Brianna Davey on her sporting journey from footy to the Matildas and on to the AFLW grand final

The game pushed her away as a kid and sent her on a path to international soccer, but her love for footy brought her back. And while her AFLW journey has had its ups and downs, the best might be yet to come, writes Carlton captain Brianna Davey.

Brianna Davey has gone from Matildas goalkeeper to AFLW star. Picture: MARK STEWART

I first picked up a football at about the age of five, after following my older brother Nathan to Auskick at Port Melbourne.

I waddled down after him and wanted to jump straight in. It was 2000, so it was probably a little bit odd because there weren’t really any girls playing.

There were no girls in the Auskick at the Port Colts, that’s for sure.

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I didn’t last long. I didn’t really feel welcomed. Being the only girl, it was probably a bit odd for the little boys there — they were thinking “what is this girl doing here?”.

I got the hint, and was out of there. But that wasn’t going to stop me.

I’d just loved it, so I went back a year later. As a massive footy head, I actually went for Carlton early doors.

But they went through a bit of a phase where they weren’t winning too many games, and while Mum went for Carlton, Dad was Collingwood so I switched.

I watched every game, and idolised every player.

Brianna Davey with the under-10s boys at Port Melbourne.

Brianna Davey played under-10s with the boys at Port Melbourne.

Returning to Auskick was awesome. As soon as they could see that I could play — with my skills as good or better than some of the boys — I was really accepted and embraced by the football club, and the kids there.

Then it was under-10s and under-12s with the boys, where I won a couple of best-and-fairests.

In the under-12s, I was third-best in the league, as well.

But once that year ended, I was told “no more football”. I was no longer allowed to play with the boys.

That was really tough, because it was something I adored. I was devastated, but I’d known it was coming. Dad had worded me up and prepped me for it, because he knew it was going to be upsetting.

That’s when I went to soccer.

Brianna Davey is awarded a junior medal at Port Melbourne.

CODE-HOPPER

Anglesea Caravan Park was where it all had started with the round ball a few years earlier.

No one in my family is into soccer, it was more basketball and Aussie rules.

But an annual Christmas kick when I was about nine or 10 on the oval changed all that.

I loved all sport, so naturally gave it a crack.

Staying a few vans over was a soccer scout, who watched on with the other parents as us kids had a kick and he went to my dad straight away.

He had tried to bring me across then, and I’d said no — I loved footy.

We saw him every year at the caravan park, so once I’d finished under-12s, I told Dad that I might give soccer a go.

He gave me my first crack in the under-11 Victorian futsal team, and from there it just progressed and I went into the Victorian team. I ended up getting to the Matildas level.

I was a midfielder to start with, so like a lot of goalkeepers, I didn’t start in goals.

It was just that they needed someone to stand in at training once, and the rest was history.

I’d resisted, but I ended up growing to love it, playing seven of my eight years in soccer in goals, with six of those with the national team.

Goalkeeper Brianna Davey with the Matildas.

Brianna Davey with the Matildas.

But in 2015 — a World Cup year — I unfortunately missed out on the Matildas squad. I was sent home while the other girls travelled away and I was devastated — I hadn’t seen it coming.

I needed to try something different to take my mind off soccer for a bit, even just to muck around. I didn’t think it would become serious.

I knew a couple of girls who played at St Kilda Sharks, but I thought it would be a bit of a kick and some fun.

I wanted to bring fun back into sport — I hadn’t had that in my soccer for a little while. That was the idea, and straight away, I absolutely loved it and I played against Darebin a week later.

Straight away remembered why I loved the game so much as a kid.

I was still playing for Melbourne City in the W-League, and got the call from the Matildas to go and train with the Olympic squad for Rio.

But I had the footy bug back.

Brianna Davey made her return to Aussie rules with St Kilda Sharks.

BIG DECISION

People thought I was crazy.

Talk of the first season of AFLW had begun, and I was turning my back on a potential Olympic opportunity.

My family — who are so supportive, and they were — were worrying about me. They knew since I was a kid I wanted to be a professional athlete, but they were worried that I was going to make a choice that wasn’t going to lead me down that pathway.

When I was leaning toward AFLW, they were like “are you sure?”.

Brianna Davey turned her back on an Olympics opportunity to sign with Carlton. Picture: ALEX COPPEL

When I did make the decision, they were a bit nervous too, but right behind me.

It was a huge decision, and I wouldn’t want to rewind and go back to those stressful moments.

But I look back now and I don’t regret it one bit. What made me realise that was the first game — the lockout between Carlton and Collingwood in the first AFLW season.

It wasn’t just about us playing footy — I thought it changed women’s sport and society as a whole, and the AFL as a whole. It’s really brought people back to the game.

Since that game, I realised that I’d made the right choice.

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Season two couldn’t have been further from that high.

I knew straight away that I’d done my knee The pain I was in and the way it happened, I knew I’d done something really bad — likely my ACL.

It was excruciating.

My surgeon said that my bones must have shifted quite hard — it’s gross — which also burst a bursa behind my knee at the same time.

Players of both teams knew Davey was in trouble when she injured her knee in February 2018. Picture: AAP

Brianna Davey is carried off the ground. Picture: AAP

To then watch on for the rest of the season as the team struggled proved just as painful.

If they’d been winning, it would have been easier, but we had a tough season.

At times, I did feel like I was letting the team down by not being able to be out there with them. My leadership strengths have always been on-field, so I had to learn new skills.

It was a bit of a blessing in disguise, because it really helped develop me as a leader.

I’m just glad that my rehab went well and — touch wood — I’m back playing and will hopefully finish off this season strongly.

Brianna Davey after surgery in the Epworth Hospital.

PARTNERS IN CRIME

Sharing this experience with my partner Tilly has been a bonus.

We met at St Kilda Sharks, and now get to run out together in the navy blue. It’s unreal.

She did it tough, too, during my recovery — sometimes harder than me.

I can’t imagine how Til would have been feeling seeing me in that way.

Every game I’ve played has been with her, so that’s been really cool.

It’s professional when we walk through the doors of the club — and we’re not afraid to give each other plenty of feedback when it’s necessary — but being on the journey together is just amazing.

Brianna Davey with partner Tilly Lucas-Rodd.

HARF TIME

I first met Daniel Harford over coffee, straight after he was appointed as coach.

We as players had been a bit uncertain about what was going on, but he was onto me straight away once he signed.

I got to see and learn a bit about him and his personality — I didn’t know much of him prior, obviously as a media person, but he’s been an absolutely incredible addition to this club.

We’ve gone from wooden spooners and now we’re into a grand final.

He’s been named coach of the year, too, which is awesome.

Without people like him around, we wouldn’t have been here.

There’s so much belief — you can feel his belief in us, and he’s really tried to adopt an attacking brand in us.

Because of that, I think that’s why it’s been successful.

Coach Daniel Harford has taken Carlton from the wooden spoon to a grand final. Picture: GETTY IMAGES

AGAINST THE ODDS

The last fortnight has had its tests.

There’s been the drama surrounding Tayla Harris, who I couldn’t be more proud of as a teammate and friend.

What she’s standing up for is huge, and it really was a line-in-the-sand moment.

The term “underdog” really suits us, and that’s what we’ve been all year.

Tayla Harris, Bri Davey and Darcy Vescio at Ikon Park. Picture: ALEX COPPEL

We’ve built so much momentum, and I have so much confidence in our group.

I can’t wait to play against Adelaide. We can win.

I definitely know there will be some doubters, but we’ve got a really exciting group.

The job’s not done — one more to go.

Bring it on.

With Lauren Wood