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Ashleigh Brazill
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Ashleigh Brazill (born 29 December 1989 in Campbelltown, New South Wales) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL Women's. She previously played netball for the Collingwood Magpies, and Australian rules football for the Collingwood Football Club, playing both sports concurrently.[2][3] She also played for the West Coast Fever, New South Wales Swifts and the Australia national team during her netball career.
Key Information
Netball career
[edit]Domestic
[edit]Brazill made her domestic league debut for the New South Wales Swifts in 2010.[4] She made the move to the West Coast Fever in 2012 and made an immediate impact, winning the club's MVP for the season.[1] Brazill suffered with injuries over the next two seasons which restricted her time on court. Despite sitting out most of the 2014 ANZ Championship season Brazill captained Western Sting, leading the Fevers' reserves team to a bronze medal in the second-tier Australian Netball League (ANL). She was also named joint Player of the Year in the 2014 Australian Netball League.[5] She was selected as captain of the Fever for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.[6]
She signed with the Collingwood Magpies ahead of the 2017 Suncorp Super Netball season.[2] Brazill has been hugely influential in wing-defence for the Magpies and her good form was rewarded with the club best and fairest award for the 2018 season.[7]
International
[edit]In 2010, Brazill was one of the twelve players selected for the Australian Fast5 team. She took part in the 2011 World Netball Series in Liverpool and was Australia's best player for the series. She represented Australia again in the Fast5 series in 2013 and 2014.[8] On 25 October 2015, Brazill made her senior debut for Australia in the third test of the 2015 Constellation Cup series against New Zealand.[9][10][11][12] She was also a late replacement for Renae Ingles in the January 2016 tour of England.[13]
Australian rules football career
[edit]On 18 October 2017, she was drafted to play for Collingwood in the 2018 AFL Women's season after being selected at pick 34.[3]
Collingwood re-signed Brazill and appointed her vice-captain for the 2019 season.[14][15] Brazill had a breakout season at the club and was named in the All-Australian team at the end of the season.[16]
In December 2023, following her request to return to Western Australia with her family, Brazill was traded to Fremantle in exchange for Mikayla Hyde, with picks being traded too as part of a massive 11-club trade.[17] Upon joining Fremantle, Brazill was elevated to the club's leadership group.[18]
Personal life
[edit]Brazill married her long-term partner Brooke Grieves on 30 January 2016 in Western Australia.[19] At the time same-sex marriage was not legal in Australia. The couple celebrated the birth of their son Louis in January 2020.[20]
Statistics
[edit]- Statistics are correct to the end of the 2023 season.[21]
G
|
Goals | K
|
Kicks | D
|
Disposals | T
|
Tackles |
B
|
Behinds | H
|
Handballs | M
|
Marks |
| Led the league for the season only | |
| Led the league after the Grand Final only | |
| Led the league after season and Grand Final |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2018 | Collingwood | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.5 | 3.5 | 11.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| 2019 | Collingwood | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 14 | 107 | 20 | 14 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15.5 | 2.3 | 17.8 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 3 |
| 2020 | Collingwood | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 24 | 53 | 10 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.3 | 6.0 | 13.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0 |
| 2021 | Collingwood | 10 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 35 | 10 | 45 | 14 | 11 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 8.8 | 2.4 | 11.3 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 0 |
| 2022 (S6) | Collingwood | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 (S7) | Collingwood | 10 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 54 | 42 | 96 | 22 | 19 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 6.8 | 5.3 | 12.0 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 0 |
| 2023 | Collingwood | 10 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 15 | 57 | 10 | 7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 7.1 | 1.3 | 0.9 | |
| Career | 32 | 5 | 17 | 268 | 112 | 380 | 81 | 62 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 8.4 | 3.5 | 11.9 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 3 | ||
Netball Statistics
[edit]- Statistics are correct to the end of the 2022 season.[22]
| Season | Team | G/A | GA | RB | CPR | FD | IC | DF | PN | TO | MP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Magpies | 0/0 | 4 | 0 | 74 | 11 | 28 | 43 | 148 | 13 | 15 |
| 2018 | Magpies | 0/0 | 5 | 1 | 138 | 5 | 33 | 46 | 110 | 28 | 14 |
| 2019 | Magpies | 0/0 | 84 | 0 | 61 | 120 | 18 | 68 | 116 | 34 | 15 |
| 2021 | Magpies | 0/0 | 49 | 0 | 91 | 82 | 15 | 45 | 112 | 51 | 12 |
| 2022 | Magpies | 0/0 | 20 | 0 | 129 | 30 | 11 | 32 | 141 | 32 | 13 |
| Career | 0/0 | 162 | 1 | 493 | 248 | 105 | 234 | 627 | 158 | 69 | |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Ash Brazill profile". Collingwood Magpies Netball.
- ^ a b "Collingwood's Diamond-encrusted Magpies netball team the envy of the world". Daily Telegraph. 21 September 2016.
- ^ a b "AFL Women's Draft 2017, bolters, sliders, snubs, unlucky". Fox Sports. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ 2011 New South Wales Swifts profile
- ^ "Brazill named West Coast Fever captain". Netball WA. 23 December 2014.
- ^ "Brazill and Bassett return as Fever Captains". West Coast Fever. 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Watson, Brazill claim club netball honours". Fairfax Media. 31 August 2018.
- ^ Ashleigh Brazill player profile, Netball England website Archived 9 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Constellation Cup: Silver Ferns shock depleted Diamonds at Hisense Arena". www.theguardian.com. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "New Zealand beats Australian Diamonds 50-47 to keep Constellation Cup netball series alive". www.abc.net.au. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "Diamonds 10-game Constellation Cup winning streak against Silver Ferns comes to an end in 50-47 defeat". www.heraldsun.com.au. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "Ash Brazill of West Coast Fever set to make Australian Diamonds debut against New Zealand". www.perthnow.com.au. 3 September 2015.
- ^ "Brazill to replace injured Ingles for England tour". Netball Australia. 18 December 2015.
- ^ Lechucki, Meagan (4 June 2018). "AFLW: Pies pocket early picks". Collingwood. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 8 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ "Captain Chiocci to continue in 2019". Collingwood Football Club. 14 December 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ Navaratnam, Dinny (2 April 2019). "Five Crows, four Roos headline All Australian team". womens.afl. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ "Collingwood Farewells Brazill, Pies Welcome Mikayla Hyde". Collingwood. Telstra. 14 December 2023.
- ^ Barrett, Jackson (3 July 2024). "Ange Stannett to take over as Fremantle Dockers AFLW captain as Hayley Miller becomes deputy". The West Australian.
- ^ "Australian Netball Diamond Ash Brazill's wedding video is an absolute tear jerker". Mamamia. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ "Parents introduce new bubs to the world during coronavirus, one Zoom call at a time". ABC News. 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Ashleigh Brazill – Player Stats By Season". Australian Football. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Ash Brazill". Netball Draft Central. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
External links
[edit]- Ashleigh Brazill's profile on the official website of the Collingwood Football Club
- Ashleigh Brazill at AustralianFootball.com
- Magpies Netball profile
- Super Netball profile
- Netball Draft Central profile
Ashleigh Brazill
View on GrokipediaAshleigh Brazill (born 29 December 1989) is an Australian professional sportswoman renowned for her accomplishments in netball and Australian rules football within the AFL Women's league.[1][2]
She represented the Australian national netball team, known as the Diamonds, earning jersey number 166 and accumulating 29 test caps as a versatile midcourt player capable of positions including wing defence, centre, and wing attack.[3] Brazill contributed to Australia's gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Netball World Cup before retiring from the sport later that year.[3][4] In parallel, she pursued an AFLW career, debuting with Collingwood in 2018, where she became the first athlete to compete in both elite netball and AFLW for the same club simultaneously, and was named runner-up in the club's best and fairest in 2019 alongside All-Australian honours.[5][4] After overcoming an anterior cruciate ligament injury and pausing football for netball commitments, Brazill joined Fremantle in 2024, serving as vice-captain and establishing herself as a reliable backline defender noted for leadership and marking prowess.[1]
Brazill's career highlights her adaptability across codes, with domestic netball stints including captaining West Coast Fever in 2015–2016 and leading Collingwood Magpies, where she secured multiple club most valuable player awards.[6] Her dual-sport tenure underscores physical resilience and competitive drive, though it drew attention for personal challenges, including being the first openly homosexual athlete at the elite level in Australian netball.[7]
Early Life
Background and Introduction to Sport
Ashleigh Brazill was born on 29 December 1989 in Campbelltown, New South Wales.[3] Raised in the rural community of Bargo, she grew up immersed in sports, influenced by her parents who participated in mixed netball competitions.[8] This family involvement fostered her early engagement with athletic activities on local fields and courts.[8] From a young age, Brazill pursued both netball and Australian rules football, reflecting the sporting culture of regional New South Wales. She began playing netball at age eight, developing skills in a sport that offered greater competitive opportunities for women compared to Australian rules football at the time.[9][10] Her initial experiences in netball emphasized teamwork and physicality, laying the foundation for a professional career that would later intersect with her longstanding interest in football.[10]Netball Career
Domestic Competitions
Brazill began her professional netball career in the ANZ Championship with the New South Wales Swifts, debuting in 2010 and playing through the 2011 season as a versatile midcourt player capable of wing defense and center roles.[2][10] She transferred to the West Coast Fever ahead of the 2012 Trans-Tasman Netball League season, remaining with the team until 2016, where she primarily featured in center and wing defense. During this period, Brazill earned the club's most valuable player award in 2012 and served as captain in 2015 and 2016, leading the Fever to their first finals appearance in 2015; she was also named runner-up in the best and fairest in 2015 and players' player of the year that same season.[11][2][6] In 2017, Brazill joined the Collingwood Magpies for the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball season, continuing with the team until her netball retirement in 2023, amassing over 100 appearances and captaining the side in her final year. She secured the Magpies' most valuable player award in 2018, recognizing her defensive contributions including intercepts and deflections, and was selected for the Super Netball Team of the Year that season.[11][4][6]International Achievements
Ashleigh Brazill debuted for the Australian Diamonds on 25 October 2015 in the third test of the Constellation Cup against New Zealand, having been sidelined by a knee injury from an earlier opportunity in 2012.[12][13] Over her international career, she accumulated 29 test caps across series including the Constellation Cup, Quad Series, and matches against England, primarily playing as a wing defense.[3] Brazill's breakthrough in major tournaments came at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she earned her first selection at age 32 after being overlooked for prior benchmark events; Australia defeated Jamaica 66–27 in the gold medal match.[14][3] She transitioned to the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town as her final international appearance, contributing to Australia's title win with a 65–34 victory over England in the final, where she played the full 60 minutes alongside defenders Courtney Bruce and Jo Weston.[15][3] Earlier, Brazill competed for Australia in the Fast5 Netball World Series format, debuting in 2011 and participating in subsequent editions through 2017, showcasing her versatility in the condensed game.[16]| Tournament | Year | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Games | 2022 | Gold medal |
| Netball World Cup | 2023 | Gold medal |
Key Awards and Recognitions
Brazill earned the Player of the Year award in the Australian Netball League in 2014, sharing the honor while playing for the Western Sting.[17] She was appointed captain of the West Coast Fever for the 2015 and 2016 ANZ Championship seasons, reflecting her leadership in the defensive unit.[18] In Super Netball with the Melbourne Vixens, Brazill placed second in the club's best and fairest count in 2017, won the award outright in 2018 for her consistent wing defense performances, and finished runner-up again in 2019.[6][19] These club honors underscored her status as a multiple-time most valuable player across her domestic career.[20] On the international stage, Brazill contributed to the Australian Diamonds' gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and the 2022 Birmingham Games, as well as the team's victory at the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town, where she played all minutes of the final.[20][15]Transition to Australian Rules Football
Decision and Preparation
Ashleigh Brazill, already established as a defender for the Collingwood Magpies netball team, pursued entry into the AFL Women's competition to revive her childhood passion for Australian rules football, which she had played informally until age restrictions barred girls from boys' teams. Selected by the Collingwood Football Club with the 35th pick in the AFLW draft on October 18, 2017, the move enabled concurrent participation in both codes under the same organization, a rare cross-coding arrangement supported by the club. This decision aligned with the league's expansion, as Collingwood entered AFLW for its 2018 season, and capitalized on the delayed Super Netball start in late April 2018 due to the Commonwealth Games, minimizing scheduling overlaps.[21][22] Despite modest prior organized football experience—totaling about 10 games over seven years, including five with Swan Districts in 2015 and others with East Fremantle Sharks in 2012—Brazill emphasized transferable netball attributes like hand-eye coordination, aerial contested marking, and aerobic capacity for her anticipated defensive role. She viewed the transition as challenging yet feasible, stating, "It’s going to be tough," while expressing confidence in adapting quickly.[21] Preparation centered on dual-program integration, with daytime netball training complemented by evening AFL sessions, coordinated via shared high-performance managers and coaches to optimize load management. Additional recovery protocols, including enhanced physiotherapy and rest periods, were introduced to mitigate fatigue from the year-round demands, with Collingwood's resources facilitating this hybrid approach. Early AFLW involvement subsequently boosted her netball prowess by building muscle mass—gaining 5 kg—and explosive power, aiding her positional shift to centre and national team recall in 2019.[21][10]Australian Rules Football Career
Collingwood Magpies Tenure
Brazill was selected by Collingwood with pick 34 in the inaugural AFL Women's draft on October 18, 2017, allowing her to pursue a cross-code career with the club's netball team in Super Netball. As a medium defender, she debuted in the 2018 AFLW season alongside Olympic hockey player Georgie Parker, contributing to the Magpies' defensive structure while managing dual-sport demands.[23] Her 2019 season marked a standout performance, earning her runner-up in Collingwood's best and fairest award and selection to the AFLW All-Australian team as a defender, where she demonstrated elite decision-making and aerial strength.[24][25] However, early in the 2020 season, Brazill ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament during a match against Melbourne on February 28, sidelining her for the remainder of that campaign and delaying her return.[26] Returning in 2021, she featured in four games amid ongoing recovery and netball commitments before opting out of the 2022 AFLW season to prioritize Australia's netball team at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.[24][27] Brazill resumed with Collingwood in 2023, recording notable contributions including a crucial goal in a September match that aided a comeback effort.[28] Over her tenure, she played 32 games for the Magpies, scoring five goals, primarily as a versatile backline player valued for her work ethic and leadership in a dual-code role.[29]Fremantle Dockers Involvement
Ashleigh Brazill was traded to the Fremantle Dockers from Collingwood on December 13, 2023, as part of an 11-club deal that also brought utility Gabby Newton to the club.[30] She had requested the trade following her retirement from netball, citing a desire for a change that aligned with personal rather than purely football-driven motivations.[31] Entering her eighth AFLW season, Brazill joined as a versatile defender, bringing elite decision-making and aerial strength honed from her cross-code background.[32] In her debut 2024 season with Fremantle, Brazill quickly established herself in the backline, earning coaches' votes for her round-one performance against Essendon, where she recorded 12 disposals and 202 metres gained.[33] She achieved a career-high eight tackles in round six against Hawthorn, complementing her role with flair and football IQ despite a mid-season ankle injury that briefly sidelined her.[11] Her early impact positioned her as a contender for AFLW recruit of the year.[33] Brazill's leadership was recognized in June 2025 when Fremantle appointed her sole vice-captain for the season, voted by her peers under captain Ange Stannett.[34] [35] Playing all 10 matches in 2025, she averaged 9.6 disposals, 1.7 marks, and 2.5 tackles per game as a key defensive engine, contributing to the Dockers' structure while providing mentorship to younger players.[11] Her tenure has emphasized reliability down back, with ongoing contributions in high-stakes games, such as the round-nine clash against Melbourne on October 12, 2025.[36]Performance Highlights and Criticisms
Brazill earned All-Australian honors as a defender in her debut AFL Women's season with Collingwood in 2019, averaging 15.5 kicks per game while contributing to the team's competitive backline structure.[10][37] Following her trade to Fremantle at the end of 2023, she established herself as a reliable medium defender, noted for strong marking, elite decision-making, and leadership, including being voted vice-captain by peers in her second season with the club in 2025.[1][11] Her on-field contributions included key goals and intercepts, such as a devastating strike in a 2024 match against Essendon, helping Fremantle maintain defensive solidity in multiple rounds.[38] Despite these strengths, Brazill's AFLW tenure has faced challenges from recurring injuries that disrupted consistency and availability. A ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in early 2020 sidelined her for the remainder of that season and her netball commitments, highlighting vulnerabilities from the physical demands of cross-coding.[39][40] More recently, a low-grade groin strain in August 2025 caused her to miss a round, while an ankle injury in November 2024 kept her out for two games, prompting concerns over her durability in the high-intensity AFLW environment despite adaptations like increased running loads post-transition.[41][42] These setbacks have limited her to sporadic peaks rather than sustained dominance, though Fremantle officials remain confident in her recovery and role.[43]Personal Life
Relationships
Ashleigh Brazill married Brooke Grieves in an intimate ceremony in Prevelly, Western Australia, on January 30, 2016.[9][44] The event was attended by her West Coast Fever netball teammates and marked a lifetime commitment, though same-sex marriage was not legally recognized in Australia until later that year.[9] Brazill has publicly described Grieves as her soulmate and best friend, celebrating anniversaries including five years in 2021 and seven years in 2023.[45][46] The couple relocated from Perth to Melbourne to support Brazill's netball career with the Australian Diamonds, and later maintained their partnership during her transition to Australian rules football.[32] Brazill, one of the first openly gay professional netballers in Australia, has stated that her sexuality never posed issues in her sporting environment, attributing this to supportive teammates and a lack of discrimination.[9][47] No children are reported from the marriage.[48]Public Role and Media Interactions
Ashleigh Brazill has maintained a prominent public profile as one of Australia's first openly gay elite netballers, frequently engaging with media on themes of personal resilience, athletic transition, and inclusion in sport. In a 2016 interview, she discussed her civil union with partner Brooke Grieves, emphasizing that her sexuality had never posed an issue in her career and crediting supportive team environments for her positive experiences as an openly lesbian athlete.[9] Her 2016 wedding video, shared publicly, garnered national media attention for its emotional portrayal of commitment amid her high-profile sports status.[49] Brazill has positioned herself as a role model for LGBTQ+ youth in sports, with public statements highlighting the impact of visible representation on inclusion and mental health.[50] She has participated in guest speaking engagements, including a 2023 address at Our Lady of Sion College on gratitude, perseverance, and multi-sport achievements, drawing from her netball-to-AFLW journey.[51] Listed in directories for International Women's Day events, she is promoted for discussions on trailblazing in women's sports and equality.[52] In media interactions, Brazill has defended figures facing controversy, notably Silver Ferns netballer Maria Folau. In April 2019, amid scrutiny over Folau's husband Israel Folau's social media posts on homosexuality, Brazill recounted Folau's supportive response to her own same-sex marriage in 2016, describing her as "always lovely" despite differing personal beliefs.[53] She reiterated this account in October 2025, countering expected backlash against Folau's signing with the NSW Swifts by affirming her past kindness.[54] During her AFLW tenure, Brazill featured in post-match interviews analyzing performances, such as after Fremantle's games, where she addressed tactical adjustments and team dynamics.[55] A notable incident occurred on August 31, 2024, when a commentator's live remark—mistaking her physical style for that of a Black player despite her being white—drew social media criticism for insensitivity, later explained as an observational error on her aggressive play.[56] In August 2025, she reflected publicly on the surreal nature of role-model status, expressing awe at inspiring young female athletes through her dual-code career.[57]Career Statistics
Netball Data
Ash Brazill earned 29 test caps for the Australian Diamonds, debuting in 2015 and featuring in international series from 2015–2016 and 2019–2023.[3] As a versatile midcourt and defensive player standing at 175 cm, she contributed to Australia's victories, including gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Netball World Cup, where she played her final international matches before retiring from netball in August 2023.[3][20] In domestic competition, Brazill competed in the Suncorp Super Netball league with the Melbourne Vixens from its inception in 2017 until 2023, playing across multiple positions including wing defence, goal defence, and occasionally attack. Her defensive prowess was evident in metrics such as deflections; midway through the 2019 season, she had accumulated 43 deflections, ranking fourth in the league at that point.[58] Earlier in her career with the West Coast Fever (pre-2017), she won the club's MVP award in 2012.[18]| Key International Statistic | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Test Caps | 29 | [3] |
| Debut Year | 2015 | [3] |
| Major Titles | Gold (2022 Commonwealth Games), Gold (2023 Netball World Cup) | [20] |
AFLW Data
Ashleigh Brazill debuted in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition in 2018 with Collingwood and has since played 53 career matches, scoring a total of 6 goals, primarily operating as a medium defender.[11][1] Her statistics reflect a kicking-focused style, with career highlights including high disposal rates in early seasons before injuries and a shift to Fremantle in 2023.[11] The following table summarizes her per-game averages across seasons, based on official AFL records:| Season | Team | Goals | Disposals | Kicks | Handballs | Marks | Tackles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Collingwood | 0 | 11.0 | 7.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| 2019 | Collingwood | 0 | 17.8 | 15.5 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 2.3 |
| 2020 | Collingwood | 0 | 13.3 | 7.3 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 1.5 |
| 2021 | Collingwood | 0.3 | 11.3 | 8.8 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 2.8 |
| 2022 | Collingwood | 0.3 | 12.0 | 6.8 | 5.3 | 2.8 | 2.4 |
| 2023 | Collingwood | 0.3 | 7.1 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 |
| 2024 | Fremantle | 0.1 | 11.5 | 7.8 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 2.0 |
| 2025 | Fremantle | 0 | 9.6 | 6.2 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 2.5 |