Underneath the tattoo sleeve, the soft voice and the mercurial skills, Kiwi Moana Hope is a fine footballer.
From a family rich in New Zealand heritage, Mo had footy in her blood, a passion she shared with her late father, Gary. However this didn’t always continue to be the case during her early twenties when she took a few years break from the game before rediscovering the love in 2014 after seeing the changing landscape of Womens Football in Australia.
Moana has won the Victorian Women’s Football League (VWFL) leading goal-kicker award, the Rohenna Young Medal, for three consecutive seasons. Her best season, 74 goals in 2006, highlights her rare ability.
A dynamic forward, Moana has patrolled the forward forward for over 10 years and has regularly amassed large hauls of goals throughout the seasons. This includes 74 goals in 2006, 67 goals in 2007, 71 goals in 2008, 40 goals in 2012, 87 goals in 2014, and 68 goals in 2015. Currently Moana looks set to crack the 100 goal mark in 2016.
She is a full-time carer for her disabled younger sister (and one of her 13 siblings), and her mother was struggling with a range of illnesses.
In 2017, the 28-year-old will become one of Collingwood’s first marquee players when she runs out for the Magpies in the inaugural Women’s AFL competition.
Moana Hope
- 28 years old
- Full forward
- Plays with St Kilda Sharks
- Selection #10 in 2014 Draft
- Played for Western Bulldogs 2014 and 2015
- Has won multiple League goal kicking awards
- 5 x Victorian State representative
- 200+ games in the VWFL
- Starting playing footy at age 13 with the boys
