Gemma Houghton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gemma Houghton |
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Houghton playing for Port Adelaide in 2022
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Gemma Maree Houghton | ||
| Date of birth | 31 December 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Western Australia | ||
| Draft | 2016 free agent: Fremantle | ||
| Debut | Round 1, 2017, Fremantle v. Western Bulldogs, at VU Whitten Oval |
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| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Port Adelaide | ||
| Number | 27 | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Gemma Maree Houghton (born 31 December 1993) is a talented Australian rules footballer. She plays for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition. Gemma joined Fremantle as a free agent in October 2016. Before playing AFL, she was a high-level basketball player. She was discovered through a special talent search for athletes.
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Gemma's AFLW Journey
Starting Her Career at Fremantle
Gemma Houghton made her AFLW debut in 2017. She played her first game for the Fremantle team against the Western Bulldogs. This match took place at VU Whitten Oval. In her first season, Gemma played in all seven matches.
In 2018, Gemma played for the Swan Districts Football Club in the WAFL Women's competition. She won the Mandy McSherry Medal for being the team's best and fairest player.
Becoming an All-Australian Player
After playing only two games in 2018, Gemma had a fantastic 2019 season. She played in all eight of Fremantle's games. She kicked 9 goals, making her the club's top goalkicker that year.
Gemma is known for her amazing athleticism and strong marking skills. Because of her great play, she was chosen for the AFL Women's All-Australian team in both 2019 and 2020. Being named All-Australian means she was one of the best players in the league. In 2020, she was named in the half-forward position.
Moving to Port Adelaide
On May 10, 2022, Gemma Houghton joined the new team, Port Adelaide. This team was an "expansion club," meaning it was one of the new teams joining the AFLW league. Gemma made history by scoring Port Adelaide's very first goal in Round 1 of the 2022 season (Season 7).
She quickly became a key player for Port Adelaide. Gemma has been the team's leading goalkicker in both of Port Adelaide's first two seasons (2023 and 2024).
Beyond the Field
Gemma is also involved in important committees off the field. She is a member of the AFLW Competition Committee. This group helps make decisions about how the AFLW league runs. She also serves on the Indigenous Advisory Board. This board provides advice on matters important to Indigenous players and communities in football.
Family Connections in Football
Gemma's brother, Joel Houghton, also played football. He was drafted by Fremantle in the 2009 AFL draft. While he didn't play an AFL game, he played for several teams in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). These teams included Perth, Swan Districts, and East Perth.
