In 2020, North Media will be profiling some of the club's AFLW stars, in our feature, Cripps Fresh Talent.

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From the euphoria from an amazing two-point win in a semi-final, to an announcement that rocked the AFL industry.

In the space of 24 hours, the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos went from on top of the world, to pondering what could have been, as the AFLW season was concluded.

For captain Emma Kearney, you can imagine the wave of emotions. 

“Leading into what we thought was going to be Round 7 against the Bulldogs, we went into our main training session preparing to play them, only to be told that we were going to be playing in a final against Collingwood,” she explained. 

“It was a bizarre feeling, because you’re preparing for just a regular-round game, then all of a sudden you have to switch on mentally, because you’re playing in a knockout final.

“It was an amazing feeling to win our final against Collingwood, even though playing in front of no fans was really bizarre. But then the next day we were told that the season was done and there wouldn't be a premier. 

“The only word to describe it was ‘flat’, because like every team that was still in the finals race, we’d worked so hard to get into the position that we had. All of a sudden, it was taken away.” 

Of course, perspective is everything in the current climate, but even so, the reality of missing a chance to make history still hurts. 

“Not only was your football taken away, but 30 of your team mates and coaching staff were all of a sudden gone,” Kearney said. 

“You didn’t have that support network around you and life just became a little bit different.”

Spending time on her parents farm in Cavendish, about three and a half hours west of Melbourne, Kearney reflected on the lead-up to a bizarre time in footy circles. 

“Around that time everything was weird, nothing felt normal,” she said.

“Footy clubs are usually these buzzing happening places but all of a sudden it felt really quiet and isolated, even though you were with your teammates.

“I was working from home at that stage, but I was also going to the club to train ... but we had to go into the club later [to minimise interactions].

“Then going into isolation and getting to a Monday or Wednesday where you were supposed to have training you felt ‘how different would the world be if this virus wasn’t around?'.

“I mean we’d be at training and now I’m stuck at home, not knowing sort of what to do.

“Us footballers, we are far more well off than others that have lost their lives or lost their jobs, their livelihood and things like that so it is a hard one to put into words really.”

In a tough time, balance is vital, according to Kearney. 

“It can be really difficult when you’re stuck at home,” she said. 

“For me being able to just go for walks out on the farm, get some fresh air, get some regular breaks from working at the desk, but also interacting with work colleagues and friends, albeit online, is incredibly important.

“It’s really important having my family around ... they’re incredible supports for me.

“It’s just been nice to have someone else around rather than me being stuck in my apartment in Melbourne.

“It’s incredibly important to make sure that you’re physically fit, but also mentally, getting the right balance.”