Hawthorn Hawks star pick Jasmine Fleming makes the family even tighter

FOOTY dads and their daughters.

The past decade has seen an explosion in girls’ soccer participation rates across the country, and for many, the chance to develop personal bonds with their fathers through the sport has been an added bonus.

Even AFL CEO Andrew Dillon had the coach’s whistle around his neck, looking after one of the girls’ teams at local club Kew Comets, where his daughter played alongside current Collingwood recruit Lucy Cronin.

But what happens when your cricket dad becomes your footy dad?

That’s exactly what played out for Hawk Jasmine Fleming, whose father Damien played cricket for Australia, while mother Wendy also played netball for the country.

“It was fantastic. Jas started playing with the boys at Ashburton Redbacks and dropped out for a few years because she didn’t know where the path was with women’s AFL,” Damien said.

“Cricket and basketball took over and then you fast forward half a dozen years and she’s going into her third year for Hawthorn and it just shows how much she’s grown, the AFLW. We will continue to attract great talent.

“I’m not going to lie to you, having the hawthorn colors as a hawthorn man was just the icing on the cake.”

Jas – who was a talented cricketer before returning to football – has seen her relationship with her parents evolve over the past few years.

The precocious footballer was named Hawthorn’s co-vice-captain last year, just her second at senior level.

It was a tall order for a player who didn’t turn 19 until after the Hawks finished their 2023 home-and-away season, but she had a few sounding boards at her disposal.

After the addition of a couple of other senior Melbourne players, Eliza West and Casey Sherriff, she settled back into an overall leadership role this year.

“(Dad) and mum are the people I talk to the most, especially being in the leadership group (and) they’ve both played sport at a high level,” Jas said.

“I’m lucky to have them both at home to be able to bounce ideas off and things that I’m going through, I’m very lucky and I rely on them a lot.”

The sporting landscape has completely changed since Damien was Jasmine’s age, with netball one of the few routes to the top for athletic women in team sports.

“Just to pass, Wendy was a netballer and they had a strong AFL family there (brother Gary O’Donnell played for Essendon),” Damien said.

“Jas always aspired to be an elite athlete and for a few years there it was basketball and cricket. Cricket in particular has progressed really well, but the rise of the AFLW, the draft, it just came together at a really great time.

“Now putting all the focus on football – he’s part of the management group and it’s exciting times (at Hawthorn). The boys are in the finals and the girls are embarking on their third season.”

Hawthorn’s dads and father figures recently spent a day at the club, getting an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at round one.

They took part in (a version of) practice and listened to coach Daniel Webster’s conversations.

“It’s pretty special. We’re obviously a Hawthorn family, so to have him (Damien) here and show him around the club, get him in a few drills and see what it’s all about inside with a few team meetings, that’s quite cool,” said Jas.