STURT forward Amy Brooks-Birve has seen the devastating lows, and is now enjoying the incredible high that was 2022. The Double Blues might have fallen a win short of ultimate glory last season in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s, but after years of battling in the bottom four – winning no more than three games in a singular season – Brooks-Birve described last season as “reward” for the group’s hard work.

“I think we heavily invested in our young players and our culture early on and I think that meant that we always enjoyed being out there at training even though those wins weren’t coming early on,” Brooks-Birve said. “I think to get that reward recently has been amazing to see because it’s years in the making, rather than just a new group rocking up at a preseason. It’s really developed through the years and through the time and you see young girls who are debuting who have been in the program for a couple of years and grown up in the area, it’s really awesome.”

Sturt had two mature-age talents drafted last season in over-ager Kiera Mueller (Adelaide) and former South Australian State Academy member Alex Ballard (Port Adelaide). Both shone running off half-back for the Double Blues last season, with Ballard’s intercept marking, and Mueller’s speed particularly standing out. Brooks-Birve described their success as “absolutely amazing”.

“I’ve known Alex for a long time outside of football,” Brooks-Birve said. “To see her progression as a person is amazing, and the same as Kierra. I think you can see them flourishing in the team, and what Sturt gave them but also what they were able to step up from that and take it to a whole new level is just awesome.”

Brooks-Birve’s journey has been a little different to others, having primarily been a basketballer for about 15 years representing Forestville Eagles. One day she decided to give Australian rules football a chance, and never looked back.

“I got convinced to come out and give footy a go at Goodwood, my local club via one of my friends,” Brooks-Birve said. “I was very reluctant at first because I didn’t want to get injured and I gave it a go and I was like ‘this is for me this is amazing, this is so much fun’. I’m great at getting fouled out in basketball, so I thought a sport where you can do that legally is fantastic for me.

“I started at Goodwood, I captained when I first got there which was a pretty awesome experience and a really great exposure to leadership early on. From there, it was two seasons and then I gave Sturt a go in the trials and I’ve been at Sturt I think this is my fourth season.”

Standing at full-forward, the 183cm talent booted 12 goals in 14 games, at an average of a goal every 4.6 disposals. She only averaged the 3.9 touches and 1.3 marks per game, but when in form, kicked multiple goals. Booting four bags of two goals and one of three goals, 11 of her 12 majors came across five games.

“I’m terrible at rucking and I don’t like it, so any reason to get out of that spot, I’m pretty happy to do,” Brooks-Birve said. “Full-forward’s good fun, we’ve got a really good forwardline with a mix of newer girls and experienced girls and I guess we’ve always been a team that’s never kicked many goals until this year, so it’s been pretty cool.

“We’ve had a lot cycle through that group as well and you might have a game where you need that skill or you bring someone in for that and I think we’ve got a forwardline that can really adapt and have those players lock into it and it’s a really good culture in that group.”

Describing her biggest strength as her leadership, Brooks-Birve sees her role as the “eyes of the field” and is continuing to improve in order to make others better.

“I’ve been working pretty hard on my contested marking at the moment and I want to make that my rock this year, my skill this year,” she said. “I’m pretty happy with how goalkicking went last year, hopefully can get a few more touches of the ball next year which would be good to see, but pretty happy with that.”

An area of improvement other than production would be converting goals against top four sides, with her two goals from five touches against South Adelaide in Round 10 being her only majors against other finals sides.

“I just want to keep lifting and keep bringing that standard when the competition gets better and better as well,” Brooks-Birve said. “We see those see super talents like the India’s (India Rasheed) coming through and be able to take it to the next level so I want to be matching that level of skill, absolutely.”

While Sturt-aligned AFL Women’s talent Angela Foley has been a player Brooks-Birve has looked up to due to her leadership and influence, the forward said coach Michael O’Connor had been a massive personal influence on her game.

“Just in terms of he’s such a great communicator, that I can always be there having that conversation,” Brooks-Birve said. “He’ll be very honest with his feedback and that’s what I need to get better so I’m always happy to hear it. I think he’s definitely had the most impact in terms of giving me that confidence, but also giving me those areas to improve on.”