Western Australians Tessa Doumanis and Abbey Dowrick have signed with Port Adelaide for the upcoming NAB AFLW season.
Doumanis will add to Port’s strong forward line, with the 22-year-old spending the last three seasons playing with Claremont in the WAFL.
A multi-talented sportswoman, Doumanis experienced success in her teenage years across volleyball, tennis and basketball, with the latter even taking her to China to compete.
At 17, Doumanis made the switch to football after being encouraged by her home room teacher Jo Beechy, who is now an assistant coach in the West Coast women’s AFLW program.
“Being a girl growing up with brothers, footy was the only thing I wanted to play when I was a kid, but I had to stop playing at 12 when there was no further pathway for me,” Doumanis said.
“When my teacher encouraged me to come out to East Freo and play, I absolutely loved it and within my first year, they told me there was a spot for me on the league team.”
Port Adelaide was a clear frontrunner for Doumanis, as she began considering her footballing future.
“One of the main things that stood out to me about Port was when I asked (head coach) Lauren Arnell what success means to her, she said ‘culture’,” Doumanis said.
“She wants the culture to be right and for players to be happy and with that, wins will come. That, for me, was the moment I knew we would have a great group of women who would get around each other and a coaching team that really cares.”
Arnell is confident in what Doumanis will bring to the group.
“Tessa is a really well-balanced player and a really nice ball user,” she said.
“She covers the ground well and her kicking skills and her smarts around the ground are highlights for us. We’re looking forward to welcoming her to Alberton.”
Subiaco product Dowrick is primarily a midfielder, with the 19-year-old also spending some time up forward.
The third-year electrical apprentice was elated when she was offered a Port Adelaide contract and is putting her work on hold while she navigates the move.
“I’m stoked, I was pretty speechless,” Dowrick said.
“I didn’t say much (to list manager Naomi Maidment). I was pretty lost for words! I’m excited and so glad that Port has given me the opportunity.”
Born in Kalgoorlie, Dowrick and her family relocated to Perth to give her and her siblings a chance to give footy a real go.
It was a move that paid off, with Dowrick joining older sister and 13-game player McKenzie in the national league.
Dowrick played four games for Woodville-West Torrens earlier this year, to increase her chances of being noticed by an Adelaide-based club.
“I came to Adelaide for a few weeks because I wanted to put my name out there and spend some more time with my sister,” Dowrick said.
“Playing against McKenzie will be good (in AFLW), but I’m sure a bit weird as we have always been on the same team. She was so happy for me when I told her about Port though. Happy as Larry!”
Arnell is impressed with how Dowrick has built her game after being overlooked in the draft.
“Abbey has really impressed us with how she responded after missing out last year,” Arnell said.
“She committed herself to developing and applied herself. She’s a very capable footballer – really hard at it, nice kick and definitely unlucky to not be picked up in her draft year.
“Port Adelaide supporters will love the way she goes about her game.”
Good friends with fellow Port Adelaide player Maggie MacLachlan, Dowrick can’t wait to make the move alongside her WA mate.
“I’m really close with Maggie and I know Tessa, so this feels like the right place for me.”
