Sport
12 February, 2024
Keely Hare joins brother Aidan in Western Australia to get the best out of their football
A budding family sporting dynasty is making its move to Western Australia, with Keely Hare joining brother Aidan at Peel Thunder for the 2024 season. The move was long a formality for Keely, but was confirmed via the club’s social media this...
A budding family sporting dynasty is making its move to Western Australia, with Keely Hare joining brother Aidan at Peel Thunder for the 2024 season.
The move was long a formality for Keely, but was confirmed via the club’s social media this month.
It’s safe to say it’s been a stellar past two years for Keely. Having taken the senior A grade best and fairest with Maryborough on the netball court, she also had a crack at playing football — firstly with Carisbrook in 2021, before making the move to Golden Square the next season.
Her time with the Bulldogs in the Central Victorian Football League (CVFL) has been a standout, claiming the club’s best and fairest in 2023, while also representing the CVFL in representative games in 2022 and 2023.
Her form, coupled with a suggestion made by Aidan to Peel Thunder staff, helped lock in a move to WA to join Peel for the 2024 season.
“Peel actually contacted me with the help of my brother,” Keely said.
“Aidan kind of put in a good word for me and mentioned some of my highlights.
“I then ended up getting a call from Peel’s women’s football coordinator towards the end of last year asking if I would be interested in trying out for the team.”
It was a tough decision for Keely to make — not only in deciding whether to make the big move to WA, but also to choose her love of football over her love of netball.
“I love my netball but recently I’ve been loving my football more. This year I intend on focusing on my footy and will strive to play at the highest level possible,” she said.
That decision also meant moving away from best friend, Maggie Tranter, who has taken over the role as A grade coach at Maryborough.
Keely says Tranter’s support sums her up as a friend, as well as a coach.
“Maggie is my best friend who has always been supportive of me no matter what,” she said.
“It’s a great attribute that she has, always supportive and wanting the best for her friends and family.
“She is going to do great things for the club this coming season and I wish her all the best in her new role. “I’m bummed that I can’t be by her side this season but I will be supporting her and the club from afar.”
Keely says while it was a tough choice, the support of the club reassured her that she’ll always be welcomed back whenever she came home.
“It was a pretty hard decision for me to move away from the club and start fresh somewhere else. I have been at the club now for a few years and have created heaps of good memories and the best friendships,” she said.
“I know if I was to ever come back to Maryborough FNC they would welcome me with open arms.”
Like Aidan, Keely has found plenty of new experiences and challenges in moving away from Maryborough.
Keely’s big advantage compared to Aidan’s initial move last year, however, is having her brother by her side.
“Having my brother Aidan here with me makes the whole experience so much better,” she said.
“So far it’s been pretty surreal, I’ve always wanted to move and get out of Maryborough, I just never imagined that I would move this far west.
“I am so grateful and proud of myself for taking this opportunity.”
It’s allowed Keely to settle in a bit easier, but it’s a big change without her parents.
“The biggest change for me would be not having mum and dad. I’m pretty close with my family so not having them close by has been a bit different,” she said.
Keely also says that Peel Thunder have been incredibly accomodating to her since she arrived.
“I was pretty nervous for my first training session but all the nerves went straight away when everyone was so open-armed,” she said.
“All the girls and coaching staff have been so kind and welcoming since my arrival.
“Peel have a great group of people here and I think I have slotted in nicely which has made my experience everything I hoped for.”
Keely just wants to keep things rudimentary in her first season at the club.
“Goal setting for me this coming season with Peel has been just going back to basics, working on my technique, skills and maintain peak fitness throughout the season so that I am able to have a consistent first year at the club,” she said.
Given her last few years of football panning out the way she’s wanted it, there’s every chance she’ll succeed.