By Ross Toogood

Ivanhoe Amateurs were honoured to have former Ivies star Fede Frew speak at the Ivies pre-match luncheon in Round 12 on July 2.

With more than 20 guests in attendance, along with the current Ivies listening in, Fede spoke about her footballing journey, which continues to go upwards in 2022.

A common story for women of Fede’s generation, the Australian Rules football pathway was pretty well non-existent.

Fede spoke of participating in Auskick before her family moved to Sydney when she was young. It was in Sydney where she took up soccer, a sport that took her all the way to the US, on a college scholarship, studying Communication.

On a visit home in the mid-year break, Fede got a taste of playing footy, playing a game in the then VWFL for Melbourne University.

The following year (2017), Fede decided to join some friends from her former soccer club Ashburton who were playing at Ivanhoe. Between 2017-19 she represented the Ivies in 13 games before joining Essendon VFLW in the 2019 season.

“I decided I wanted to see how far I could take my football, so I had a tryout at Essendon VFLW and was lucky enough to get chosen,” Fede told guests.

After an injury-interrupted 2021 season and knowing Essendon would have an AFLW team in 2022, Fede worked hard to prove she could make it to the top level.

“Whilst injured in 2021 I did a lot of observing and listening to coaches and players. Not playing as a junior, this was really helpful with building my game knowledge.”

This year Fede has shown she has learnt plenty and taken her goalkicking to another level, being both smart close to goal and being a thumping kick from long range.

She was awarded the Rohenna Young Medal as the leading goalkicker in the VFLW, scoring 29 goals, eight more than the runners-up.

In May, Essendon FC announced that they had signed Fede as an inaugural player for their AFLW team.

We can’t wait to watch Fede out there when the season commences in August.

When asked about one day returning to Ivanhoe Park, Fede was glowing of the club and the Ivies. “Absolutely, I loved my time here and always wish I could get here more often. I’d love to come back in the future.”

Sounds great to us Fede. We’d love to have you return to the club one day!

Everyone at Ivanhoe wishes Fede all the best in today’s Grand Final and for her AFLW career.

Footnote: Essendon’s VFLW team went on to win the Premiership yesterday, with Fede kicking 2 of the team’s 6 goals on the day. Well done Fede!