Elise O'Dea

Elise O'Dea (born 4 September 1991) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for and in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She served as Melbourne co-captain for the 2019 season and was named in two All-Australian teams across her career.

Early life O'Dea was born in Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) to a family of Melbourne Football Club supporters and started playing football at fourteen years of age when she joined the Belconnen Magpies Football Club women's team. She made her senior debut in round one of the 2006 season against Ainslie in the AFL Canberra Women's competition. She was selected as part of the ACT representative teams in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2011. O'Dea was also named part of the 2011 All-Australian women's team, and won both her club and league's best and fairest awards in 2012. Wearing number 30 and playing on the wing and half forward flank, Prior to the start of the season, she was announced as one of two vice-captains for Melbourne, alongside Melissa Hickey. She made her debut during round 1 of the 2017 season against at Casey Fields. In the round four match against , she collected twenty-seven disposals.

At the end of the 2017 season, O'Dea was nominated by her teammates for the AFL Players' Most Valuable Player Award. She was also listed in the 2017 All-Australian team.

Melbourne signed O'Dea for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017.

In December 2018, O'Dea and Shelley Scott were announced as Melbourne co-captains.

Following the conclusion of the 2020 season both O'Dea and fellow Demon Maddy Guerin were traded to the Carlton Football Club in exchange for Pick 15 in the 2020 NAB AFLW Draft.

After three seasons and 28 games for Carlton, she announced her retirement in March 2023.

Statistics

Personal life Outside football, O'Dea works as an accountant.