The battles Jacinda Barclay was fighting before her tragic death at 29

Taken at the age of just 29, Aussie sporting marvel Jacinda Barclay lived long enough to see her dreams come true.

Jacinda Barclay lived more in her days on earth than most of us could squeeze out of a dozen lifetimes.

The death of the AFLW, baseball and American football player, announced on Wednesday, has devastated Australian sport.

If there is any comfort in her heartbreaking story, it is that she got to see major societal shifts happen across the world — ones she had pushed for since the start of her career.

Her demand for equality in women’s sport, reconciliation and many other topics some are too scared to speak out about came screaming through in her public persona.

While advancing women’s sport and Australia’s attitude towards it became her bread and butter, Barclay’s genuine social conscience had seen her flood social media with messages supporting equality movements.

The Black Lives Matter movement is just one of many causes she championed, particularly since she lived in America on-and-off in recent years.

She was in the US as part of her Legends Football League career, where she won a championship with the Chicago Bliss playing quarterback.

The Kiwi-Aussie also repeatedly shared her passion for social issues closer to home.

She promoted causes such as the Mungo Youth Project which teaches Aboriginal heritage and cultural practice in schools.

She also highlighted the powerful role sport can play in challenging social views.

In 2019, Barclay posted a message on her Instagram account, speaking out in support of former Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes when his documentaries — The Australian Dream and The Final Quarter — were released.

Barclay was a pure athletic marvel and was naturally gifted at every sport she played.

Her raw enthusiasm for competition shone through in every thing she did. It was a huge part of her life.

She featured in five World Cups for the Australian women’s baseball team, lined up for the GWS Giants in AFLW – and even won a championship playing quarterback in America’s Legends Football League.

Barclay grew up in Perth playing Aussie Rules against boys before turning her eye to the baseball diamond.

A right-armed pitcher, she was playing state baseball at the age of 15 before making the national team at age 17 for the 2008 World Cup in Japan.

She was part of the silver-medal winning outfit in Venezuela in 2010 before also playing in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

Barclay (back right) recently shared this image of her and her LFL teammates to Instagram.

Intrigued by American football, Barclay attempted to play in the then-named Lingerie Football League in 2012 but was hampered by visa issues.

So she learned the game in Australia — and learned it fast, leading the NSW Surge to the championship in the sole season of LFL Australia in 2013-14.

After being named the best offensive player in the league she eventually made it to the States a couple of years later and also won a title there in her first season.

The Giants came calling ahead of the inaugural AFLW season in 2017, picking her up in the draft.

Through it all, she was the perfect story for promoting women’s sport.

If sport was her truest passion, fighting for women’s sport and equality was also a burning motivation.

Her social media is flooded with posts praising fellow female athletes and calling out any hint of disrespect thrown their way.

She spoke out when AFLW Tayla Harris’ trolling storm was at its peak.

Her most striking post came from a personal story where she shared her own brother Zane’s shifting attitude towards women’s sport.

Barclay was criticised for her involvement in lingerie football, but her response to the criticism was perfect.

When asked about switching between the LFL and the AFLW before her debut with the Giants, she made it clear women’s sport no longer needs sex to sell.

She lived long enough to see that change occur right in front of her own eyes — and it’s a message that must continue to be embraced.

Legends Football League Jacinda Barclay in uniform for the Legends Football League in 2013. Picture: Daniel Aarons

“Women’s sport doesn’t need to show off their bodies to be successful,” Barclay told The Daily Telegraph in 2017.

“What we need is support, nurturing and facilities, which is everything the AFL is offering.

“It’s the help female athletes need to bring their professional careers to fruition.

“The AFL are more directed at ability. That’s what they are showcasing. It doesn’t need to be sex sells.”