Jasmine Simmons (born 6 March 1999) is a professional Australian rules football player who currently plays for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW).[1] She was initially drafted as a rookie to the Adelaide Crows prior to the 2022 season and was traded to Port Adelaide following two seasons at the club.
| Jasmine Simmons | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 6 March 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Broken Hill, New South Wales | ||
| Draft | 2021 rookie signing | ||
| Debut | Round 1, 2022 (S6), Adelaide vs. Brisbane, at Flinders University Stadium | ||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Key defender/utility | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Port Adelaide | ||
| Number | 32 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2022 (S6)–2022 (S7) | Adelaide | 8 (0) | |
| 2023– | Port Adelaide | 3 (0) | |
| Total | 11 (0) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2023. | |||
| Source: AustralianFootball | |||
Early life and basketball
editOriginally from Broken Hill, Simmons played for the North Broken Hill Football Club in her youth. With limited football opportunities for women in a country town, Simmons turned her athletic interests to basketball. She captained the Australia women's national under-17 basketball team, nicknamed the Sapphires, and in 2016 led the team for average rebounds, assists, and spoils as their leading point guard. At junior age, she won gold with the Australia women's national basketball team in the 2019 World University Games.[2]
Simmons spent three years at Oregon State University playing basketball prior her return home to New South Wales. Once returning to Australia, she played basketball for the Mildura Heat and the Ballarat Miners in the NBL1 South as well as football,[3][4] with more opportunities for women to play. She played country football for North Broken Hill and the Gol Gol Hawks Football Club.[2]
AFL Women's career
editAdelaide Crows
editSimmons was officially drafted to the Adelaide Crows as a rookie signing in 2021,[2] despite interest from Richmond and North Melbourne.[5] She debuted for the Crows in round one of season 6 in the AFL Women's. She wore the number 11 in her first game, which came against Brisbane at Flinders University Stadium.[6]
Port Adelaide
editFollowing two seasons and eight games at the Crows, Simmons was traded to cross-town rivals Port Adelaide for the club's second season in the AFL Women's competition.[7] The trade involved Sarah Goodwin, who crossed the divide the other way. She played three games in her first season at the Power.[1]
During the off-seasons, Simmons also played basketball for West Adelaide Bearcats in the NBL1 Central league, as well as Woodville-West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League (SANFLW).[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Jasmine Simmons | AFL". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "AFLW: Simmons signs on". afc.com.au. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Matt (26 April 2021). "Returning star Jasmine Simmons makes big impact in Mildura Heat win". Sunraysia Daily.
- ^ Clark, Tamara (26 June 2021). "Doors swing open for talented Simmons". Sunraysia Daily.
- ^ Ormonde, Bill (12 June 2021). "Former junior Australian basketball captain Jasmine Simmons shoots for the AFLW". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ Ormonde, Bill (9 January 2022). "Broken Hill's Jasmine Simmons set to make AFLW debut with the Crows". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ a b Ormonde, Bill (9 April 2023). "Former Adelaide Crow Jasmine Simmons signs with Port Adelaide Power's AFLW side". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.