This article appeared in the Round 5 issue of the WX. Get your copy of the WX at AFLW games this season!
In a home the players describe as ‘cosy’ in Melbourne’s inner east, you’ll find Katelyn Cox, Ally Dallaway and Jodie Hicks.
The Tigers trio, who all share an equal love for being outdoors, found their ideal sanctuary brimming with natural light, a big backyard and huge garden shed in early 2024.
“It’s such a beautiful home,” says Dallaway.
“It’s got a beautiful garden and a nice shed, we all spend a lot of time out there.”
The shed – which they’ve affectionately dubbed “The Tigers’ Den” – shapes the heart of their downtime. With their Tigers’ guernseys adorning the walls, you’ll find a net (kindly set up by Hicks) for kicking a footy or hitting golf balls and cricket balls, all to the soundtrack of Dallaway on her DJ decks.
“I’m learning how to DJ so I like to just go out there and play some tunes for the girls,” she says.
The den is both a place to unwind and a functional space.
“We’re trying to develop that into a bit of a sporting hub; now we just need a basketball hoop,” laughs Cox.
“The space really signifies us, which is nice.”
Stepping inside, a coffee nook in the kitchen is not only a hallmark of a quintessential Melbourne household, but acts as their natural meeting point.
“We have two coffee machines,” says Dallaway.
One that she and Cox use, and a more premium model reserved by Hicks, who is the aficionado of the house.
The trio gravitate there, especially after a big game.
“We all end up at the coffee machine,” agrees Cox.
“We always chat about how we pulled up. It’s good that we live with teammates, because after a loss they know exactly what you’ve been through.”
The lounge room is another shared haven, housing a few little luxuries: a new sofa and TV, which top the list of things the trio couldn’t live without.
“We have such a comfortable living space, so it’s always nice to just melt into the lounge,” says Dallaway.
Lounging with a side of recovery, one of the additions to the house brought in by Cox is a pair of recovery compression boots.
“We all kind of rotate through those each night,” Cox says.
Continuing with the theme of sentimental meets function, Cox has her surfboard perched proudly in the corner.
“It’s kind of my connection to the surf. I love surfing, and obviously can’t get there as much during the season because it’s quite busy, so just having little bits of the beach and the surf nearby makes it feel a lot more like home,” Cox says.
The meals in this house are as comforting as the surroundings. Homemade chicken parmigiana is their go-to dish when friends come over.
Though whether it’s “parma” or “parmi” depends on who you ask. It’s the latter if you ask Sydney-hailing Dallaway and Hicks.
As for nightly rituals, Dallaway likes to wind down with a book, while Cox opts for a kiwi-fruit, magnesium, and meditation before lights out.
And if handed a polaroid camera to capture their favourite things? The answer comes easily: the den, the coffee machine and the lounge.
It’s all about a good coffee, a cosy couch and a place to exhale and have some fun for these Tigers.
This article appeared in the Round 5 issue of the WX. Get your copy of the WX at AFLW games this season!
