LISA KENNEDY grew up barracking for the Power and Magpies, but she never thought she'd get to play 100 games of senior football - and to reach the milestone in a prison bar jumper.
Lisa is in the leadership group of Port Adelaide’s senior women’s team, which plays in the SA Women’s Football League, and works as the club’s community development coordinator.
A three-time state football representative, Lisa first started playing for the Magpies in 2007, then moved to West Adelaide Football Club in 2013 where she played for two seasons, as the Magpies were unable to fill a women’s side.
2016 marks her eighth season playing in the women’s league.
Lisa grew up barracking for the Magpies and the Power, although she comes from a long line of Port supporters.
It was her dream to play for Port Adelaide, so to play her 100th senior game this weekend while wearing the prison bar guernsey is something special.
“I still remember my first game and putting the prison bars on and how much of an honour it felt to wear them,” Lisa told portadelaidefc.com.au.
On-field, Lisa plays as a defensive midfielder and is responsible for tagging and shutting down her opponents.
She’s a hard player in the classic Port Adelaide mould, and likes to be a ball-winner for her teammates, mainly because she prefers avoiding set shots.
“I think one of strengths is my commitment to putting my body on the line,” she said.
“I won’t shy away from a hard knock, even though I’m not that big I’ve always put myself in the heat of it.
“My weakness would be my goal kicking - I don’t sneak forward very often because I’m not very confident at a set shot - I can get in the wrong headspace and can kick points from the goal square.”
Kennedy is a huge advocate of women’s football and said it was the sight of Erin Phillips playing in the 2005 Slowdown that inspired her to sign up straight away.
“I played my fair share of netball and soccer, which were a lot less physical,” she said.
“I think for women playing footy it’s awesome to be able to say the rules are exactly the same as men - we still hit as hard - that’s what draws me to it, that toughness and the camaraderie of being in a team.”
As Power Community Ltd’s community development coordinator, Kennedy runs the ‘Empowering Youth’ program – an initiative focussed on helping at-risk secondary students engage in their education, complete their SACE and commence employment.
“There’s some real disengaged kids in that program and it can be pretty challenging, but we basically try and give them the tools to try and make it through school,” she said.
“We also try and help them in their social lives as well, we talk about goal setting, decision-making, how to deal with stress and showing leadership.”
Kennedy said she shares her story and encourages young girls to go out to their local footy team if they are interested, when she goes on community visits.
“When I was younger I played netball because there was a pathway for it. You could play from Under 6s all the way through to representing Australia, if you were good enough.”
“I think to have a pathway like that for women for footy is going to be really important.
“It’s going be what gets the kids in and what grows the sport.”
Kennedy also played for Port Adelaide in the 2014 Slowdown at Alberton [source: supplied]
With a strong interest in improving communities, Kennedy is currently an officer cadet in the Army Reserve.
When she completes her training in 3-4 years she will be a commanding officer, where she hopes to utilise her leadership in her daily life.
“I joined because I like to help people and my plan is to finish my training and then go overseas and do some humanitarian aid,” she said.
“You learn a lot about yourself and what you can do when you are under pressure, sleep-deprived and hungry.”
Kennedy’s 100th game on the weekend will be against Adelaide Uni - a strong opponent that will bring a fierce contest.
She said her family will support her on the special occasion, after she’s warmed up and had her signature pre-game meal, peanut butter on toast.
“My family is a big Port Adelaide family so they’ll all come watch and then we’ll probably have dinner and a few soft drinks at the bar afterwards.”
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