Towards the end of 2023, I was offered a contract at Brisbane City FC. This came as a big shock to me as I never considered leaving Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) until I aged out of the program. When I started to think about it, I really understood how much of an influence this move could have on my football career. I got a lot of advice from many different people over the next few days, with each giving me a different perspective on the move. Leaving QAS would mean leaving my friends behind, and making the move to Brisbane City would push me out of my comfort zone where I wasn’t guaranteed a starting position in the team each week. This was the biggest decision I had had to make in my career so far and I was scared I was going to make the wrong choice, but my big sister assured me that any decision I make will always be the right one. This was one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received, and this has stuck with me ever since because it doesn’t just apply to football, but it applies to everything in life.
I was convinced that this move was the next step I had to take in my career for me to develop the most as an individual. One of the only things that QAS didn’t offer was the exposure to senior players. This was one of the biggest reasons to why I made the move to Brisbane City, to expose myself to a more experienced environment surrounded by senior players who are extremely competitive. I knew that if I really wanted to grow and improve my game, I had to step out of my comfort zone and learn from women who had way more experience than I did.
Playing at Brisbane City this year has been a huge part of my development for many reasons. As soon as I arrived at the club each and every one of the girls welcomed me with open arms, they treated me like a younger sister but also respected me enough to be honest with how I was doing. All the girls led by example not only on the field but off it as well. I have been lucky enough to have a few role models in the team and I look up to them in so many ways, I bet they wouldn’t even know it. Training with them each day shows me exactly what I need to do to succeed at a higher level. And although they can joke around at times and have a laugh, a switch flicks as soon as it comes time to concentrate, and they try their hardest no matter what. Their leadership continues to be a crucial part of my development, and I am so grateful I got to learn from and share the field with them all.
The competitive environment to compete for a spot each week pushed me to grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated, but once that spot was earned it was rewarding and showed that the hard work really does pay off. Adjusting to this environment was a lot harder than I thought it would be. It wasn’t just physically hard on my body, but I was now the youngest and could see that there was a lot I needed to improve on to show that I belonged. At the beginning of the year, my goal was to be a consistent and standout player but getting to this point was a constant challenge that pushed me to get feedback from coaches and teammates to be the best I could possibly be. I’m beginning to learn that consistency is the outcome rather than the process itself. To improve, I need to tidy up the little details in my game to become the best I can be and more consistent overtime. The feedback some of the older players gave me was incredibly valuable because they have so much experience on the field which helped me in areas I didn’t even realise I needed to improve. With their support, I gained insights that were especially helpful for me, as I have always been scared of making mistakes on the field. Being at City has begun to teach me that mistakes are a natural part of improvement (everyone makes them), it’s how you respond and grow from them that really counts.
Winning the league this year has been a dream come true and it has taught me a lot about myself both on and off the field. When the final whistle blew in our last game to decide whether we’ve won the league or not, I couldn’t help but be happy because this was a huge moment for the club’s history, and everyone involved. But personally, this was one of the hardest things that I had to come to terms with, I have been dreaming about this moment all year, but I never imagined I wouldn’t be on the field when the moment finally came. It was tough for me to accept the medal because I didn’t feel like I fully deserved it, but I had to remember that although I wasn’t a part of this particular game that sealed our victory I did contribute to a large chunk of the season and am a part of this team even if I am injured. If there was one thing that my experience this year at Brisbane City has taught me it’s that taking risks is often a good thing. I learnt that being comfortable doesn’t always provide you with the ability to grow as a player and that moving out of your comfort zone helps you improve in ways you wouldn’t think were possible.