OFF the back of an impressive year as a forward in a premiership season, Brianna Arthur moved into the midfield full-time last season and loved it. The North Adelaide Women’s talent stepped up to the role when required by coach Krissie Steen, and when asked what her favourite position was, there was little doubt in Arthur’s mind.

“Definitely mid now,” Arthur said. “As a forward it was good for me as I’m very structured and also disciplined. “I think that it helped in the year that we won the premiership, but for now I’m really enjoying my time in the midfield, just able to enjoy my footy and play a role that I don’t find too difficult in terms of structure, being able to position myself to get the ball and also to help the team out. “That’s why I’m really enjoying the midfield at the moment.”

Arthur’s football journey has been relatively short by most people’s standards. Coming into her fifth year in 2022, her career has included an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in 2019, but returned in time to play in North’s 2020 SANFL Women’s premiership side.

“I started my football journey in 2017. I played in an Under 16s team and I was an over-ager at the time. Just turned 17 that year out at Broadview Football Club,” Arthur said. “I was lucky enough that was my first team playing, to get in the medal count that year and I think I came second. “Darryl Wintle (North Adelaide Football Services Manager) gave me a call and I went out to North the following season. “Went back to Broadview and then I ruptured my ACL so had a year off and then the year after that we won the premiership, I played that. “I’ve been at North since then.”

When asked of her premiership season and the day itself, Arthur described it as “pretty unreal to be honest”.

“We had a huge amount of girls with lots of talent, and as well their leadership on-field and off-field was very admirable,” Arthur said. “I think I’ve taken last year I was able to step into the leadership role and I think I really took a lot from that year, and still being fresh in terms of playing for only four years now.”

As a player who has developed from a forward into a midfielder, Arthur said her smarts were among her best strengths, but she also had a some kicking efficiency to work on, particularly playing through the middle.

“I just like to play behind the ball a bit in terms of a defensive mid,” she said. “I think I can read the play and also be able to get across when needed and help out, so that’s my strength.

“I think now going into the midfield role, I want to work on just lowering my eyes a bit. “Because we are in a really good league now that we’ve got these girls being able to play a proper forward role where they tick lead, and they lead properly as well. It’s just being able to reward those leads.

“For me it’s definitely being able to lower the eyes and being able to hit the targets, and also two-way running now that I am in the midfield, having to get back defensively and also attack when needed. “I think the two-way running will definitely be a big thing, especially with 16-a-side this year.”

Whilst North missed out on playing finals last season, Arthur is optimistic about 2022, believing that after a big off-season, the Roosters could make the jump back into the top four.

“I reckon we’ve done a lot of recruiting this year,” Arthur said. “We’ve got great coaches who have done a heap of recruiting actually. “I think for us we just needed a few forwards and I think we have got a really good team this year.”

As for her own goal, she is taking it one week at a time, but would love to reach the next level and play AFL Women’s.

“If I ended up playing some really good footy this year, I think I would be definitely thinking about it,” Arthur said. “I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself. “I know I’m still only 22, but there’s heaps of young girls coming through the programs now. “I think I just want to enjoy my footy this year and get the ball a bit.”