Alana Barba’s football career had a rocky start. 

In her first session at the age of seven, the boys Barba was training with would pull her hair to stop her from getting the ball. 

Luckily that didn’t scare her away, with Barba picking up a footy again eight years later with the Calder Cannons in the NAB League and not looking back since. 

After playing four VFLW games for Essendon in her top-age year at the Cannons, Barba signed with the club ahead of the 2020 season, but had to wait an extra year for a full season in the red and black. 

But for the 19-year-old, that year allowed Barba to bond with her teammates and immerse herself within the culture of Essendon’s VFLW program. 

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“The culture is probably the best that I’ve ever been a part of. You can just tell how much the girls care and have so much support and love for each other,” Barba said. 

“We all admire each other so much and I think the balance of connection, work-life and friendship is really there.”

Barba said the comradery in the squad and the supportive environment developed through the VFLW program had influenced on-field performances, with the Bombers on the cusp of a maiden VFLW finals series.

“I think you can tell how well we jelled and that showed through our football that we had a connection off the field,” she said. 

“We are really trying to back ourselves and take the game on and just support each other on and off the field because if you haven’t got the off-field connection, then you’re not going to have it on the field.”

One teammate who contributed to the welcoming and nourishing environment was Courtney Ugle, with the vice-captain setting an example for her fellow teammates. 

“I think ‘Ugez’ (Courtney Ugle) has that whole team connection and you can really see the way all the girls look up to her, especially me. I admire her so much,” Barba said. 

“She’s such a great leader and she’s always including people and everyone always feels a part of the team when she’s around. I think that’s really important to have in a leader, just to make you feel welcomed and to make you feel at home.”

Over the recent lockdown, Barba and Ugle trained together to ensure they were ready to go when the competition resumed. 

“I trained with Courtney and having her by my side through that, for both of us, was a bit of motivation just to get out of bed and actually go out into the cold weather and train,” Barba said.

“I think that really helped us going back into training and if I hadn’t have done that, I probably would have come back a bit sluggish and not performed great.”

Despite the recent month-long pause in the VFLW season, Barba said the break allowed the team to reset and recharge ahead of their final two games of the home and away season.

“We had a good refresher and we had a recap on our season so far. I think it will be really good that we’ve come off a bit of a break, mentally as well, just so everyone can get their head back into the game,” she said.

“But I think on the back end of the season, we just need to push ourselves a little bit harder and show the competition that we are ready to make finals and that we’re more than capable of doing so.”

In the short term, the VFLW Bombers are looking to lock in their position within the top six, but Barba can’t help but get excited for the future, not just for her individually but also the entire women’s program at Essendon.

“In terms of myself, obviously getting drafted would be a dream, but at the moment I’m pretty content. I just love this club so much and the girls,” she said.

“My dream was to play AFLW, but my dream now is to play AFLW for the Bombers. If the opportunity does come along, then I just have to grab it with both hands and prove that I’m capable of being there.”

Barba and the VFLW Bombers will take on Darebin in their final home and away game from 12pm at Bill Lawry Oval on Saturday, with a win securing their place in the top six and a consequent finals berth.