IT was a night to celebrate, with Cavendish export, Emma Kearney, celebrating a second AFLW premiership on Saturday night.

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos skipper was a standout during the season decider at Ikon Park, which the Roos went on to win, 6.3 (39) to 1.3 (9).

Kearney’s family was there to witness the achievement, with mum, Loretta, excited to have those moments with Emma.

“It was absolutely awesome, I am just so proud of her, the team, they have all worked so hard,” she said.

“All the teams work hard, but I do know how hard the North Melbourne girls work, during the off-season as well.

“It is a reward for all the hard work they’ve put in, they’ve all bought into the program and they play as well.”

Despite the game seemingly well in hand at three quarter time, Loretta wasn’t too keen to get ahead of herself in the grandstand.

“I turned to my two sisters in law with five minutes to go and I said “I’m calling it, I think we’ve got it,” she said.

“If I wasn’t a north supporter, I probably would have called it at half time to be honest.

“They were just playing so well.

“We were actually allowed on the ground for the presentation, Em’s niece Layla was front and centre for the presentations to the players, it was such a special vibe to be out there, to be able to congratulate the players.

“I just said to her ‘well done’ and I don’t even know what she said.

“We were both pretty overwhelmed.

“We have been riding all the bumps, and it just felt so good.”

After watching Emma celebrate the ultimate success in 2018 with the Western Bulldogs, Loretta believed the 2024 premiership felt different.

“With no disrespect, this was way better,” she said.

“You play more games, the whole competition is involved now, bit more knowledgeable.

“Better players and they’re getting better each and every season.”

The mother and daughter also got to catch up pre-game, in a rare chance to chat before a game.

Loretta said it was a brief catch-up, and kept it low key.

“We don’t normally see her before any game, including home and away, but we were staying in a hotel not far away from her and she said she had some passes for us,” she said.

“So, I went around and she said she had taken the dog for a walk, cleaned the house and was going to go and do some shopping.

“I just wished her the best and said to enjoy the occasion.”

Kearney had battled a hamstring injury from early in the season, before an unknown calf complaint put the 35-year-old at risk of missing the business end of the season.

Loretta said she always remained confident Kearney would suit up in the decider if the Roos progressed.

“I was never worried, initially she did it the Sunday after the Adelaide game, right at the end of the rehab she had to do and came around to where we were staying and said she’d done something to it,” she said.

“All the symptoms she mentioned, it reminded me of when I did mine, turned out to be a strain, but two or three weeks out from the grand final, you want to make sure it was right.”

Slotting into the biggest game of the year after playing limited minutes in the preliminary final is no easy task, but the professional attitude of Kearney ensured the skipper was good to go, collecting 23 touches and finishing with 393 metres gained while playing at half-back.

“She has got all that knowledge of how to play it, she didn’t lose that and someone pointed out she looked fresh,” Loretta said.

“I think she kept it pretty quiet afterwards, I know she facetimed her brother-in-law at 5.45am as she was heading home and wished him luck for his race.”

Loretta also hoped that Kearney’s success at the top level can spur on other locals to chase their football dreams.

“You’d hope so, I’m hoping some of the girls from the Hamilton Kangaroos can push on,” she said.

“If Georgia Clarke can do it, if Jess (Rentsch) can do it and Em (Kearney) can do it, there are these opportunities around if you work hard enough.

“I know Ruby Cleaver has been playing with the Rebels, so hopefully others can follow the same path.”