This weekend, Hayley Lowe becomes the second women’s player to play 100 games for the Demons.
Hayley follows in the footsteps of her great mate Elly Rugg who was the first women’s player to reach this milestone last season. Hayley’s record of 55 Premier Division games (and counting) is the most first grade games by a women’s player at Penno.
Pennant Hills entered its first Women’s team in the Division One competition in 2016. In its first season the team won 5 out of 14 games and finished 8th in a field of 11 teams. The Club’s first women’s game was in Round 1 of 2016 against Manly Warringah Giants. Although beaten by 19 pts, the Penno women put in a creditable first-up performance that included kicking 6 goals.
Hayley joined the club in the second season of women’s footy at Penno in 2017. She had previously played soccer with Elly Rugg who convinced Hayley to come and give footy a go. Ruggy “loved the vibe at Pennant Hills” and Hayley had always wanted to give footy a go. In the day, Hayley had also been a state touch football representative player.
Hayley’s first game for Penno was in Round 3, 2017 in an away game against the Camden Cats. The Demons thrashed the Cats by 119 pts, 1 point shy of 20 goals. Hayley kicked 2 goals and was Penno’s BST #5. She proved to be a natural talent and footy must have seemed a pretty easy game to her!
In 2017, the team showed great improvement, winning 10 out of 17 games and finishing 4th. In the team’s first ever final, Penno beat East Coast Eagles in the Elimination final before being outclassed by Western Magic in the semis. This was a fantastic effort for a team in only its 2nd season. Hayley played in both finals and was Penno’s BST #6 in the losing semi-final.
In 2020, Pennant Hills was promoted to the Women’s Premier Division competition. CoVID lockdown delayed the start of the season and shortened it to 9 home & away rounds. Penno finished 7th, 2 wins/7 losses. Hayley was a member of the first Women’s Premier Division side and debuted in the Round 1 match against Sydney University. Penno lost by 14 pts and Hayley was BST #5. The team’s first win in the top grade was in round 2 against UTS at Trumper Park, winning by 33 pts. The team’s 2nd win for the season was a 26 pts victory over Macquarie University in Round 5.
Hayley, ‘Lowey’ to her teammates, is a consistent and reliable player. During her time at Penno she has played in the midfield and in more recent times plays in the defensive half. Over her career she has kicked 24 goals and rated among the Best Players 53 times.
In 2018, Lowey won the Best & Fairest award for the Women’s top team at the time (Women’s Division One). In 2020, she was runner-up B&F in the Women’s Premier Division side, a fantastic achievement.
In 2024, after the departure of several longtime and experienced players at the start of the 2024 season, the Women’s Premier side is going through a generational change with a large cohort of teenagers, the youngest only 15 years old, joining the club. The youth and inexperience mean that the club is in a rebuilding phase and the experience and example of Lowey and other seasoned teammates will be essential for future success.
For Hayley, highlights in her time at Penno include the Women’s Division Two premiership in 2022, the first and only flag for the women so far. The huge number of players, supporters, friends and family that turned up and cheered them on, says a lot about the Pennant Hills’ club spirit. It was also a huge privilege to watch the Prems boys win the 2017 Premier Division flag at BISP in 2017. It was another “special day”!
Allen Abbott has been Team Manager for the top women’s team since its inception in 2016 and has performed an essential role in the development of the Women’s program. In 2019, AB received the Sydney AFL Volunteer Award, presented by Club Legend Barnaby Howarth.
Within the club, AB probably knows Hayley best and says this about her: “The club’s most consistent performer in women’s history! She’s a very versatile player – can play anywhere! Tough as teak, always with her melon over the ball and who loves the contest. Great club person and very welcoming of new girls.”
On that note, we wish Lowey all the best in her 100th game this weekend.
Go Penno!
