\n Entrenched in the senior side, Maddy Hendrie is hoping for a happy homecoming in Sydney.\n <\/p>\n
\n By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media\n <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019M BUZZING with excitement. It\u2019s going to be the perfect weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been quite the wait for Maddy Hendrie, but finally this Sunday, she gets the chance to play an AFLW game in Sydney.<\/p>\n
A former Sydney Academy member, it\u2019s fitting that Hendrie\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Hendrie ultimately wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI obviously went through wanting to play for the Swans but didn\u2019t get the chance, then also missing out on getting selected in the first season [against GWS] and not playing in Sydney last year,\u201d Hendrie told Carlton Media this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big build-up, I can\u2019t wait to play in front of my family and friends who will be there. At a home ground for me as well, I\u2019m so excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maddy Hendrie playing at Henson Park for the UNSW Bulldogs in 2022. (Photo credit: Sydney AFL)<\/p>\n
Hendrie might\u2019ve missed selection the last time the Blues played at Henson Park two years ago, but that hasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In season three now, the first two years weren\u2019t without their lessons.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely relieved the pressure, walking into the doors each week thinking \u2018am I going to get dropped?\u2019. But it\u2019s because when I would get selected, I was played really safe. Playing with the mindset \u2018if I don\u2019t make mistakes, they don\u2019t have a reason to drop me\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just playing to get selected in those first few years, which wasn\u2019t benefitting anyone – I\u2019d 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maddy Hendrie celebrates with Poppy Scholz after the Round 5 win over Gold Coast. (Photo credit: AFL Media)<\/p>\n
There was also a shift in role. While some have been more obvious in 2025 – Mimi Hill\u2019s return to the midfield, Yasmin Duursma on the wing, Darcy Vescio and Amelia Velardo down back – Hendrie\u2019s move to the last line of defence has paid dividends.<\/p>\n
Praised for her versatility and athleticism in her draft year, Hendrie admits she reserved judgment early – but has thrived ever since.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m super happy I\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always call ourselves the party of five back there. Helping out and setting up the ground in offence and defence, it\u2019s really exciting they want us to get involved. Everything we do is on the back of defence, so as long as we don\u2019t lose sight of that, we can join in offence however much we want.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we get caught off turnover, we\u2019re prepared to wear that off the back of playing an exciting brand. You win games by scoring goals and they\u2019re going to score them on you, so we prefer to score goals and get goals scored on us playing our brand of footy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just don\u2019t expect her to do it all herself – no matter how much support she\u2019s getting over the fence back home this weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been about recognising that I\u2019m not going to be a flashy player, so don\u2019t want about the disposals you\u2019re getting because that\u2019s not what anyone expects of me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not Ronnie, I\u2019m not going to take four bounces and that\u2019s fine! My dad would love me to, but that\u2019s not on the cards.\u201d<\/p>\n
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