A New Era for Hawthorn Star Jasmine Fleming
Jasmine Fleming, a key player for Hawthorn, is preparing to make a significant impact in the 2026 season. In an exclusive interview, she shared her aspirations and excitement about taking her game to the next level.
“I was drafted at 17 when Hawthorn was still a new team, and a lot of us were young and up and coming,” Fleming said. “At the time, and looking back, it’s great to get that recognition, but you know, you want to be one of the best players in the comp.”
Fleming has already achieved remarkable success in the league, securing the club best and fairest award three years in a row and winning Hawthorn’s rising star award. For her, this is not just a personal dream but also a dream come true for her father, Damien Fleming, a well-known commentator and former cricketer.
“He’s a massive Hawthorn nuffie,” Fleming said of her famous dad. “Along with my mum, they were always at all our games. I love seeing them in the crowd, especially when we play at smaller grounds. Being able to know where they are is pretty cool, and knowing they’ve got my back.”
The Future of AFLW
Fleming is also enthusiastic about the growth of the AFLW league, especially with recent announcements regarding the 2026 fixture. She believes the way the game is played is faster and more exciting, making it more appealing for fans.
“The way we’re playing is much faster, an exciting brand of footy that you actually want to watch,” Fleming said. “So, I think that’s awesome that we’re able to have some double headers this year, and just playing at the better stadiums.”
She added that the better stadiums allow for more high-scoring and electric games, which attract more viewers. “Definitely the double headers and these exhibition matches with the best players across the league are going to add to that too.”
Expanding the Season
Fleming hopes that these matches will mark a significant step in the evolution of the AFLW league. She pointed out that each year, if more games can be added, it would benefit the league.
“We don’t currently play everyone in the season; there’s some teams that after four years, I played them for the first time last year,” she said. “I understand going from 12 to 17 games might be a stretch, but if we can increase it every year to get to that 17 around about mark, that would be great to get our bodies up and going and for the competitive balance of the league.”
Upcoming Matches
Hawthorn is set to kick off their AFLW season on Thursday, the 13th of August, at IKON Park. This marks the beginning of what promises to be an exciting season for both the team and its fans. With Fleming leading the charge, the future looks bright for Hawthorn and the AFLW league as a whole.
