The boys in the Happy Valley Primary School football team didn’t know what hit them when Deni Varnhagen took to the field in the early 2000s.
The coach of the team at the time was Phil Harper - current Crows GM of Football Administration.
Even at the age of nine Varnhagen, who is now a member of Adelaide's inaugural women's squad, showed potential.
“She was a bit of a star all along,” Harper said.
“A few of the boys used to snigger when they’d see Deni line up for our team, but they didn’t snigger too long once they saw her play.”
Varnhagen and fellow Crows player, Dayna Cox, were the only two girls in that AusKick side.
“The boys certainly didn’t stay away from me, if anything they tried to attack you harder because you were a girl,” Varnhagen said.
But Varnhagen would give as good as she’d get, even earning herself a trip to the Under-9s Tribunal.
When a boy pulled her out of a pack by her ponytail, she retaliated, but her first report worked out in her favour.
“It was actually dropped at the Tribunal because I explained the story, then they brought in a new rule that you couldn’t pull ponytails!” Varnhagen said.
Harper described Varnhagen as a “gun athlete”, even as a child.
“We had a pretty good little team. We didn’t get beaten very often but Deni was certainly one of the top two players,” he said.
In a game against McLaren Vale, the opposition were short and Harper had to lend them a few of his players.
Varnhagen’s team were up seven goals-to-one until it was her turn to swap sides.
“In the last quarter, the opposition kicked six goals nothing, to nothing. And Deni kicked all six of them!” Harper said.
“I mean, it’s only Under-9s footy, but the parents in our team were saying, “Get her off! Get her off!”
Luckily, the Happy Valley side fell over the line by a few points.
“She nearly cost me my job!” Harper said with a laugh.
Varnhagen’s impact continued in junior club football for Plympton, where she captained the boys’ side and took out the best and fairest award.
But her story reads the same as so many players now enjoying success in the AFL Women’s league – she had to stop playing.
She turned to soccer and softball instead, making state teams in those sides too.
Fortunately, Varnhagen found her way back to footy at Morphettville Park, alongside eight other Crows recruits.
For fans still getting their head around the new women’s team, the 24-year-old's bursts of speed on the wing, long stride and blonde ponytail are hard to miss.
In the first Crows game, she kicked a goal and finished with 12 disposals and a team-high four marks in front of a crowd of more than 9,000 fans.
“It’s been such a big build up with a long pre-season. I kind of felt like we had a huge responsibility to live up to expectations on the day,” the midfielder said.
“I’m just thrilled with how it went. It felt great out there.”
Varnhagen had plenty of friends, family members, neighbours and footy mates there cheering for ‘Dennis’ and holding signs.
“It was a special day. I’ve been a diehard Crows fan my whole life,” the full-time nurse said.
“I always loved Nigel Smart. I always used to get number seven when I was younger.”
Varnhagen might not have met her sporting hero Smarty yet, but he knows who she is.
“He was at our season launch and he walked past and smiled at all the girls, and I think I got goosebumps!” she said.
In a strange twist of footy fate, Harper and his star players Varnhagen and Cox have been reunited 15 years later.
As administrator for the women’s team, Harper played a key role in putting together the Crows’ bid for an AFLW side, and then assembling coaches, staff and players.
“It makes me feel really good that I can be back involved with them,” Harper said.
“I suppose I’ve got a soft spot for Deni and Dayna, but I’m really rapt for all of them.
“They’re so grateful for anything. You give them a pair of socks and it’s, “Ohh thanks so much!”
Varnhagen, who believes "football is like your family” has found herself part of a group that couldn’t be closer.
“We’re all living out our dream. We’re 100% in it for each other and, right from the start, we created such a strong club culture,” she said.
“With the Northern Territory girls, we always miss each other and can’t wait to spend that time together.”
Anyone who heard the girls sing the Crows song (twice!) after their first win knows their energy, enthusiasm and love of the game is infectious.
“It does feel like there is something magical with this group, so it’s really exciting to see what’s going to happen for the rest of the season.”
