If you were to ask any player on Essendon’s AFLW list to name a teammate they look up to, Jacqui Vogt’s name is answered almost on reflex. 

Vogt has been setting high standards for her teammates from day one, named in the Bombers’ leadership group in her first two seasons at the club. 

The 29-year-old has taken comfortably to her position as a tone-setter amongst the young playing group and isn’t looking to slow it down anytime soon. 

“I always pride myself on my professionalism, it’s something I try to own and drive with the group in my own way,” Vogt said. 

“To hear comments from other teammates (around my leadership) is always nice. I just want to help show them what an elite athlete looks like and how to live that lifestyle.” 

Vogt’s work ethic and desire for improvement always held her in good stead to excel in elite sport, but football wasn’t always the expected landing spot for her. 

A highly touted junior soccer prospect, Vogt found herself on the verge of breaking into the Young Matildas and Melbourne Victory squads at a young age, before an untimely injury setback halted her progress. 

“I kind of fell into soccer. I didn’t really have a choice early, with my European background and the lack of pathways for footy,” Vogt said. 

“Unfortunately, I tore my ACL when I was 18, right when the Young Matildas’ World Cup team was about to be selected. I fell out of favour and found it really difficult to get back in the system, so I was pretty mentally drained.” 

Vogt, who hails from Traralgon, found herself at a sporting crossroads, particularly with the toll on her family from the daily five-hour round trips to keep pursuing her career with the round ball. 

The difficult times coincided with a formative period for women’s football however, and the inaugural season of the AFLW sparked a determined Vogt into action. 

“I remember attending the first ever AFLW game between Collingwood and Carlton at IKON Park, and that really excited me. I always loved my footy growing up, so I realised it could actually be something I could crack into,” Vogt said. 

“It inspired me to go to a VFLW trial day with the Southern Saints, and I’ve never looked back from there.” 

Fighting through another knee setback and the cancellation of a full season through COVID-19, Vogt would eventually obtain an elevation to the Saints’ AFLW list in 2021, making an immediate impression on the competition. 

Switching to the Bombers ahead of the 2022 season, the former forward transitioned into a new role as an inside midfielder to great effect, finishing fifth in the best-and-fairest in her first season in red and black. 

On both personal and team-oriented notes, Vogt is keen for the opportunity to keep building into the 2023 season. 

“Predominantly having played forward in my career, I’m looking to build my craft as an inside mid and find some continuity within that group,” Vogt said. 

“Obviously last year we had to focus on building relationships with the group, but this year has been more about honing on the footy side of things, and we’re starting to see that out on the track this time. 

“The messaging on how we want to play this year has been really clear, and I love that.”