Brisbane Lion Indy Tahau and Collingwood Magpie Ebony O’Dea have committed to sign with Port Adelaide, grasping the opportunity to return home to South Australia.
The pair will re-join their respective families in Adelaide after spending time playing for clubs in the eastern states.
Defender Tahau was selected by the Lions in the 2020 NAB AFLW draft and has played 19 games since her debut in 2021.
“I’m so excited…I’m just so grateful that Port Adelaide’s given me the opportunity to come home and just be around my family,” Tahau said.
“Dad was over the moon (when I told him) and started crying. I grew up here and started my footy here at a young age so to bring that success back and share it with the people I grew up with, it’s really special for me.”
Until the age of nine, Tahau lived in the small rural town of Cunnamulla, nine hours west of Brisbane, before her family relocated to the southern suburbs of Adelaide.
She was soon picked up by South Adelaide in the SANFLW and was named best on ground in the 2019 grand final, at just 16 years of age.
Tahau will join fellow former Lion Maria Moloney on the inaugural Port women’s list.
“I’m super excited for Maria – she’s such a hardworking player and I think me and her are going to gel really well this year,” Tahau remarked.
“There’s obviously some pretty big stars coming across from the Crows as well and I just can’t wait to meet them all and play alongside them.”
The now 19-year-old took to the field in the Brisbane’s winning grand final in 2021, lining up alongside Port head coach Lauren Arnell.
“Indy has huge amounts of untapped talent,” Arnell said.
“She is a naturally gifted athlete and from a football perspective, can almost play anywhere – she’s a true utility, which is really exciting for us. She fitted in really nicely in the backline at the Lions but we know she could play almost any role we needed her to. We will be supporting her to develop key elements of her game and it’s great that she gets to move back home.”
Defensive midfielder O’Dea joins Port after four years in the AFLW competition, including a season with GWS and three at Collingwood.
Originally from the town of Springton on the edge of the Barossa Valley, the 23-year-old thrives on hard, contested footy.
Making her AFLW debut after signing with Collingwood in 2020, O’Dea recorded 21 matches with the club, but now seeks a new opportunity.
“I’m so bloody stoked to be coming to Port Adelaide,” she exclaimed.
“I mean I’m sure you hear from everyone (committing to Port Adelaide) that we’re all pretty stoked to be playing with Flippa (Erin Phillips). I actually even played a couple of games with Justine Mules at Adelaide Uni a few years ago, but I’m not sure if she would remember! I couldn’t be more excited to be coming across.”
The former Norwood player is a unicycling world record holder and a Rubik’s Cube fanatic – just a couple of quirks that add to her loveable and intriguing character.
O’Dea loves Adelaide and is all about revisiting the comforts of home, including identical twin sister Georgia and older brother Caleb.
“The best part of my week has been telling my family that I’m coming home after four years away. They’re so happy for me and my parents will now have all three kids in the same state,” O’Dea said.
“My family’s team is Port Adelaide; mum already has all this Port gear and my aunty is a big fan!”
Arnell is thrilled that the pull of coming home has enabled the club to secure O’Dea’s commitment.
“Having been in the AFLW system for a few years, Ebony has a really clear understanding of what it takes at this level,” Arnell said.
“Through her development, progression and role at Collingwood, she’s shown that she fits that Port Adelaide mould of being a hard worker and playing tough, contested footy. One thing I get really excited about when talking to her is she wants to get better and keep learning and genuinely wants to be here at Port Adelaide.”
