Meet our Round Seventeen Women’s Rising Star Nominee, Zoe Milligan, North Shore Bombers 

Player Profile:

Name: Zoe Milligan

AFL Sydney Club: North Shore Bombers

Junior Club: St Ives

Position: Ruck

What is one thing that we don’t know about this Rising Star that they are well known for around the club?

Zoe is a powerhouse on and off the field. When she isn’t taking full flight down the middle of the pitch at training she is charging down at you afterwards to find out if you have any funny stories from the day. Her charismatic energy is infectious and always looking for a laugh, even if it is at an expense of you coping a footy to the head. She isn’t afraid to laugh at herself and brings a smile to everyone’s face. Zo is making a name for herself around the squad for her long-winded explanations.

What role do they play for the club(s) both on and off the field? 

Zoe has family ties to the bombers with her older brother playing on the men’s side of the program. Which means she is often supporting them. She is a true club first person, you’ll often find her helping out in the canteen (but don’t trust her maths) or volunteering to help the under 20s out when low on numbers!

Reason for nomination this round:

Zo delivered one of her best performances of the season against a much more experienced ruck. She was able to win several hitouts to advantage for her team and in doing so gave her midfield first use of the ball. Her second and third efforts around the ground and physical presence at the contest put the Bats midfield under immense pressure, laying an absurd amount of tackles and shutting down the UTS clearances.

Coach quote on Performance:

“In her first year of senior footy Zo is steadily improving with each game. She is a keen learner and always willing to seek advice and improve her game! Zoe is a true competitor and her never say die attitude shone on the weekend in a tough contested game! Not only did her rucking give our midfield first use of the ball, but her pressure around the contest, physical presence and second and third efforts had a huge impact in the midfield battle, which proved to be quite impactful throughout the game! For a young and relatively inexperienced player Zoe is putting together quite a purple patch of form and will be one to look out for in the future.” North Shore Bombers Women’s Premier Division Coach – Josh Barbaro