ADELAIDE rookie Jasmine Anderson's first game of footy in four years was a special day, made even more memorable by the fact that her mother and sister-in-law ran out alongside her.
Anderson, 25, was signed by the Crows in early September for next year's AFL Women's league after playing soccer for the past three seasons, and was given permission to play for her old club in Darwin last week.
So she took to the field for the Buffaloes, with mum Libby Lawler, and Nicky Anderson – the wife of North Melbourne midfielder Jed – and made it a family affair.
It was another piece added to a unique footy story for Jasmine – her other brother Joe also played in the AFL for Carlton - who became the first mother to be signed by an AFL Women's club, and she told AFL.com.au it was an exciting day for her family.
"It's not every day someone gets to play with their mum, and getting that opportunity was seriously amazing," she said.
"I've heard of fathers and sons, and cousins playing together, but never mothers and daughters, so we're so lucky.
"Mum has been playing up here for three or four years, which was about when I stopped playing.
"She was the one who encouraged me to register for the AFL Combine, so for everything like this to happen so fast, it's pretty exciting."
While Jasmine pulled on the boots, her partner Matthew looked after their 17-month old son Isaac, and Jed Anderson switched roles with Nicky, with a host of other family members on hand to lend even more vocal support.
"It was a bit different for Jed watching the boys for once while Nicky was playing, it's usually the opposite," she laughed.
"At one stage during the game she laid a really good tackle and the first thing I did was look at Jed, and he had a smile from ear to ear."
Jasmine hopes to get a couple more games with the Buffaloes before pre-season training camps start with the Crows, so she'll need to keep managing her workload as a mother and footballer, as well as continue her primary teaching degree at university.
Known for her endurance, agility and speed, Anderson plans to work on her skills and match fitness under Crows assistant coach Andrew Hodges while based in Darwin over summer, and have an impact when the AFL Women's league kicks off.
"I'm going to work hard to get a game in the first round, that’s my goal," she said.
"I just have to get into training, listen to the coaches, and develop my skills and game sense.
"Everyone is being really supportive and getting around me which is great.
"Jed gave me advice on the weekend, he told me to go in harder and once I get my skills up I'll be right."
