Fremantle utility Jae Flynn to make AFLW debut after rapidly rising through the ranks at East Fremantle

That’s why it didn’t take long for Fremantle to grant Flynn her 21st.

The East Fremantle product is set to make her debut on Saturday against Hawthorn, just months after being selected by the Dockers in the AFLW Supplementary draft.

The 24-year-old was a train-on for Fremantle last season and was even named an emergency amid an injury crisis. But even after being overlooked in last year’s draft, East Fremantle coach Steph Walding knew it wouldn’t be too much longer until Flynn got her opportunity.

“Even last year, you could tell she had the ability to play at the next level,” Walding said. “You can just tell when players have got ‘it’.”

“Her first possession at East Fremantle, she went back with the flight of the ball and took a mark in oncoming traffic. Us coaches just all looked at each other and thought ‘She’s going to be a beauty.’”

A former state level basketballer at the Lakeside Lightning, Flynn decided to try her hand at football last year, linking up with the Sharks. She made an instant impression and debuted in round two, spending East Fremantle’s undefeated season at half-back.

“She looked like she’d played forever,” Walding said.

“She’s got speed. She works through congestion really well with her agility. She’s also got good endurance.

“She’s also started to understand footy a lot more. When she first came down, she was a bit raw. She knew a few skills but she didn’t know footy. But she picked it up so quickly.”

There’s a good reason for that. Flynn comes from a famous footy pedigree. Her grandfather happens to be East Fremantle 1957 premiership player and Hall of Famer Wilson Onions.

“She’s got the genes to play any sport but especially footy,” Walding said.

Flynn was earmarked for a midfield role in season 2023. But her versatility was one of her biggest strengths.

“I spoke to her early in the year knowing she was on the draft table,” Walding said. “I said ‘Where do you want to play to give yourself the best opportunity to be drafted’ and she said ‘I’ll play anywhere for the team.’ Even though she had bigger ambitions, she always thought about the team first.”

Four games later, Flynn was drafted by the Dockers with pick 18. She played a further two games with the Sharks before pre-season started. If she had remained for the rest of the season, not only does Walding predict Flynn would’ve been a permanent midfielder, but she could’ve been one of the best in the competition.

“She’d no doubt be a premiership player and she could’ve even been best on-ground,” Walding said.

Instead, Flynn will live out her dream at Fremantle Oval.

“My whole family are Fremantle supporters, so it’s a super proud moment, I’ll just take it all in as it goes,” Flynn said. “My game I feel has developed a lot better being around the girls, obviously they’re at the next level, and it challenges you and your game.

“I’ve had a few areas that I’ve been trying to work on a lot, and I reckon there’s been an improvement.”