'I used to play with the boys but they said things about me': Aspiring footy player, 13, writes touching letter to her 'idol' Moana Hope - before the AFL star surprises her in person
- Moana Hope is a star AFL player who plays for North Melbourne Football Club
- The 30-year-old full-forward received a letter from teenager Kensley Ward
- It spoke about Kensley's desire to follow in her professional footsteps
- So Moana surprised the 13-year-old with a meet-and-greet at Brunswick Oval
High school student Kensley Ward wasn't expecting anything to come from it when she sent a handwritten letter to her idol, star North Melbourne AFL player Moana Hope.
Perhaps there would be a social media reply, or maybe even a letter back, when she told the 30-year-old how much her spirit had inspired her.
But the 13-year-old from Werribee, in Melbourne, couldn't prepare herself for the result of this heartfelt act - and that it would ultimately end in her meeting Moana.
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High school student Kensley Ward (pictured)wasn't expecting anything much to happen when she sent a handwritten letter to her idol, star AFLW player Moana Hope
Kensley caught the attention of the newly-engaged athlete with the note, which expressed how much she wants to be a professional AFLW player too, in mid-January.
Under the guise that she would be reading her letter to start off the season, Kensley was invited by the AFLW to Brunswick Oval, paper in hand, ready to read for the camera.
That's when Moana quietly sidled up to her in the grandstand and surprised her.
Video footage of the moment, which has been used in Special K's 'Strong Play' campaign, has been released today and shows the ladies enjoying a day on the field.
Kensley caught the attention of the newly-engaged athlete with the note, which expressed how much she wants to be a professional AFLW player too, in mid-January
Under the guise that she would be reading her letter to start off the season, Kensley attended Brunswick Oval, paper in hand, and prepared to read for the camera
'I think you're incredible,' Moana said to a shocked Kensley, thanking her for sending the now viral letter.
'Do you know what motivates me everyday? Strong girls like you. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't or you don't belong... you've just got to keep pushing through.
'Whenever I'm having a bad day I read your letter.'
Kensley's original letter, which gave Moana 'all sorts of emotions', was posted on Instagram for other fans to read.
'People ask me "what's your dream" or "what do you want to be when you grow up?"' The prose began.
'I think you're incredible,' Moana said to a shocked Kensley, thanking her for sending the now viral letter
Kensley's original letter, which gave Moana 'all sorts of emotions', was posted on Instagram for other fans to read
'Without a doubt my answer is AFLW and they say "what if that dream fails, what's your back up?" And I answer: "I don't have a back up."'
'Footy is my dream, my passion, my life, my everything. I live for footy, I was born to play footy, I just love it unconditionally.
'I think about the sport every day and every night.'
The 13-year-old then listed some of her favourite sporting heroes, which included Moana alongside Katie Brennan, James Sicily, Tayla Harris and Sarah Perkins.
The 13-year-old then listed some of her favourite sporting heroes, which included Moana alongside Katie Brennan, James Sicily, Tayla Harris and Sarah Perkins
'Footy is my dream, my passion, my life, my everything. I live for footy, I was born to play footy, I just love it unconditionally,' she wrote
Sadly, some of the boys in her year group made Kensley feel bad about playing because 'she was a girl'.
'I've had many thoughts about quitting because I used to be play with the boys and they used to say things about me and how s*** I am because I'm a girl,' she wrote.
'I always think over what was said and I have second thoughts but I remember that its probably happened to my idols but they used those words to push themselves to get better.
'I've learnt by watching my idols Moana and James to never give up and believe in yourself. When I'm down I watch highlights of either Mo or James because they are incredible.'
In their meet-and-greet Moana told a star-struck Kensley that she had a 'good kick' and should keep trying to better herself in the game.
In their meet-and-greet Moana told a star-struck Kensley that she had a 'good kick' and should keep trying to better herself in the game
