Entrenched in the senior side, Maddy Hendrie is hoping for a happy homecoming in Sydney.

By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media

“I’M BUZZING with excitement. It’s going to be the perfect weekend.”

It’s been quite the wait for Maddy Hendrie, but finally this Sunday, she gets the chance to play an AFLW game in Sydney.

A former Sydney Academy member, it’s fitting that Hendrie’s first game in her home state will be against the Swans at Henson Park, the venue where she played a number of games for the UNSW Bulldogs.

Hendrie ultimately wasn’t selected by the Swans in the draft, and had to wait until the supplementary draft of 2023 where she was selected by the Blues with pick No.9.

“I obviously went through wanting to play for the Swans but didn’t get the chance, then also missing out on getting selected in the first season [against GWS] and not playing in Sydney last year,” Hendrie told Carlton Media this week.

“It’s a big build-up, I can’t wait to play in front of my family and friends who will be there. At a home ground for me as well, I’m so excited.”

Maddy Hendrie playing at Henson Park for the UNSW Bulldogs in 2022. (Photo credit: Sydney AFL)

Hendrie might’ve missed selection the last time the Blues played at Henson Park two years ago, but that hasn’t been an issue in 2025. With all eight games played so far this season, Hendrie has already achieved a career-best season for games played.

A role tweak, a shift in mindset and her teammates – according to Hendrie – have all been central reasons behind her form so far this season.

In season three now, the first two years weren’t without their lessons.

“It’s definitely relieved the pressure, walking into the doors each week thinking ‘am I going to get dropped?’. But it’s because when I would get selected, I was played really safe. Playing with the mindset ‘if I don’t make mistakes, they don’t have a reason to drop me’.

“I was just playing to get selected in those first few years, which wasn’t benefitting anyone – I’d be a mouse out there. Experiencing that in my first year and then breaking my foot in the middle of last season, I learned the value of being up for selection each week. I missed that fire when I was in and out of the side.”

Maddy Hendrie celebrates with Poppy Scholz after the Round 5 win over Gold Coast. (Photo credit: AFL Media)

There was also a shift in role. While some have been more obvious in 2025 – Mimi Hill’s return to the midfield, Yasmin Duursma on the wing, Darcy Vescio and Amelia Velardo down back – Hendrie’s move to the last line of defence has paid dividends.

Praised for her versatility and athleticism in her draft year, Hendrie admits she reserved judgment early – but has thrived ever since.

“I’m super happy I’ve found my spot, being the deep-tier defender instead of in the mid-tier. I had a bit of a misconception about the deepest defender, because I love getting involved in offence and love to run around.

“We always call ourselves the party of five back there. Helping out and setting up the ground in offence and defence, it’s really exciting they want us to get involved. Everything we do is on the back of defence, so as long as we don’t lose sight of that, we can join in offence however much we want.

“If we get caught off turnover, we’re prepared to wear that off the back of playing an exciting brand. You win games by scoring goals and they’re going to score them on you, so we prefer to score goals and get goals scored on us playing our brand of footy.”

Just don’t expect her to do it all herself – no matter how much support she’s getting over the fence back home this weekend.

“It’s been about recognising that I’m not going to be a flashy player, so don’t want about the disposals you’re getting because that’s not what anyone expects of me.

“I’m not Ronnie, I’m not going to take four bounces and that’s fine! My dad would love me to, but that’s not on the cards.”