Brooke Barwick set for round one AFLW debut with Western Bulldogs despite missing draft year with ACL injury

The father of Tasmania’s newest AFLW player has spoken on what his daughter’s impending debut means after missing almost two years of football. See her reaction here.

2023 number 4 pick Brooke Barwick is set to make her AFLW debut in round one with the Tasmanian missing almost two years of football following an ACL injury. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

After missing almost two years of football, Tasmanian Brooke Barwick is set to make her AFLW debut.

The 19 year-old, who was selected at pick four in last year’s draft, hasn’t played a competitive game since tearing her ACL prior to her draft year but has impressed enough at Whitten Oval since her arrival to be selected in the Bulldogs round 1 team.

Barwick will make her debut on Saturday against GWS in Canberra with the Giants list also comprising of Tasmanian-born players Claire Ransom, Madison Brazendale and Meghan Gaffney.

A product of both the Claremont and Glenorchy football clubs, Barwick’s father Peter said the family was overwhelmed by the news with Peter, Mary and older sister Brieanna all set to make the trip to the nation’s capital to see their youngest daughter and little sister realise her childhood dream.

Both Brieanna (left) and Peter (right) Barwick will be in the crowd to watch their sister and daughter Brooke play her first AFLW game. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“I’m just so happy for her,” Barwick said.

“The whole family is extremely proud, but we’re happier for her more than anything. The work that she’s had to put in after missing nearly two full seasons is enormous. She’s worked really hard to debut in round one.

“She was only really cleared fully six weeks ago so it speaks volumes to the work she’s put in.”

Brooke was given the good news on Tuesday and immediately called the family with Peter admitting she was emotional to share the news.

“It’s something she’s always strived for so she was pretty emotional when she called,” he said.

“We’ve lived her journey as close as anyone and we’ve all been amazed by her resilience, her work rate, her positive attitude and her self-belief.

“It’s almost a surreal moment and similar to draft night again. We went in thinking it was a possibility (that Brooke would get drafted), but until it actually comes to fruition you are nervous and it was the same around her making a round one debut.”

The Barwick name is one not foreign to AFLW circles with Brooke’s cousin Elise a Gold Coast Suns player.

And while a quirk in the fixture means the two clubs won’t meet this season, Peter was confident both girls would do the family name proud in season 2024.