Eliza McNamara

Elizabeth McNamara (born 19 April 2002) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She received a nomination for the 2021 AFL Women's Rising Star award in round 7 of the 2021 season.

Eliza McNamara
McNamara playing for Melbourne in 2021
Personal information
Full name Elizabeth McNamara
Date of birth (2002-04-19) 19 April 2002
Original team(s) Sandringham Dragons (NAB League Girls)
Draft No. 15, 2020 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2021, Melbourne vs. Gold Coast, at Metricon Stadium
Height 166 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Melbourne
Number 22
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2021– Melbourne 30 (7)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 8, 2023.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Early life

She'll get hit, knocked over and bounces straight back up and does not flinch at anything so, yeah, she's a little weapon who's worked so, so hard.

Daisy Pearce, Melbourne captain[1]

McNamara initially grew up playing basketball[2] before picking up football at the age of twelve, playing for the Ashburton United Junior Football Club[3] and the East Malvern Football Club.[2][3][4] She grew up idolising Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce and Western Bulldogs premiership player Bonnie Toogood,[2] as well as Australian Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman.[5]

McNamara played under-18s football for the Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League Girls,[2][3][4][6] averaging 17 disposals and six tackles in three matches before the season was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][6] Originally an inside midfielder, she made the switch to become an outside midfielder after suffering a serious concussion[4] playing for Sandringham in 2019.[2][3] When the Victorian draft combine was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and players were forced to run their own two-kilometre time trials, McNamara recorded an unofficial time of 6:59, which would have beaten the record set by Geelong midfielder Nina Morrison (7:14) if run under combine conditions.[7][8][9]

AFL Women's career
McNamara playing for Melbourne in 2022

McNamara was drafted by Melbourne with its second selection and fifteenth overall in the 2020 AFL Women's draft.[10][11][9] On her first day of pre-season, she won the club's two-kilometre time trial ahead of regular winner Karen Paxman, again running in under seven minutes.[12][13] Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce described McNamara as "one of the toughest people I've ever played with" in the lead-up to her first game.[1] McNamara made her AFL Women's debut in Melbourne's 21-point win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium in round 1 of the 2021 season, and was named among the Demons' best players with 18 disposals.[14][15] She received a nomination for the 2021 AFL Women's Rising Star award in round 7 after recording 16 disposals and five tackles in Melbourne's win over Adelaide.[4] McNamara suffered a concussion after colliding with Adelaide captain Chelsea Randall in the first quarter of Melbourne's preliminary final loss to Adelaide, which would have ruled her out of playing in the grand final the following week had Melbourne progressed.[16][17][18]

McNamara (centre) at half-time of the 2022 AFL Women's season 7 Grand Final

On the opening day of the season 6 pre-season, McNamara again finished first in Melbourne's two-kilometre time trial.[19][20] She was forced to miss Melbourne's round 1 match against the Western Bulldogs due to the AFL's health and safety protocols,[21][22] playing her first match of the year the following week against Richmond.[22] She was named Melbourne's best player in its loss to Adelaide in round 4, leading Melbourne for disposals with a career-high 22,[23] and was among Melbourne's best players in its win over Brisbane in round 7.[24] McNarama was one of four Melbourne players named in the initial 40-woman squad for that season's AFL Women's 22under22 team.[25] She kicked a goal and was among Melbourne's best players in its preliminary final win over Brisbane, as Melbourne progressed to the 2022 AFL Women's season 6 Grand Final, its first grand final appearance.[26]

In July, McNamara was ruled out of season seven after fracturing the lumbar region of her spine in a training accident,[27] which would require a "serious, year-long (rehabilitation)",[28] and caused her to miss Melbourne's season 7 premiership win.[29]

McNamara played her first game since her spine injury in Melbourne's win over Collingwood in round 1 of the 2023 season.[30]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 8, 2023.[31]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2021Melbourne22 1122902811816300.20.28.22.510.71.52.70
2022 (S6)Melbourne22 11211025515732390.20.19.35.014.32.93.50
2022 (S7)Melbourne22 0——————————————0
2023Melbourne22 834943312724270.40.511.84.115.93.03.4
Career 307728611640272970.20.29.53.913.42.43.20

Honours and achievements

References
  1. Black, Sarah (30 January 2021). "'One of the toughest I've played with': Pearce's praise for Dees draftee". womens.afl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  2. Williams, Peter (4 October 2020). "Determined McNamara follows footy pathway". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  3. Moorhouse, Lachie. "Eliza McNamara: Making Lemonade". Sandringham Dragons. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  4. Black, Sarah (16 March 2021). "Rising Star, R7: Running Demon, Suns ruck make the grade". womens.afl. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  5. Blakc, Sarah (14 November 2021). "10 questions with ... Demon Eliza McNamara". womens.afl. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  6. Sheehan, Kevin (1 October 2020). "Talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan reveals his top draft prospects". womens.afl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  7. Black, Sarah (29 September 2020). "DIY time trials: The Victorian Combine with a difference". womens.afl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  8. Black, Sarah (6 October 2020). "Sarah Black's 2020 Phantom Draft: Late mail, your club's whispers". womens.afl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  9. Black, Sarah (7 October 2020). "Your club's draft: All you need to know about the 57 new faces". womens.afl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  10. "RECAP: Who went where? Every pick as it happened in historic draft". womens.afl. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  11. Walsh, Liz; Wood, Lauren (9 October 2020). "AFLW Draft: See every pick and see how Sarah Perkins rebooted her career". Herald Sun. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  12. Black, Sarah (9 November 2020). "Time trials: Demons draftee torches new teammates, Docker dominates again". womens.afl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  13. Gibson, Ben (7 November 2020). "McNamara shines in time trial, as unique pre-season begins". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  14. Whiting, Michael (30 January 2021). "Second-quarter blitz helps Dees punish ill-disciplined Suns". womens.afl. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  15. Hope, Shayne (30 January 2021). "Paxman stars in Demons' AFLW win over Suns". Seven News. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  16. Michael, Luke (10 April 2021). "Crows head to another Grand Final, but skipper will miss". womens.afl. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  17. Waterworth, Ben (12 April 2021). "Grand final heartbreak: Crows officially rule out star skipper Chelsea Randall for AFLW decider". Fox Sports (Australia). Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  18. O'Halloran, Kate (12 April 2021). "AFL's concussion crisis comes to a head as AFLW heavyweights get set for season decider". ABC News. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  19. Black, Sarah (4 October 2021). "Time trials: Full steam ahead for G-Train, Blue's impressive comeback". womens.afl. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  20. Nobes, Caitlin (1 October 2021). "The Tan hosts time trial on night one of AFLW pre-season". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  21. Black, Sarah (13 January 2022). "Injury update: Who's in your club's medical room". womens.afl. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  22. Bastiani, Gemma (13 January 2022). "FRIDAY TEAMS: Five changes apiece with BIG outs for Dees, Tigers". womens.afl. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  23. Schmook, Nathan (29 January 2022). "Electric Erin gives Demons a rude shock as Crows continue dream run". womens.afl. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  24. Whiting, Michael (21 February 2022). "Harris stands tall as Demons edge Lions in dramatic finish". womens.afl. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  25. Black, Sarah (15 March 2022). "Leading the pack: Five Lions named in 22under22 squad". womens.afl. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  26. Black, Sarah (2 April 2022). "DEE DAY: Melbourne defeats reigning premier to book maiden GF spot". womens.afl. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  27. Black, Sarah (18 July 2022). "Season over for Dees young gun after training mishap". womens.afl. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  28. Black, Sarah (25 July 2022). "'Year-long' rehab road ahead for McNamara after back fracture". womens.afl. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  29. Bilton, Dean (27 November 2022). "Melbourne outlasts Brisbane Lions in AFLW grand final to claim historic premiership". ABC News. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  30. Pavlou, Anna (1 September 2023). "Melbourne's premiership defence begins in glittering fashion". Nine's Wide World of Sports. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  31. "Eliza McNamara – player stats by season". Australian Football. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
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