Tiarna Ernst

Tiarna Ernst (born 24 January 1988) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast in the AFL Women's competition.

Tiarna Ernst
Ernst playing for the Western Bulldogs in February 2017
Personal information
Date of birth	(1988-01-24) 24 January 1988 (age 37)
Place of birth	Thursday Island, Queensland
Original team(s)	Diamond Creek (VFL Women's)
Draft	No. 108, 2016 AFL Women's draft
Debut	Round 1, 2017, Western Bulldogs vs. Fremantle, at VU Whitten Oval
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Ruck
Club information
Current club	Gold Coast
Number	19
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2017–2019	Western Bulldogs	22 (0)
2020	Gold Coast	07 (1)
Total		29 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2020 season.
Career highlights
2018 AFLW Premiership
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Ernst was born on Thursday Island^[1] in the Torres Strait region of Queensland and spent the majority of her childhood in Bamaga in the Cape York Peninsula.^[2] She relocated with her family to Julatten prior to entering high school. She competed in athletics events as a youth and was only introduced to Australian rules football while attending James Cook University in Cairns when she was convinced to play in the local football league for the Manunda Hawks.^[3] Ernst was drafted by the Western Bulldogs with their 14th selection and 108th overall in the 2016 AFL Women's draft.^[4]

She is a medical doctor trained in obstetrics and gynaecology^[5] and is currently a fertility specialist for City Fertility.

AFLW career

She made her debut in the thirty-two point win against Fremantle at VU Whitten Oval in the opening round of the 2017 season.^[6] She played every match in her debut season to finish with seven games.^[7] In April 2019, Ernst joined expansion club Gold Coast.^[8] Ernst announced her retirement in October 2020, stating that she was unable to successfully juggle both football and her medical career.^[9]