West Coast Eagles star Dana Hooker retired from AFLW feeling content after being part of club’s first final

West Coast veteran Dana Hooker has declared she can retire content having played in the club’s first AFLW final, saying there always would have been a hole in her career if the Eagles had missed the eight this season. Hooker’s 67-game career came to an end after the Eagles’ 41-point loss to the Blues at Ikon Park on Saturday. Players chaired her from the ground the previous week when it appeared their season was over following a loss to the Blues at home, but they stayed in the top eight after Sydney suffered a shock loss the next day. Hooker said playing her last game in a final made her feel complete. “When I announced it to the girls, I said if we don’t make finals, I won’t be content,” Hooker told The West Australian. “So to have come from where we’ve come from and built through some of those challenging earlier years, then to come out the other side and bring Daisy in and develop this young group, make a final and turn the narrative for this team, it does help me feel content with walking away now. “To run out with the team and play a finals game feels really special. I’m incredibly grateful to have that opportunity with the team. It was significant loss, and Carlton just played much better footy, so it’s disappointing, but I do feel so grateful to be a part of it. “Last Friday, I felt like, when the game had finished there was a reasonable chance that it was all over. So I probably processed some of those emotions then. “I’m proud of the team and the efforts of making history for the for the club. There were some really good signs from some of our youngsters with how they played. So that’s really positive for what’s going to happen moving forward for the team.” Hooker began her career at Fremantle, won a best-and-fairest, played on Optus Stadium and played in a final. Then she moved to West Coast, won another best-and-fairest and was a leader that the club built the team around. She had a season off to have a baby with husband Mark Worthington, and then returned to be part of the club’s historic final season. The 34-year-old will treasure every opportunity that came her way. “I think there’s like lots of different pivotal moments throughout your career that feel bloody good,” the dual All-Australian said. “Obviously there’s first time I put on a jumper and played for Fremantle in that first ever game. That was pretty special. Opening Optus Stadium for football back in 2018 was incredibly special. “Putting on the jumper for the first time for West Coast was so memorable and so special. Now finals today - there’s been some big moments along the way that have been special.” Hooker has no idea what she’ll do to fill the void left by no longer playing. She will consider moving into coaching and likes the idea of running a marathon, but will enjoy time with her family before making any decisions. She is confident West Coast’s squad is filled with the right types of youngsters to lift the club to success, saying the focus to develop key position players would hold them in good stead. “The best teams in the in the comp have really good tall bookends and some height across the ground and people that can take contested marks,” she said. “For most of the season, we were rated the number one contested marking team statistically across the comp. I think that can be the difference between winning and losing games. “Looking at North Melbourne, they’re just stacked with tall height. They’ve got three tall backs and three tall forwards that can just take contested marks around the ground and gain regain control. I think that makes a big difference. “We’ve got some height. We’ve got some girls that have the potential to do that for us. So, hopefully we can continue to develop those and also add to the stocks there, as well as the years come. “I thought Charlotte Riggs really showed what her potential is. She just competed so hard for us. She’s a real presence. She’s had some really good moments this season, so she’ll be one to watch. She’s the key forward that can pinch hit in ruck. She can do a bit of everything. She can play back as well. “She’s very versatile. We have players like that who will be good for the future.”