Jordan by name & nature

Born to a talented footballing Dad and named after one of world sport’s greatest legends, Jordan Mifsud was always going to have sport in her veins.

Her father Jason spent time on St Kilda’s AFL list and was an elite suburban player and coach before becoming an assistant coach with the Western Bulldogs under Rodney Eade, then serving as a playing coach at Beaumaris.

“I grew up in Warrnambool, and my Dad ended up being a playing head coach, so I always grew up around football,” said Jordan, reflecting on her pathway into the game.

“I was the eldest, so I was kind of my Dad’s son until my brother came along at kid number four! So, I was a very big tomboy. I loved footy. We’d drive up to Melbourne to watch some AFL games. I just barracked for whoever Dad went for.”

However, as was the case for so many girls over the decades, Jordan’s love of the game had been confined to the other side of the fence because of a lack of opportunities in women’s footy in the pre-AFLW era.

“I never really got the opportunity to play football until I was a bit older. I grew up playing soccer. That was, I guess, the next best thing. But I always knew how to kick a footy and stuff, because I’d spend every Tuesday and Thursday at training with Dad, then all day Saturdays as well.”

In 2013, her father’s Indigenous heritage (his mother is Aboriginal and his father is Maltese) would unlock Jordan’s first opportunity to play the game she had grown up loving.

“When I was 16, they introduced an Indigenous team into the Under 18’s National Carnival, and I was selected to play in that against the other states. That was the first proper time I’d played – and it was for Victoria. But I knew the game very well, but I had just never had the opportunity.

“We competed in B-Division and won the national championship, even though we’d only come together at the start of that week, compared to all the other states that had been training together for a bit. So that was pretty special.”

Jordan immediately impressed with her obvious skill and smarts, earning selection for the national team.

Her first full season of footy came in 2017, when she played with Oakleigh Districts and won two League Best & Fairests in her two years with the club.

“I had two really good years, and wanted to step up into VFL, and if I wasn’t playing VFL, I wanted to play VAFA, which is a higher standard than the Southern League.”

After COVID put footy on hold for a year, Jordan joined Old Scotch and signed with Collingwood’s VFL program in 2021, a season also cut short by the global pandemic.

“I got a handful of games with Collingwood, and then the following year (2022), I wanted more of an opportunity, so I went across to Box Hill and played two seasons there.”

Sure enough, she won two more club Best & Fairests with the Hawks, plus another League Best & Fairest, collecting the VFLW’s 2023 Lambert-Pearce Medal.

But despite her rapidly growing trophy cabinet and two years as a supplementary Train-On player with Hawthorn, she couldn’t get a look-in at AFLW level.

“Being an inside mid, you know, there’s lots of really good inside mids, and I just wasn’t super confident, which is funny, given I’d had a lot of success. I didn’t have that belief in myself, and that probably showed a little bit. I wasn’t a confident kicker.

“I just never believed I could kick the ball, and so the recruiters said that, as an inside mid, I needed to have at least two of three things – contested ball work, which was my strength, kicking and speed. I was never very fast, and the kicking was a mentality thing for me while playing VFL, unfortunately.

“I just didn’t get the opportunity,” she sighs, philosophically. “But, you know, it happens. At the same time, I loved coming back to Scotch, and I’ve always felt like Scotch is my home.”

Jordan moved to Port Melbourne and spent 2024-25 dividing her time between the Borough and starring in Old Scotch’s back-to-back premiership wins, before deciding to focus full-time on the Stars’ bid for a premiership hat-trick in 2026.

“I wasn’t too devastated when VFL kind of finished for me, cause I’d get to go back to Scotch and just have some more fun. And I think that’s where I probably gained most of my confidence – playing with Scotch.

“In our first Grand Final we played, against St Kevin’s in 2024, I kicked three goals in the first 11 minutes or something. And goalkicking was always the thing that I hated the most!”

A best-on-ground 4-goal performance in the historic 2024 flag was followed by another best-afield display in Old Scotch’s gritty 5-point premiership win in 2025.

Jordan’s decision to go full-time with the Stars in 2026 was a godsend for the team, particularly given the avalanche of injuries they had to overcome to keep their hat-trick dream alive. It also enabled her to assume a greater leadership role within the team.

“Having that consistency is probably the thing that helped the most, along with the confidence that the coaches and rest of the team had in me to do whatever I wanted to do, basically. It was really empowering, and it’s a bit more free-flowing footy, as opposed to more technical and structured in the VFL.”

Already an accomplished coach, she could devote all her energy and attention to the Stars, helping her take on an unofficial on-field coaching role.

“Being around all the time to really get to know my teammates, particularly with such a new group coming through, certainly helps. It’s easier when you’re surrounded by the same people, same place, every time. I was able to just lock-in from pre-season and keep working together as a team every week.”

“I found that really rewarding to see Jordy have such an impact on the younger players,” said her triple premiership coach, Dean Anderson.

“Her relationships, particularly with our younger players, have been really strong. For example, she gave a goal to Charlotte Crowe late in the Grand Final that was sort of the sealer. Charlotte’s a Year 12 girl in her first year.

“So yes, she’s powerful, determined, competitive and physically strong. She’s skilful and proud. All those qualities you want to see in a player. But increasingly, that leadership piece is where she’s growing.”

Jordy agrees.

“I’ve had more time and energy being at the club full-time this year to be able to help develop other girls. I’ve coached junior girls a little bit before and still do through the Woomera national Indigenous Girls team. Being a good role model and helping guide them is something that’s really fun for me. 

“We just emphasise that they don’t have to do anything except play their role. Everyone in the team’s so good. It’s just a matter of building their confidence to allow them to play their best footy.

“I think we had, on average, probably five changes every week, if not more. So, trying to keep that consistency in how we perform was a challenge with 19 girls coming in for their first game. But they all just slotted in really easily and played their role. We just kept that messaging pretty strong to whoever was in the team.

“I grew up as the oldest sibling, so I’ve always been the one to kind of lead the way. So it’s something that comes naturally to me, and I am a very loud voice on the field. We’re a very quiet team, so I tend to be the one yelling out and telling people where to go!”

“She’s driven to get the most out of the game,” said Anderson.

“She’s inspirational, and she’s honest. I have really good, honest conversations with her. Our player-coach relationship is really, really strong.

“She came to me at the start of the year and said, ‘You don’t need to praise me. I’m okay. Just make sure you look after some of the other players.’ It’s a good reminder, right? In terms of the whole team’s needs.”

“Dean and I have really good chats about things, and I like to think that I help the girls by coaching on the field, and that our coaches ask for my thoughts and listen to them,” said Jordan.

“I watched my Dad coach, and I love doing it. I’m doing a coaching program through the AFL at the moment, so I’m continuing to learn and grow in that space.”

Jordan’s on-field role broadened this season, and she thrived with the freedom to make an impact in different areas of the ground.

“I’m a traditional inside midfielder. That’s where I’ve always played. But I’ve kind of fallen in love with the forward line and being able to help direct girls where to go and when to lead. I enjoy that aspect of it, and I think I’m pretty good at it as a leader.”

Scarily for opposition defences, her finishing around goal remains a work in progress.

“As I said before, it’s just a mentality thing. Taking set shots terrifies me! But, I’m working on it. I played with a broken finger all year, and that’s on my ball-drop hand.

“Because I had to buddy strap it and put a splint on it, my ball drop was a bit challenging, and I lost a bit of confidence in my set shots. I would’ve missed 30-odd shots, so I reckon I could have kicked almost 90 goals this year.

“Maybe the coaches need to leave me forward more next year or at least rest me forward more. They rested me on the bench for quite a few games, and I was like, ‘Guys, you can’t take me off cause I need to practice my set shots!”

Anderson was thrilled with how his two big guns meshed to lead from the front.

“Just seeing Jordy and Mia Cowan, who are both so high profile on our team, work so well together is also really rewarding because they’re different personalities, but actually work really well together.”

The Mifsud-Cowan combination would form the cornerstone of Old Scotch’s 2026 flag tilt – Jordy polling a record 32 Macinnes Medal votes, while Mia finished second on 24, seven votes clear of third-placed Brooke McKay from Old Geelong.

The pair’s 56 combined votes reflected their on-field dominance, which also saw them finish first and second in the League goalkicking (Mifsud 52 and Cowan 42).

“Mia and I joined Scotch together in 2021,” said Jordan.

“To see her come out of her shell and be co-captain this year has been really special, and to keep the Macinnes Medal in the Scotch family is pretty awesome. Mia got more votes than she did last year as well, so she had an even better season.”

“The physical and mental bar went a bit higher for both Jordy and Mia this year,” said Anderson.

“The opposition teams were trying to focus really hard on stopping them. But Jordy has this look. She actually invites the attention. It helps her go to another level, so I never worry about Jordy when she’s under really close attention cause she’s just so competitive.” 

“It’s a risk to play someone really closely and aggressively on her. I think she enjoys the tension. It fuels her, and she is able to respond. She never rolls over. She just keeps fighting the fight.”

And she consistently fought the ‘good fight’ in 2026, polling Macinnes votes in 12 of her 18 matches, with an extraordinary 8 best-on-ground performances.

She also collected Coaches’ Votes in 14 matches and was named Best on Ground for the Big V in their big win over the Adelaide Footy League, further reinforcing her consistent excellence.

Jordy then dominated the finals series, earning second-best honours in the Second Semi and best-on-ground honours in the Preliminary Final. She won her third consecutive Best on Ground Medal on Grand Final Day, further cementing her reputation as one of the VAFA’s best big-game players.

“My Dad always says to me, ‘Big time players step up in big games,’ and he reminds me of that all the time. I love being the best, and I love winning,” Jordy says with a smile in her voice.

“I just strive to do that every time I step onto the field, because I know that if I play my best, I can help my team get across the line. It’s the competitive nature inside of me.

“I was named after Michael Jordan, so sport is in my blood, and being a winner is as well. I give 110% every game, and I thrive under the pressure of big games where there’s a lot to win.

“As a perfectionist, I tend to be critical of myself. If I don’t give 110%, then I’m probably not gonna like myself too much after the game. So, I try to just leave everything out on the track, so I have no regrets.”

Jordan is quick to praise others around her who have provided invaluable support.

“I’d like to acknowledge all the players involved in the Old Scotch women’s program,” she said.

“They’re just such a special bunch – each and every one of them. They make it such a great place to be a part of.

“Ian Hill was the one who drove establishing the women’s program back in the day, so I always have to thank Hilly for his continued support.

“Dean and the coaching staff – they’re like a bunch of Dads to all of us. They’re super lovely, and we couldn’t have had the growth and success our program has had without them.

“Everyone behind the scenes at Scotch. Toopy (General Manager Andrew Toop) leads the way, and to everyone who makes the place run the way it does – thank you.

“Then the broader support from the men’s players and other supporters, who show up and support us in what we do. From a personal point of view, that’s my Mum and Dad.

“Dad has taught me everything I know about football, and he’s my harshest critic but my biggest supporter. Mum’s always been great, and my siblings and friends who support me on and off the field are all really special.

“And I also want to mention my sponsor, Will at Smash FM. He’s been a great support this year, always getting around to events and things.”

“Finally, to the VAFA for putting on another great competition. It’s a very high standard, and I’m lucky to be part of it. Playing in the Big V this year was very special – a really awesome trip and experience. Having more time and energy to contribute to the competition as a player and leader has been super fun.”

Old Scotch’s focus now turns to chasing what would be a history-making fourth consecutive William Buck Premier Women’s premiership, with Jordan to be a central figure in that record-breaking pursuit.

“I hadn’t won a premiership until we won the first flag three years ago. I’d lost four Grand Finals before that, so I know what it feels like to make it that far and lose on the day. It’s something I never want to experience again.”

The VAFA congratulates Jordan on winning the Shona MacInnes Medal and wishes her and her team all the best as they chase the ‘four-peat’ in 2027.