‘Love, authentic, unapologetic’: How an AFLW pioneer illustrated the power of Pride Round

7.38pm‘We do it differently in W’By Aliesha Newman can’t have silence when she paints.The former AFLW player says she’s notorious for playing music wherever she goes. The background noise helps her to zero in on whatever she’s creating.This year’s Pride ball designed by Aliesha Newman.AFL Photos via Getty Images“I hate the thought of listening to my own thoughts,” she says. “I’m very much a visual learner, and I need to visualise things before I can kind of put them on paper, a canvas or my iPad.”Newman is the artist behind the design for this year’s ball for Pride Round, which kicks off on Friday with Western Bulldogs and Essendon at Whitten Oval, where the first Pride Round was held in 2018.7.35pmRound nine By FRIDAYWestern Bulldogs v Essendon, Whitten Oval, 7.15pmSATURDAYSt Kilda v Collingwood, RSEA Park, 1.05 pmPort Adelaide v West Coast, Alberton Oval, 3.05pmGeelong v GWS, GMHBA Stadium, 5.05pmRichmond v Adelaide, Ikon Park, 7.15pmGold Coast v Melbourne, Great Barrier Reef Arena, 8.15pmSUNDAYNorth Melbourne v Fremantle, Arden Street Oval, 12.35pmHawthorn v Brisbane Lions, Kennedy Community Centre, 1.05pmSydney v Carlton, Henson Park, 3.05pm6.21pmWelcome to our coverageBy Hello everyone, and welcome to our coverage of round nine of the AFLW season.Finals are only a few weeks away now and we’ll keep you covered for all the latest as clubs race toward the pointy end of the season.Thanks for joining us.1 of 1