Georgia Gee: Ready for 2021
Written by Terry Dehghani & Ari Stamatakos
As the dust settles on the 40th straight day with zero cases in Victoria, the normality of December talk resumes.
For Georgia Gee, that means pre-season expectations, who’s “tearing up the track” and “adding strength” to her frame.
If you are new to the AFLW and in particular Georgia Gee, don’t worry, we are too. This is a journey that most, if not all of us, are on as fans of our beloved Carlton Football Club.
We are completely biased when we say this, but our club really does lead the way with the Women’s program.
Whether it be the calibre of people that work hard to put the team together, the game day presentation and the quality of players in the side, there was a genuine feel that season 2020 was ours for the taking.
In the case of Georgia, she really started shining in 2020 with her ability to create something from what seems like nothing. Her breakout performance came in round 3 against the Western Bulldogs in the Pride round, with three (3) goals and plenty of spark.
Georgia was drafted pick 12 in the 2017 AFL Women's draft and from her debut she never failed to impress. Energy, cleanliness and a splendid eye for goal have become a staple of Gee’s game in recent times, this was rewarded with inclusion into the 40-woman All-Australian Squad for the shortened 2020 season.
She spoke with Blue Abroad’s Terry Dehghani about her upbringing, the difficult and crazy year that was 2020 and what's to come for the emerging star.
Terry Dehghani: How’s your world, what's been happening, it’s been a big year, to say the least.
Georgia Gee: Yeah definitely, it’s been very strange. Just doing the same as normal now, I think it's getting better with the whole Covid situation so just trying to live as normal as possible. Training, catching up with friends and family which is good, trying to get back to normality which is good.
TD: What's normal now for us, the definition changes day by day, week by week. But I think for us Victorians here, we're at 40 days today with 0 cases so I want to get excited but I’m only in the back of mind thinking, this is it right we don't have to worry too much, we just need to be ready.
GG: Yeah, that’s it that’s what I’ve been thinking too and I think everyone just hoping there's no more cases, no more outbreaks. So hopefully Victoria can stay strong and we can keep going the way we are.
TD: You among many other people as well celebrated your birthday in isolation, 21 as well so it wasn't just a regular birthday. Talk to me about how that was for you, what was the celebration like?
GG: Yeah, it was a little bit different, we obviously had to stick by the rules and restrictions, but we have a park just across the road at our house, so we had a bit of family over, social distancing and out masks on. It was a little bit different, but it was still nice to see the loved ones and a few friends, so it was nice to at least celebrate a little bit.
TD: It’s one for the kids or the grandkids to tell them the story and show them the photos in a couple of decades from now.
GG: Definitely, it's a bit weird, even having to get tested before going back into training, to even say you needed to get tested it’s a bit different, but it's all a part of it, I guess.
TD: Let's go to the beginning because I am interested. Obviously, we have been watching you for a couple of years now as the player and we know you as Georgia Gee on the football field, but where did it all really begin for you as a footballer and as a person as well, what's your story from a young age?
GG: So I grew up in Beaconsfield, a small town in the south-east. Grew up with my family, very close with them as well as friends and cousins, my cousins all loved footy, so we have always been passionate about any type of sport but especially AFL. So I have played that since I was younger, my ‘pa’ played a few games for Richmond, so it also stemmed from that.
Then I obviously went through Beaconsfield juniors, played a few years with the boys and then ended up playing with the girls. It all steamed from the really, then I went through the pathways, into Dandenong Stingrays and then Vic then got drafted, so it's been a big journey but a nice and fun one.
TD: I did some research before we started and saw some photos with Luke Hodge, and I must say it's been a pretty good life as a Hawthorn supporter growing up.
GG: Yeah, that's it, we had a few good years when I was growing up, so we were lucky. But now being a Blues supporter I think it's exciting what the boys are creating ahead so looking forward to watching them this season and hopefully get some success.
TD: For sure, I’m 29 so growing up, Men's footy was all that was there to really watch and consume on a professional landscape anyway. I want to talk about the process of the moment from when you realise that I am playing footy and I love it, but when and how did it become a reality that you could do this for a living. What did that change and process like?
GG: It was a bit strange to be honest because we grew up and there were only boys’ competitions, so I started playing with them, then they started all these women's teams and that was exciting for me and then it was 2016 when they brought out the AFLW competition and that was something really exciting.
I remember going to the first game Carlton Vs Collingwood at Ikon Park and Obviously, that was packed out, I got goosebumps sitting in the stands just thinking I could hopefully be here one day. Then that's what happened, next year I got drafted and I was in the Navy Blue. So it was a pretty cool experience, even just seeing the announcement in 2016, I think to strive for that was the main goal and I think that's the same thing for most girls
TD: I was out of the country for the first season of the AFLW. I got back in the middle of 2019, but I'd watched a little bit of 2018 while I was overseas. I think the first game I was at was Carlton Vs Collingwood game at Ikon park, we did lose that game but my first impression for the AFLW was a product or as an experience, is that it’s kind of brought it back to the roots and I know a lot of supporters talk about the commercialisation of the game and whatnot. I just got a real family and community vibe, what do you take from the game day experience, the fans and what it feels like?
GG: I think having the fans, especially at Ikon park, that's what gets us girls going and wants us to play there like Ikon park is the best place to play at. I think having this situation with Covid, especially towards the end of the season, not having the fans there, you just notice so much. It gets the adrenaline running when you hear the crowd cheering and roaring so it's definitely like a family club and the family culture there is really good especially with the fans. So we love the fans, and we couldn't be there without them.
TD: Who are you outside of the Footy club? What are you interested in, what do you do for fun?
GG: I love a bit of Motorbike riding; we have a farm in Benalla as a family, so we go up there and ride motorbikes. Love the beach, love to be in the water. Maddy Prespakis just got a jetski so been out on the water a little bit having a bit of fun. That's pretty much it, seeing family, love music so going to gigs, obviously, that can't happen at the moment but that's about all from me. Obviously, footy is a big part of me as well.
TD: What type of music are you into?
GG: I like a bit of Triple J stuff, so a little bit different.
TD: Really keen to see when we're back allowed to festivals and how that happens, tiny steps I think currently we are allowed in pubs and clubs but it’s very limited. I don't know what a festival looks like at this point. Do you have any favourite festivals that you go to?
GG: I would love to go to Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay, I think that on the bucket list for sure, whenever that happens that'll definitely be the favourite to go to, I think.
TD: What is the family dynamic like?
GG: I've got a big family, my immediate family is only 4 of us, I've got an older sister, obviously mum and dad, as well as the little puppy Alfie. Extended family is pretty big, dads got a fair few brothers and sisters and so does mum. So very family orientated.
TD: It makes a little bit of sense, I’ve heard some interviews with you, and everyone likes to talk about your light frame, all I think about is the speed. With an older sister, what was that like growing up?
GG: So she’s not all that into sport, but when we were growing up, she loved a bit of Netball and Soccer, so we definitely had that competitive side. She was pretty quick too and we loved to compete quite a bit too. Now she’s into her studies and working side of things so now she's there to support me.
TD: Playing in the AFLW, when I look at how you all go about it, your pioneers. Do you feel that right now, as if you are setting the tone for the future, or are you just living in the moment and just enjoying it for what it is?
GG: I think for now I'm just enjoying it for what it is. It’s hard because it's only new, it's only been around for a few years, but I think seeing the younger girls coming through and getting drafted does show you that, like I’ve been here for 4 years and I feel a little bit older, although I’m only 21, you feel like one of the older girls.
So yeah, it's nice it's something different and being a role model to younger girls is pretty cool, we didn't think we’d be in this position, so we definitely take it, but just living in the moment for sure.
TD: I wanted to confirm this with you, you won a flag with Beaconsfield, which was the 5th straight, is that right?
GG: Yeah, that right
TD: And you won that game by 128 points?
GG: That's about right, I don't exactly remember the scoreline, but it was around there.
TD: So how many of the 5 straight were you a part of?
GG: I was a part of all 5, so I was lucky enough to be around for all 5 yeah
TD: One of the notions of the fans this year is that for the men is that we need to bring winners to the club, we need to bring in people who know what it's all about and know what it takes to achieve that ultimate high, what was that like being part of those 5 flags?
GG: That was awesome, the first year that I got there we weren't that great because it had only just started off. We had Elly Blackburn playing with us, she's now at the Bulldogs and we were only just starting off. It was the first year I was there, and we won the grand final so that was pretty cool.
But the next few years I don't know what happened it just kept going and I didn’t know if it was ever going to stop, to be honest it was a bit of a weird feeling because I hadn't been a part of a team like that before, it's pretty hard to get into a team and be that successful, but I think as we got our team stronger and brought new girls in, it definitely helped.
TD: You kicked quite a few goals in your final 59 games you kicked 129 goals so definitely not a surprise. For those who are only seeing you for the first time now if you go back and do the research, it's always been something you have been able to do at a high level, so coming up to this season, what your focus is personally. Obviously, as a team we want to win that flag that we probably feel like we should've won last year, but what is your focus coming into this season?
GG: Definitely as a collective, a premiership would be nice. But I think just working hard on those key fundamentals and as a team is just getting stronger. For me personally, I think being a little bit more versatile and pushing up into the midfield would be great fun to get a bit more touch of the ball, but I’m happy down forward too, kicking some goals, playing alongside “Tay” (Taylor Harris) “Nic” (Nicola Stevens) and “Darc” (Darcy Vescio) it's nice down there, so just working harder and trying to get a little bit fitter.
TD: It's a handy forward line. I’ve seen the pre-season photos and I really feel from what I’m looking at is the development of your bodies, for a lot of you it's only you first couple of seasons, but I feel that there has been a development in the way and the make-up of your bodies, is that a part of being in the system for a few years now and do you see the changes?
GG: No Definitely, you can definitely tell. I felt within myself in the first year that I've definitely put on a lot more muscle and I think its credit to our Strength and Conditioning guys. They do a lot of work behind the scenes to get us fit and ready for the season. Definitely working hard in the offseason as well, lots of the girls are in the gym, running doing whatever they can to get their bodies right, I know it's such a short season, but you have to be in the best shape you can
TD: What motivates you?
GG: I think just making the most of every day, to be honest, a nice day like today really excites me to be out there and get outside, I’m not one to just sit inside and watch TV or be in bed all day. So I think anything motivates me to be honest, catching up with friends, hanging out with family, walking the dog, anything like that gets me up out of bed.
TD: I really appreciate you taking that time out for us, we wish you all the best, thanks once again.
GG: Thank you I appreciate it
