Ivey lands on her feet
May 21, 2018
JORDAN Ivey has been playing football for just three years, yet in 2019 she will pull on an AFLW guernsey for her second club.
Ivey was one of six local signings for Geelong’s start-up AFLW team, allowing her to conquer her dream for a second time next season.
But AFL wasn’t always her sport of choice.
Growing up with a love for soccer, Ivey played state league for the Eureka Strikers in Ballarat, but the modest star admitted a professional career may have been beyond the realms of possibility.
“I didn’t think I was that great at soccer in a sense,” Ivey said.
“I wouldn’t make it professionally at all.
“But when I saw the opportunity was there with footy I definitely wanted to have a crack.
“I thought I could make it so that’s why I really invested a lot of time into it.”
In 2016, Ivey swapped the round ball for a Sherrin, making her debut for Lake Wendouree Football Club.
Little did she know, 12 months later she would be playing that same sport on the biggest stage of all.
“I was training with the Victorian Academy at the time … and I was lucky enough to go and have a few trainings with Carlton,” Ivey said.
She was then added to Carlton’s inaugural AFLW roster as an injury replacement player, and with luck on her side played two games in the latter part of the 2017 season.
“It was a bit of a whirlwind – hoping I would get drafted that year, not succeeding and then finally getting a chance,” Ivey said.
“I still think about that day and kicking that goal.
“It makes me smile every time I think about it.”
But that’s where her luck ran out.
Due to the nature of her contract, the Blues couldn’t re-sign Ivey, so she was left to the VFLW to prove she had what it takes.
After a dominant three-goal performance for Geelong in round one, Ivey’s bid for a 2018 AFLW recall was on the cards, but when she succumbed to an ACL injury the very next week, her playing future became blurred.
“Obviously when I did my knee I was pretty upset and wasn’t sure what was going to pan out from there,” she said.
“I just thought I was starting to play some decent footy and starting to feel more confident when I was out there.
“It was extremely frustrating.”
Amidst the disappointment, Ivey turned to Cat Daniel Menzel for some advice in her recovery.
“I walked past him a few times through the club and he’s always willing to have a chat if you need to,” she said.
“He’s been good in a sense because obviously he’s been through this experience four too many times.
“He’s got a wealth of knowledge of what you can be doing and just mentally how you can deal with the injury because it does take a toll on you.”
The lengthy recovery has been demanding for Ivey, but she’s on track to return to the football field in the latter stages of July.
“I can’t wait,” Ivey said.
“I’m still only partly training at the moment, so I’m involved in a couple of drills here and there but then still taken out to do the rest of the rehab stuff.
“I’m really looking forward to getting into full training and contact training at some stage in the near future.”
While her return will be in the VFLW, Ivey’s AFLW career will be revived next year as well.
Despite the challenging process of recovering from an ACL injury, the Geelong recruit believes she can have an impact when given the chance.
“I’ve got confidence in myself that I can get back to a level where I can assist the team in some sort of way,” Ivey said.
“I’d love to be kicking goals but if I need to play through the midfield or anywhere else I’d be happy to do that.
“I just really want to get back out there and have a crack.”
Ivey was one of six players rewarded with a contract from the Cats VFLW side, and she can’t wait to play alongside her teammates yet again.
“It’s so exciting seeing the other VFL girls get a contract as well,” Ivey said.
“We’ve all been pretty close knit for the last year and a half and we all know how much work has gone into developing ourselves.”
Ivey has had a taste of playing at the top level before and after fighting off some clear challenges, will repeat that feat in 2019.
“It was absolutely a dream come true and I can’t wait to hopefully get out there with the Cats and do it again,” she said.