#9 Ode by Jeremy Ruane Amber Hearn Football Fern A scoring machine With talent to burn. Style and grace Power and pace A shot like a cannon - More lethal than mace! When in full flow With ball at toe She’s a sight to behold - Unless you’re her foe! With the goal in her sight She’s pure dynamite! Once she lets rip … Bulging net! Cue delight! Her strong and powerful physique, Combined with her sublime technique Leaves defenders with a forlorn task - Their hopes of stopping her are bleak! A lion's heart beats 'neath her breast While none can fail to be impressed By the sight of this proud Kiwi girl When the silver fern's upon her chest. That's when she comes into her own. Rivals soon find reason to moan When they take on the mighty Football Ferns - Amber and her pals from Godzone. They're out-and-out winners who hate being beat They’ll do all that they can to avoid defeat. God help those opponents who get in the way Of this wonderfully talented team of athletes Led by their top striker, a fine Football Fern A defender's worst nightmare - they’ll never learn To cope with a player who scores goals for fun! NZ’s champion number nine, Amber Hearn.

Background photo courtesy Getty Images

Hearn