Following her Grand Final appearance, Melbourne Victory W-League midfielder Emily Hulbert will be heading over to the USA for her studies, capping off a whirlwind few months.
After a strong season in the Women’s Premier League for Box Hill United, she was handpicked by Victory head coach Dave Edmondson for the 2013/14 title winning squad.
Hulbert was then thrown into the deep end in the 5-1 loss to Sydney in Round 1, but couldn’t build on that appearance as she suffered from a bout of glandular fever.
Eventually as the illness subsided, she was able to regain a spot on the bench despite missing the bulk of the season.
The 18 year old from Monbulk can barely comprehend the success she has been a part of, having come through the ranks at Monbulk before joining Box Hill in 2012, and now winning the W-League with Victory.
“[I’m] ecstatic, absolutely probably the best experience in my life [winning the W-League], definitely!” she said.
“I still can’t quite believe it, I still can’t quite comprehend what’s happened in the last six months.
“Crazy like to think last year I was watching the W-League Grand Final just having no idea that I would ever be able to be in one. It’s been a really really good experience.”
Playing in the final was a bit of a surreal experience for Hulbert, especially as she was lining up alongside players she used to admire.
“It’s crazy! I used to look up to Steph Catley and all the players, Lisa [De Vanna], now playing with them is just incredible,” she said.
“That was good fun [running down the wing with Catley wasting time]! Catley’s so good, she’s the best captain ever. Amazing.”
Hulbert was also in awe of Lauren Barnes’ stunner to clinch the title, and had never seen her do anything like that in training before.
“By far that was incredible! I want to see it again actually, I haven’t really seen it again but it was really good,” she said.
“I haven’t seen her do that before! So it was definitely a surprise to me to.
“That was awesome.”
With the season now over, Hulbert will be jetting off to the USA to continue her education, and while that might mean missing a few years of W-League football, she hopes to be able to get another crack.
“I’m going over to America, going to college to study science there and hopefully play in a high league for a few years,” she said.
“Next season I’ll probably still be in a America for a few years just doing my degree and then I’ll come back and hopefully get another gig at W-League. It would be amazing.”