When she’s taking calls from diehard Cat fans in her part-time role in Geelong’s membership department, nothing cheers Cassie Blakeway more than the conversation turning to women’s football. “I don’t bring it up a lot, I don’t want to sound up myself, but if it does come up they’re like, ‘Wow, this is great – I’m actually speaking to someone who plays!’”

Sometimes callers have provided cherry-on-top moments that highlight for her what a wonderful community club she’s blessed to represent. “I’ve had a couple of people who’ve bought a Geelong Cats Women’s Football Pioneer membership, which is awesome,” Blakeway says. “They’re just so proud that women are getting a shot, that we’ll be in the AFLW next year.”

Blakeway admits she has “heaps of stuff going on”, not least finishing a masters in teaching at Deakin that will qualify her to teach PE, outdoor education, geography, environmental science and health. She treasures her family and friends, but a glance at her Geelong Cats-saturated social media betrays that all take a back seat to her first love.

“It’s massive, my first passion, what I love to do most,” she says. “It’s probably my highest priority, just because I love it so much. Even not getting paid for it, I’d choose to do it every day ahead of everything else.”

Blakeway grew up in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs with a “massive” Collingwood fan father. In 2000, aged seven, she was the only girl in the half-time Auskick at the AFL grand final. At the parade she was interviewed on the radio (“it was the best thing ever!”), and the next day wore a No.5 Essendon jumper in the middle of the MCG. James Hird won the Norm Smith Medal and lifted the cup an hour or so later, and Blakeway became a Bomber.

Her playing career took a familiar path – she loved it, but come high school was talked into choosing a gentler sport so gravitated to softball because she “loved all the gear that went with it”. Moving to Bendigo for university brought a welcome reunion with her lost love.

Now she lives in Jan Juc, plays with Geelong and Barwon Heads, and delights her Dad’s siblings who live locally and are committed Cats. “They’re all crazy Geelong supporters, he’s the only Collingwood fan.”

September 27, 2017 – when Geelong’s AFLW licence was announced – was a banner day. “I was ecstatic.” It left her determined to work even harder to ensure she’s part of a team that fills her with pride every time she pulls the blue and white hoops over her head.

“My passion is probably number one,” Blakeway says of what she brings to the team. “My hard work. I just love Geelong altogether. I know I didn’t grow up supporting them or living here, but I love living in the area now, I love working in the community, I love how Geelong is a real communal place.

“I love everyone here – the coaching and support staff, the bond between my teammates. I just really look forward to working with everyone, trying to get the best out of myself and the other girls.”