongside boys after the age of 12.
It was only with the creation of the Illawarra women’s league in 2011 that the fires were re-stoked.
“I played my last year [under 12s] with Thirroul where we won the premiership and that was it back then,” Brooker said.
“We kind of just thought footy was over for us. It was only when I was 18 a friend said Helensburgh were starting a team in the new women’s comp and that gave me the spark back.”
Brooker won four premierships with Helensburgh before shifting with Etherden to Cronulla-Caringbah in the Sydney competition to claim the 2016 premiership.
They’ve linked together at Corrimal this season and two weeks ago represented Country in the inaugural women’s City-Country clash.
“Jade played with my brother so we grew up together through the Bulls,” Brooker said.
“Having watched her from such a young age sharing the same passion it’s awesome to be achieving these things together.”
Brooker’s performance for Country earned her a call-up to the NSW Futures squad and, as the women’s game continues grow, she is happy that girls now have more than under 12s premierships to aspire to.
“Looking at the young girls now it’s amazing to see the pathways that they have,” Brooker said.
“There’s the women’s competition that’s getting stronger and the Tarsha Gale 9s. It’s just grown so much.
“To have played two games for Country is something I would never have dreamed of back then because it just didn’t exist.
“I used to sit on the computer and stalk the NSW team and Australian team but the pathways they have and what girls can now aspire to is just amazing.”