Broome artist Naomie Hatherley kick goals for women’s footy in successful Melbourne exhibit

A local Broome artist prompting woman’s footy has kicked goals after a successful exhibit in Melbourne.

Award-winning artist Naomie Hatherley showcased her Keeping Score exhibition, which celebrates the growth of woman’s football in regional WA, at the Brunswick Street Gallery last week.

The Kimberley local said her powerful artwork was a “great opportunity” to let the other side of Australia know what’s happening in regional WA — the ground that hosted the first women’s AFL match in 1915.

“The women’s game is an inspiring story of the power of community and inclusion in my community,” Hatherley said.

“If the women who wore these uniforms in 1915 to 1920 could see what the women wear today, I imagine they’d die of shock, as well as being immensely proud of how far their sisters have grown in the game.”

The talented artist also designed and sewed a replica silk outfit of the original football uniforms that were worn more than 100 years ago during the early games in Perth and Kalgoorlie.

The Keeping Score exhibit features players from the West Kimberley, Perth, and Geraldton between 2016 and 2022, and was inspired after Hatherley started snapping photos of local games in Broome her daughter signed up for.

“I was really taken by the team spirit and how quickly my daughter felt a part of it,” Hatherley said.

“I couldn’t play footy to save myself, so I’m playing footy vicariously through art — the only way I know how to get among the action.”

Her exhibition also includes a 4m run-out banner with an artistic twist that incorporates old teabags, a nappy, and embroidery to acknowledge the long running contribution woman have made to the great game over the years.

Hatherley added that brushing the surface of the old scoreboard numbers with oil paint was the closest she would get to playing football.

Described as the artistic official record-keeper of women’s footy, Hatherley caught the attention of the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG where two of her pieces are now on permanent display.

The exhibition is free of charge and will be open to the public at The Brunswick Street Gallery in Melbourne until October 2.