By: Megan Hustwaite
Twitter: @MeganHustwaite
Footy has quickly become a family affair for the D’Arcys.
While Sarah has carved out a bright career with the Eastern Devils in VFL Women, and was part of Collingwood’s inaugural AFLW season earlier this year, she has also inspired her three cousins to chase their football dreams at Norwood.
Ruby (14 years old), Alice (16) and Molly (18) all boast calisthenics, athletics and netball backgrounds and while the two youngest girls are in their second seasons, Molly is completing her first this year after crossing codes.
Father Jim, a 300-game champion with the Whitehorse Pioneers, says footy was the perfect fit for his sporty offspring.
“They wanted to do something different. I think they’d had it with calisthenics and being on stage and they’d seen Sarah quite often playing for the Eastern Devils and when we knew she’d be playing AFLW then they really wanted to get involved more,’’ he said.
“Both Ruby and Alice played in the under-16s last year and Ruby was 13 playing in the under-16s. In 2016 Norwood had under-12 and under-16 teams and this year there’s under-12, 14, 16, 18 and seniors, there’s been huge growth which is just fantastic.
“Ruby can play under-14s now but a couple of times the under-16s have been short, so she’s played under-14s then under-16s on the same day. She’s very fit.”
Footy has also allowed Jim to fully to embrace and support his daughters’ pursuits.
“With calisthenics, I couldn’t get involved at all, fathers aren’t allowed back stage and you basically drop them off and pick them up,” he said.
“You sit in the auditorium and a concert might go for six hours and you might see your kid for six minutes in that time and the rest is watching other kids up on stage.
“Footy is more of a team sport, I love that idea, and I just love my footy so it’s been great for all of us.”
With three girls playing in three different teams, match day can be a bit of a juggle for Jim and wife Jacqui.
“But it’s not too bad because Molly has her licence so it works out spot on. Jacqui takes Ruby to the under-14’s and I take Alice to under-16’s where I’m team manager,’’ he said.
“I really enjoy it. I did it last year and I’ve been a club secretary and treasurer at Whitehorse Pioneers previously so I’ve been involved in the administration side of a footy club.
“Norwood was calling out for someone to chip in last year so I put my hand up straight away and it’s been great to get involved.”
This season the D’Arcy girls have had proud cousin Sarah on the sidelines supporting when her own footy commitments permit.
“Sarah has been to watch a few games this season. She came to one game and our boundary umpire hadn’t turned up so she actually ran the boundary,’’ Jim said.
“It bought her back to earth, AFLW to running the boundary in juniors, but she’s played footy from a young age and knows how hard it is with teams, help and volunteers and she’s been great.”
Sarah says her cousins highlight the incredible groundswell that is women’s football.
“I was super proud when the girls jumped on to football,’’ she said.
“Ruby and Alice played in the under-16s grand final last year and I was pretty jealous of them because I’ve never played in a Grand Final. I was able to go along and watch them and Grand Final day was huge and that was before AFL W took off.
“I thought the support for women’s footy back then was massive but going down to their games now it’s just incredible how much bigger it is now.
“This year Ruby, Alice and Molly play in their own age groups whereas Ruby looked tiny last year running out for the under-16s.
“Norwood have more teams and so does the league and it just keeps growing and growing, it’s unbelievable really.”
