by Jack Morgan

Warragul’s newest AFLW star Jasmine Ferguson has made an outstanding debut for North Melbourne.

The full back showed incredible potential against the Cats in round one, with 12 kicks and three tackles in her first game.

The Kangaroos were down by eight points in the third quarter but bounced back to win by eight when the siren blew.

“It was a couple of years of hard work all coming together for the game which was awesome,” she said.

North Melbourne took on Adelaide in Round Two, but lost by 13. Ferguson managed eight disposals.

But it couldn’t have been a better start for Ferguson in Round One, proving her strength against Geelong’s tall forward Phoebe McWilliams. The Warragul footballer took two intercept marks and proved her versatility in defence, known for her speed to beat opponents to the ball while having the size to prevent scoring opportunities against tall forwards.

She celebrated with friends, family, and teammates after the win.

“Definitely getting that win and singing the song just makes the whole day come together,” Ferguson said.

A talented basketballer and netballer, Ferguson began playing footy for Gippsland Power four years ago. She’s come a long way since, joining the ranks of Collingwood in the VFLW before being picked as 51 in the draft for North.

“Everything is just that little bit more intense and that little bit harder.

“You have to be a little bit more switched on all the time and you can’t really lose your focus at all because the ball just comes flying in,” Ferguson said.

One major difference was the large crowds the game attracted at the Arden Street Oval in Melbourne, which was a completely new experience for Ferguson.

“I think it was just a crazy experience thinking you’re going to be on TV and that there’s so many people watching and a big crowd.

“But once the ball goes up for that first bounce all the nerves go away but yeah, an amazing experience,” she said.

The rookie’s first introduction to football was in a year seven school team at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar. It wasn’t until joining Gippsland Power in 2018 that the rookie found her passion for football. 

“I have to catch up on those extra years that they’ve been kicking the footy and I’ve been playing netball, I wasn’t even using my feet.

“Obviously every game you play you get more experience so yeah it comes down to time, watching back training, watching back games and really trying to learn,” she said.

North Melbourne have always been in finals contention throughout their AFLW history. But this year it’s hoped the Roos will take their season all the way to a premiership.

“This season we’re really trying to focus on being a together and being a unit and trying to push that one step further,” Ferguson said.