BEFORE the first season of the NAB AFL Women's competition got underway, Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman was extremely enthusiastic about his talented forward line.
Many knew of the exploits of marquee player Moana Hope – including a 106-goal season for the St Kilda Sharks in the VFL Women's competition in 2016 and a six-goal effort in the AFL women’s all-stars exhibition match last September – but the achievements of Jasmine Garner were less publicised.
Garner has played alongside Hope at St Kilda since 2013, and last season finished with a career-best 41 goals playing as a second key forward.
The 22-year-old will always have the honour of being the first goalkicker in AFLW history – she achieved that in the first quarter of the Magpies' 35-point loss to Carlton at Ikon Park on February 3.
But it's her marking ability, on show in last Saturday night's seven-point win over the Western Bulldogs, which has Siekman most excited.
"She has the best pair of hands in the competition and she's an accurate kick, but the one thing that was letting her down was her fitness, which is what the other clubs wouldn't take a risk on," Siekman said.
"We did, and she's ticked every box, done everything she needed to and she's improved out of sight."
Garner kicked two goals in the third quarter against the Bulldogs, and finished with 11 disposals and five marks in the Magpies’ breakthrough win. She ventured further up the ground than in previous weeks and provided a crucial target for a team that had been struggling
"Our first win – it's amazing. Everyone's buzzing – players, coaches, staff, supporters – it's incredible," Garner said after the match.
"We've gelled together a lot better recently. Everyone's doing the little things for each other and it's coming together.
"It makes those one-on-one contests easier when the delivery's coming in well, and it's always good to finish off with a couple of goals."
The forward's path to Collingwood (via pick No.86 in last year’s NAB AFL Women's Draft) saw her traversing the suburbs of Melbourne. She started playing footy at eight, mixing it with the boys at Yarraville (in the inner west) until she reached the cut-off age of 14.
Garner then took a year off footy, before pulling on the boots again to represent St Albans (north-west) at youth girls level. She crossed the city to St Kilda (inner south-east) for her senior football, before ending up at Collingwood.
"I'm loving playing at this level. It's elite, and everyone around you is at the same level. It's really good," she said.
"You make a lot of good friends along the way. And winning's pretty good, too."
