Eliza McNamara

Elizabeth Mary McNamara (born 19 April 2002) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She was nominated for the 2021 AFL Women's Rising Star award in round 7 of the 2021 season.

Early life

She'll get hit, knocked over and bounces straight back up and does not flinch at anything so, yeah, she's a little weapon who's worked so, so hard. — Daisy Pearce, Melbourne captain before picking up football at the age of twelve, playing for the Ashburton United Junior Football Club and the East Malvern Football Club.

McNamara played under-18s football for the Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League Girls, averaging 17 disposals and six tackles in three matches before the season was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

AFL Women's career

McNamara was drafted by with its second selection and fifteenth overall in the 2020 AFL Women's draft. Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce described McNamara as "one of the toughest people I've ever played with" in the lead-up to her first game. McNamara made her AFL Women's debut in Melbourne's 21-point win over at Metricon Stadium in round 1 of the 2021 season, and was named among the Demons' best players with 18 disposals. She received a nomination for the 2021 AFL Women's Rising Star award in round 7 after recording 16 disposals and five tackles in Melbourne's win over . McNamara suffered a concussion after colliding with Adelaide captain Chelsea Randall in the first quarter of Melbourne's preliminary final loss to Adelaide, which would have ruled her out of playing in the grand final the following week had Melbourne progressed.

On the opening day of the season 6 pre-season, McNamara again finished first in Melbourne's two-kilometre time trial. She was forced to miss Melbourne's round 1 match against the due to the AFL's health and safety protocols, playing her first match of the year the following week against . and was among Melbourne's best players in its win over Brisbane in round 7. McNarama was one of four Melbourne players named in the initial 40-woman squad for that season's AFL Women's 22under22 team. She kicked a goal and was among Melbourne's best players in its preliminary final win over Brisbane, as Melbourne progressed to the 2022 AFL Women's season 6 Grand Final, its first grand final appearance.

In July, McNamara was ruled out of season seven after fracturing the lumbar region of her spine in a training accident, which would require a "serious, year-long (rehabilitation)", and caused her to miss Melbourne's season 7 premiership win.

McNamara played her first game since her spine injury in Melbourne's win over in round 1 of the 2023 season.

In 2024, McNamara was named among Melbourne's best players in its win over Geelong in round 1.

Statistics Updated to the end of the 2025 season.

59 !! 9 !! 11 !! 683 !! 329 !! 1012 !! 167 !! 231 !! 0.2 !! 0.2 !! 11.6 !! 5.6 !! 17.2 !! 2.8 !! 3.9 !! 3

Honours and achievements Team McClelland Trophy : 2023

Individual AFL Women's Rising Star nominee: 2021