Hawthorn star Jasmine Fleming is ready to take the 2026 season by storm.
In an exclusive with Zero Hanger, the midfielder revealed that she is ready to take her game to the next level.
"I was drafted at 17, at Hawthorn when we were a new team, a lot of us were young and up and coming. 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 said.
"I want to take the next step to compete, to win and beat the best teams in the comp."
Fleming has already had tremendous success in the league, claiming rhe club best and fairest three years running and winning Hawthorn's rising star award. It's a dream come true for Fleming but also, for her father, commentator and former cricketer Damien Fleming.
"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."
Fleming is also eager to see the AFLW rise to the next level this season, following recent announcements about the 2026 fixture.
"The way we're playing is much faster, an exciting brand of footy that you actually want to watch. So, I think that's awesome that we're able to have some double headers this year, and just playing at the better stadiums," Fleming said.
"The better stadiums we can play at, the more high scoring electric the games are, and that's what makes people want to watch footy. Definitely the double headers and these exhibition matches with the best players across the league are going to add to that too."
Hopefully, these matches will mark the next step in the evolution of the AFLW league.
"Each year, if we're able to get more games, it just would help. 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," Fleming 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."
Hawthorn is set to kick off their AFLW season on Thursday the 13th of August at IKON Park.
