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Ashleigh Brazill
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

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Domestic

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Statistics are correct to the end of the 2023 season.[21]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Indicators for exceptional statistics
Led the league for the season only
Led the league after the Grand Final only
Led the league after season and Grand Final
Ashleigh Brazill AFLW statistics
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

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia

Ashleigh 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.
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. 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. 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. 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.

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 awards. 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 .

Early Life

Background and Introduction to Sport

Ashleigh Brazill was born on 29 December 1989 in . Raised in the rural community of Bargo, she grew up immersed in sports, influenced by her parents who participated in mixed competitions. This family involvement fostered her early engagement with athletic activities on local fields and courts. 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. 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.

Netball Career

Domestic Competitions

Brazill began her professional career in the with the , debuting in 2010 and playing through the 2011 season as a versatile midcourt player capable of wing defense and center roles. 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 award in 2012 and served as captain in 2015 and 2016, leading the Fever to their first appearance in 2015; she was also named runner-up in the in 2015 and players' player of the year that same season. 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.

International Achievements

Ashleigh Brazill debuted for the Australian Diamonds on 25 October 2015 in the third test of the Constellation Cup against , having been sidelined by a from an earlier opportunity in 2012. Over her international career, she accumulated 29 test caps across series including the Constellation Cup, Quad Series, and matches against , primarily playing as a wing defense. Brazill's breakthrough in major tournaments came at the in Birmingham, where she earned her first selection at age 32 after being overlooked for prior benchmark events; Australia defeated 66–27 in the gold medal match. She transitioned to the in as her final international appearance, contributing to 's title win with a 65–34 victory over in the final, where she played the full 60 minutes alongside defenders and Jo Weston. Earlier, Brazill competed for in the Fast5 Netball World Series format, debuting in 2011 and participating in subsequent editions through 2017, showcasing her versatility in the condensed game.
TournamentYearAchievement
2022Gold medal
2023Gold 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. She was appointed captain of the West Coast Fever for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, reflecting her leadership in the defensive unit. In Super Netball with the , Brazill placed second in the club's count in 2017, won the award outright in 2018 for her consistent wing defense performances, and finished runner-up again in 2019. These club honors underscored her status as a multiple-time across her domestic career. On the international stage, Brazill contributed to the Australian Diamonds' at the on the Gold Coast and the 2022 Birmingham Games, as well as the team's victory at the in , where she played all minutes of the final.

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. Despite modest prior organized football experience—totaling about 10 games over seven years, including five with Swan Districts in 2015 and others with East Sharks in 2012—Brazill emphasized transferable 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. Preparation centered on dual-program integration, with daytime 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 from the year-round demands, with Collingwood's resources facilitating this hybrid approach. Early AFLW involvement subsequently boosted her prowess by building muscle mass—gaining 5 kg—and explosive power, aiding her positional shift to centre and national team recall in 2019.

Australian Rules Football Career

Collingwood Magpies Tenure

Brazill was selected by Collingwood with pick 34 in the inaugural draft on October 18, 2017, allowing her to pursue a cross-code career with the club's team in Super Netball. As a medium defender, she debuted in the 2018 season alongside Olympic hockey player , contributing to the Magpies' defensive structure while managing dual-sport demands. Her 2019 season marked a standout performance, earning her runner-up in Collingwood's award and selection to the AFLW as a defender, where she demonstrated elite decision-making and aerial strength. However, early in the 2020 season, Brazill ruptured her during a match against on February 28, sidelining her for the remainder of that campaign and delaying her return. Returning in 2021, she featured in four games amid ongoing recovery and commitments before opting out of the 2022 AFLW season to prioritize Australia's team at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Brazill resumed with Collingwood in 2023, recording notable contributions including a crucial goal in a match that aided a comeback effort. Over her tenure, she played 32 games for the , scoring five goals, primarily as a versatile backline player valued for her and in a dual-code role.

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. She had requested the trade following her retirement from , citing a desire for a change that aligned with personal rather than purely football-driven motivations. Entering her eighth AFLW season, Brazill joined as a versatile defender, bringing elite decision-making and aerial strength honed from her cross-code background. In her debut 2024 season with , 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. 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. Her early impact positioned her as a contender for AFLW recruit of the year. Brazill's leadership was recognized in June 2025 when appointed her sole for the season, voted by her peers under captain Ange Stannett. 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. Her tenure has emphasized reliability down back, with ongoing contributions in high-stakes games, such as the round-nine clash against on October 12, 2025.

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. Following her trade to at the end of 2023, she established herself as a reliable medium defender, noted for strong marking, elite , and , including being voted by peers in her second season with the club in 2025. Her on-field contributions included key goals and intercepts, such as a devastating strike in a 2024 match against Essendon, helping maintain defensive solidity in multiple rounds. 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. 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. These setbacks have limited her to sporadic peaks rather than sustained dominance, though Fremantle officials remain confident in her recovery and role.

Personal Life

Relationships

Ashleigh Brazill married Brooke Grieves in an intimate ceremony in Prevelly, , on January 30, 2016. The event was attended by her West Coast Fever teammates and marked a lifetime commitment, though was not legally recognized in until later that year. Brazill has publicly described Grieves as her and best friend, celebrating anniversaries including five years in 2021 and seven years in 2023. The couple relocated from Perth to to support Brazill's career with the Australian Diamonds, and later maintained their partnership during her transition to . Brazill, one of the first openly professional ers in , has stated that her sexuality never posed issues in her sporting environment, attributing this to supportive teammates and a lack of . No children are reported from the marriage.

Public Role and Media Interactions

Ashleigh Brazill has maintained a prominent public profile as one of Australia's first openly elite netballers, frequently engaging with media on themes of personal resilience, athletic transition, and inclusion in . In a 2016 , she discussed her with partner Brooke , emphasizing that her sexuality had never posed an issue in her career and crediting supportive team environments for her positive experiences as an openly athlete. Her 2016 wedding video, shared publicly, garnered national media attention for its emotional portrayal of commitment amid her high-profile sports status. Brazill has positioned herself as a for LGBTQ+ youth in sports, with public statements highlighting the impact of visible representation on inclusion and . She has participated in guest speaking engagements, including a 2023 address at Our Lady of Sion College on , perseverance, and multi-sport achievements, drawing from her netball-to-AFLW journey. Listed in directories for events, she is promoted for discussions on trailblazing in and equality. In media interactions, Brazill has defended figures facing controversy, notably Silver Ferns netballer . In April 2019, amid scrutiny over Folau's husband Israel Folau's posts on , Brazill recounted Folau's supportive response to her own in 2016, describing her as "always lovely" despite differing personal beliefs. She reiterated this account in 2025, countering expected backlash against Folau's signing with the NSW Swifts by affirming her past kindness. 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. A notable incident occurred on August 31, 2024, when a commentator's live remark—mistaking her physical style for that of a player despite her being white—drew criticism for insensitivity, later explained as an observational error on her aggressive play. 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.

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. As a versatile midcourt and defensive player standing at 175 cm, she contributed to Australia's victories, including gold medals at the and the , where she played her final international matches before retiring from in August 2023. In domestic competition, Brazill competed in the Suncorp Super Netball league with the from its 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. Earlier in her career with the West Coast Fever (pre-2017), she won the club's MVP award in 2012.
Key International StatisticValueSource
Test Caps29
Debut Year2015
Major TitlesGold (), Gold ()

AFLW Data

Ashleigh Brazill debuted in the (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. Her statistics reflect a kicking-focused style, with career highlights including high disposal rates in early seasons before injuries and a shift to in 2023. The following table summarizes her per-game averages across seasons, based on official AFL records:
SeasonTeamGoalsDisposalsKicksHandballsMarksTackles
2018Collingwood011.07.53.52.52.5
2019Collingwood017.815.52.33.32.3
2020Collingwood013.37.36.02.51.5
2021Collingwood0.311.38.82.53.52.8
2022Collingwood0.312.06.85.32.82.4
2023Collingwood0.37.15.31.91.30.9
2024Fremantle0.111.57.83.72.62.0
2025Fremantle09.66.23.41.72.5
In the 2025 season, Brazill featured in all 10 games for , contributing to their defensive structure with consistent tackling output. Her career trajectory includes a vice-captaincy role at , underscoring her leadership amid dual-sport commitments.

References

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