Dear Mua,

It’s Sophie Maher. I’m so happy I can be writing this to you. You are such an amazing football player and you always attack the ball and support others.

You always play with a determined mindset and always have a smile on your face. I look up to you as such an amazing football player and person.

I hope you play well in this season to come and always have your head up high. You inspire me to always play my hardest.

Thank you so much.

From Sophie.

Mua Laloifi’s response to the above?

“It’s pretty special.”

Gratitude has formed a key part of what the Mathew Buck-led AFLW program is looking to instil. 

The Game Changers have been reminded of their ability to inspire, and the position they find themselves in. As an inaugural team in the AFLW competition, the Blues have seen first-hand the wave of positivity that has surrounded women’s football both before, during and after the competition’s inception.

That has extended to each member of Carlton’s playing group being sent a letter by a junior member. Laloifi received hers from a familiar face in Sophie Maher: daughter of Andy, an unashamed Bluebagger who spent four seasons as the AFLW team’s runner.

“When you go to your locker and see a letter of inspiration, you automatically go back to why you love this sport. I’m pretty grateful to have met ’Soph’ when I did,” Laloifi said.

“You don’t realise the influence that you have on young kids, especially young female athletes. When I reflect, it brings you back to when you were a young kid and who you looked up to.”

It’s clear of the mutual admiration that Laloifi and Maher have for one another.

They’re not strangers to the other, with Sophie spending more than a few hours around IKON Park in recent years.

When writing her letter to Mua, Sophie’s intention was clear.

“I want Mua to feel that she has people supporting her.”

The 2023 AFLW Season is just around the corner! Show your support by signing up as a 2023 member. 

Sophie is dreaming big. The prospect of pulling on a guernsey at the elite level one day would be a dream — “I would love to play in the AFLW when I’m older” was the comment.

There’s a common notion in AFLW circles, in particular, that ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’.

Sophie’s dad is seeing that come to life first-hand.

“It’s arguably the greatest truth that I’ve seen in footy, ever since the AFLW competition started. That’s all she wants to do,” Andy said.

“She doesn’t know how to get there yet, but because she’s seen others do it, she knows where she wants to go.”