By Abby Collins
Coorparoo is preparing to bid a heartfelt farewell to their women’s program pioneers, Emma Zielke and Sally Young, as they retire from state league football at the end of this season.
For 15 years, this dynamic duo has been a formidable force, shaping the women’s program at Coorparoo and leaving an indelible mark on Queensland women’s football.
Their impressive achievements have made them standout figures in the history of Queensland women’s footy.
Known well beyond the walls of Coorparoo, their success and determination have inspired countless players.
“They are the pioneers of women’s footy in Queensland,” said Coorparoo President Sam Haddad.
“If you talk to any female footy players, they know who Emma and Sally are. When times were tough, they were the ones promoting women’s footy.
“Zilks has the state league award named after her, and Sally Young has our best and fairest award named after her.
“That gives you some idea of the greatness of these two people and the legacy they will leave behind.”
Their journey began with a vision.
“We went to Coorparoo and asked if they wanted to be a part of a women’s program, to have a pathway for their junior girls, and they were immediately on board,” Zielke recalled.
“The club made us feel so welcomed and showed so much support that we hadn’t experienced before. The women’s game was still growing, so to have that support from a club was really important to us.”
With the help of club leaders, they turned their vision into reality.
“They helped me understand where women’s football needed to be, and I helped them get there. For a long time, they set the standard,” Haddad said.
With a grassroots approach, the pair took to Facebook to gather their team, drawing in players who shared their passion for the game.
Their inaugural year was a success, leading to three premiership wins in three years.
As they built their squad and deepened their roots within the Coorparoo club, Zielke and Young complemented each other perfectly.
“I was probably the more direct one; we evened each other out as a duo,” Zielke explained.
“Sally was the carer; she made sure everything went well off the field because I was all on-field. She was the calming influence to my more chaotic and direct way.”
Their impact extended beyond the club, as they contributed to the development of the women’s program and the progression of the league with AFL Queensland.
Zielke, with her on-field leadership, became the inaugural captain of the Brisbane Lions AFLW team, paving the way for juniors who looked up to her.
Her standout moment? The first premiership they won.
“It probably has to be our first year at Coorparoo. It was the first year I’d ever won a premiership in AFL,” Zielke said.
“The first one you get is always unforgettable. And to have Sally there as well—because we had been in grand finals together before but had never won one.
“Then we went on to win three in a row, but the first was definitely the best.”
Young’s strength lay in her nurturing approach, which resonated with the juniors she coached.
“A massive part of my growth as a player and a leader was just gaining confidence in coaching,” Young said.
“In 2014, our second season, we started an under-15 girls team. I was the female football coordinator, which I’ve done on and off for the last 10 years.
“We had four girls at training, and I thought I was just helping them grow a team. But I stayed week after week, and I think I grew with the girls, to be honest, with my coaching ability.
“We won the premiership in 2016 in the under-17 girls, which was a nice building block for those girls—quite a few of them play in the AFLW now. Being a part of their journey has been really cool.”
Even as they step away from the field, Young is not straying far from the game.
“I think my future might see some Masters footy,” she said.
“You know, playing some games with the older ladies, because I’m young with them, so it’s kind of nice.”
Together, Zielke and Young have earned numerous accolades, including best and fairest medals named in their honour.
As they part ways with Coorparoo, they will remain close to the game, both working for the Brisbane Lions, ensuring they’ll still be seen on the sidelines.
“I’m worried that next year I’m going to want to play again,” Zielke said.
“But my passion is still in footy, and I think it’s just time to focus more on my coaching. “I’ll always go back to Coorparoo, no matter what sort of role I’m doing. I’ll always be around, probably forever, like a bad smell.”
Club President Sam Haddad expressed his gratitude for all that Emma and Sally have accomplished, noting the huge shoes they leave to fill.
“You could say they are the perfect unit, the yin and yang; the only words I can use to describe the journey are ‘thank you’,” he said.
“Those two words mean everything. We are so grateful for everything they have done for our football club, our women’s program, and for women’s football in general.
“Just thank you, and I hope they change their minds next year.”
As they reflect on their journey, Young shared her thoughts on their shared experience. “I’m excited and grateful that I get to share it with Zilks,” she said.
“We started our journey together, so it is really nice and fitting that we get to end together.”
