Footy legend Emma Kearney on growing up in Cavendish and how footy can help fight climate change

Earlier this month, AFLW legend and All-Australian player Emma Kearney made a hometown return for a Footy for Climate community forum. 

Footy for Climate, founded in the wake of the 2020 Black Summer bushfires by AFL players Tom Campbell and Jasper Pittard, has been backed by more than 260 professional Australian footy players.

Kearney, the only player to be named an All-Australian in every season of the AFLW's existence, is one of those pros. "We want future generations to enjoy sport just like I did when I was a kid," she tells the Brolga.

We sat down with Kearney to learn more about Footy for Climate.

West Vic Brolga: What was it like being back in town for the Footy for Climate event?

Emma Kearney: It was a great opportunity for us to come together as a community and see how climate is actually impacting footy and sport in general. We had the chance to run a community forum where the three local candidates in the federal election for the electorate of Wannon came and spoke to community members about climate issues. 

Did the candidates actually have a kick, and if so, who had the best skills?

Yeah, a couple of them — Alex Dyson and Dan Tehan — were out having a kick. Given his age, Alex Dyson probably had slightly better hands and a bit more agility. But they both gave it a good crack, and I think the kids really appreciated them joining in and having a bit of a laugh, a bit of fun.

Maybe they should sort out the election that way. Just chuck 'em on the field and see who wins there.

It'd be a very interesting way to do things, that's for sure.

It feels like climate change is such a massive issue that it's easy to forget it actually affects every part of your day-to-day life, including things you wouldn't expect, like your local footy field. Is that what makes organisations like Footy for Climate so important?

Yeah, Footy for Climate is a great organisation that gets people talking about climate without it being such a big scientific thing where people are afraid to have those conversations. As players, we've got a great platform where we can run forums like the one in Hamilton and talk about climate and how it impacts everyday Australians.

One of those impacts is on grounds, as you mentioned. My parents' farm has had very little to no rain over the last two years in the Hamilton area, so there is concern about whether grounds will be too hard for young people to play on and whether that increases the risk of injury.

From my own personal experience at the elite level, during the 2020 Black Summer bushfires, we had to train indoors because the smoke — despite the fires not being around Melbourne — was so bad that it posed a health risk for outdoor training.

In 2019, I had a match at the highest level delayed by over an hour because of a severe storm. These climate-related issues are happening all around the country. You even see the Round Zero clashes being postponed because of [ex-tropical cyclone] Alfred.

It's more the community we're worried about. At the AFL elite level, we're flexible and can work around our schedules. We don't want young people to miss opportunities to play sport because they've had to postpone or cancel games due to extreme weather events.

Can you tell me a bit about growing up in Cavendish?

I grew up on a farm just outside of Cavendish, really close to Hamilton. I had the best childhood. Most of my time was spent outdoors playing sport, which was a big part of my life. Growing up in the Hamilton region, there were so many great opportunities because of the excellent facilities available.

Some of my fondest memories always revolved around sport. I remember how cold Pedrina Park used to be in winter when I played hockey. It was freezing, but I loved that feeling of playing a game and then coming home for a nice warm shower. I also played a lot of cricket on the various ovals there.

I love being able to come home. Melbourne's getting busier and busier, so it's a really good opportunity for me to reset whenever I go home. It's a lot quieter, with a slower pace, which I really enjoy.

Do you visit Cavendish often? Any local gems you can share? 

I try to get home at least two to three times a year, but it's really hard with my footy schedule. As for a local gem, I reckon the Bunyip Hotel in Cavendish is an absolute ripper. They've got an ex-MoVida chef who was a Cavendish local. 

He moved to Sydney, worked at MoVida, then came back to the region and changed the menu. The food there is incredible, with a great wine list as well. It's certainly something I really enjoy when I get home, especially if my parents are shouting.

_{Thumbnail: North Melbourne Football Club.}