Tiarna Ernst
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Tiarna Ernst
| image = Tiarna Ernst 04.03.17.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Ernst playing for the Western Bulldogs in February 2017
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|01|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Thursday Island, Queensland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Diamond Creek (VFL Women's)
| draftpick = No. 108, 2016 AFL Women's draft
| debutdate = Round 1, 2017
| debutteam = {{AFLW|WB}}
| debutopponent = {{AFLW|Fre}}
| debutstadium = VU Whitten Oval
| height = 180 cm
| weight =
| position = Ruck
| currentclub = {{AFLW|GC}}
| guernsey = 19
| years1 = 2017–2019
| club1 = {{AFLW|WB}}
| games_goals1 = 22 (0)
| years2 = 2020
| club2 = {{AFLW|GC}}
| games_goals2 = {{0}}7 (1)
| games_goalstotal = 29 (1)
| statsend = the 2020 season
| careerhighlights = 2018 AFLW Premiership
}}
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.
Early life
Ernst was born on Thursday Island{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-western-bulldogs-player-who-delivers-four-babies-in-one-night-20170125-gtyjw6.html|title=The Western Bulldogs player who delivers four babies in one night|publisher=The Age|last=Lane|first=Samantha|date=28 January 2017|access-date=26 September 2019}} in the Torres Strait region of Queensland and spent the majority of her childhood in Bamaga in the Cape York Peninsula.{{Cite web|url=https://www.athletesvoice.com.au/tiarna-ernst-footy-is-best-medicine/#QqjV0kCUybpF3PBH.97|title=Footy is the best medicine|publisher=athletesvoice.com.au|last=Ernst|first=Tiarna|date=17 March 2018|access-date=22 July 2019}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-26/tiarna-ernst-from-the-maternity-ward-to-aflw-glory/9588748|title=Catching babies by day and a footy in her spare time, meet doctor and AFLW premiership star Tiarna Ernst|publisher=abc.net.au|last=Mounter|first=Brendan|date=26 March 2018|access-date=16 March 2019}} Ernst was drafted by the Western Bulldogs with their 14th selection and 108th overall in the 2016 AFL Women's draft.{{cite news|url=http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2016-10-12/lambert-top-pick-19-added-to-womens-team|title=Lambert top pick, 19 added to women's team|date=12 October 2016|work=WesternBulldogs.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=26 October 2017}}
She is a medical doctor trained in obstetrics and gynaecology{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-western-bulldogs-player-who-delivers-four-babies-in-one-night-20170125-gtyjw6.html|title = AFLW: The Western Bulldogs player who delivers four babies in one night|date = 28 January 2017}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/aflw-teams-round-1-full-sides-named-for-inaugural-round-of-afl-womens-competition/news-story/2074512b6a2a374781cb5f3a23447d70|title=AFLW Teams Round 1: Full sides named for inaugural round of AFL Women's competition|date=3 February 2017|work=Fox Sports (Australia)|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=26 October 2017}} She played every match in her debut season to finish with seven games.{{cite web|url=http://australianfootball.com/players/player/Tiana%2BErnst/19903|title=Tiarna Ernst|work=AustralianFootball.com|access-date=26 October 2017}} In April 2019, Ernst joined expansion club Gold Coast.{{cite news |last=Cheadle |first=Josh |title=SUNS secure premiership Dog |url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/2019-04-15/suns-secure-premiership-dog |access-date=15 April 2019 |work={{AFL GC}} |publisher=Telstra Media |date=15 April 2019}}
Ernst announced her retirement in October 2020, stating that she was unable to successfully juggle both football and her medical career.{{cite web |last1=Cheadle |first1=Josh |title=Tiarna Ernst Announces Retirement |url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/821374/tiarna-ernst-announces-retirement |website=www.goldcoastfc.com.au |date=2 October 2020 |access-date=25 January 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Wbplayer}}
- {{AustralianFootball|ref=Tiana%2BErnst/19903}}
- [https://drtiarnaernst.com.au/ Dr Tiarna Ernst's] medical website
{{2018 Western Bulldogs premiership players (AFLW)}}
{{Inaugural Western Bulldogs AFL Women's team}}
{{Inaugural Gold Coast AFL Women's team}}
{{2015 AFL women's mini-draft}}
{{2016 AFL Women's draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ernst, Tiarna}}
Category:Western Bulldogs (AFLW) players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Queensland
Category:Victorian Women's Football League players
Category:Gold Coast Football Club (AFLW) players
Category:James Cook University alumni
Category:21st-century Australian medical doctors
Category:People from Far North Queensland
Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen
Category:Sportswomen from Queensland
Category:Australian obstetricians
{{AFL-bio-1980s-stub}}