{"id":117463,"date":"2022-09-26T12:50:45","date_gmt":"2022-09-26T02:50:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=117463"},"modified":"2022-09-26T12:50:47","modified_gmt":"2022-09-26T02:50:47","slug":"humble-koenen-just-keen-to-play-her-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2022\/09\/26\/humble-koenen-just-keen-to-play-her-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Humble Koenen just keen to play her role"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AFTER such a good start to the season, Brisbane\u2019s Breanna Koenen<\/a> was obviously not a happy camper after her side suffered their first loss for the season on the weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot the result we wanted going down here, but to their credit they were really competitive, they were really physical, I think we were slow to start, so it was disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the weekend\u2019s result, Brisbane had had a stellar start to the season, and Koenen confirmed that a catalyst for that was the Preliminary Final loss to Melbourne last season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe learnt a lot last season, and then obviously being able to keep the majority of the group together over the off season, and really coming into this season firing and knowing what we want, just having that belief I think helped a lot. Obviously only half way so we\u2019ve got a few more games to win before we even make finals, and then from there on, so we\u2019ve got a bit of work to do before we think about that sort of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brisbane\u2019s fitness has improved this season, which Koenen confirmed was a focus of the offseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis preseason was really tough, I think we changed our focus and did a lot of short, sharp, change of direction so it was really different this year. We had Tanner Scott come on this year as our S&C to compliment Matthew Green, so they both have amazing resumes, they\u2019re both very experience, so I think both of them combining has really put us in good stead coming into this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the increase in pay AFLW players now enjoy, it has allowed some players to focus more on footy but Koenen really enjoys her job outside of footy as a physio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s at this weird stage where you can sort of still do both. I really enjoy my job outside of footy, it gives me something else to focus rather then just being just footy centric the whole time, so I think it\u2019s my little time away from football that I enjoy but a lot of the girls have had the opportunity to sort of focus purely on footy and really improve, and I think it really shows in the competition and the performance players are able to produce now is off the back of that. So it\u2019s going to become harder and harder to sort of balance both, but at the moment I like being able to work as a physio outside of footy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brisbane have become well known for their after goal \u201ctheme songs\u201d for each player at home games, for example The Cranberries\u2019 classic Zombie<\/em> is played after every time Greta Bodey<\/a> kicks a goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Koenen confirmed that each player gets to pick which song it is that gets played for them, and to use Koenen\u2019s words, the song is normally \u201cwhatever you vibe\u201d and is normally a pump up song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being such an integral part of the Brisbane side, Koenen does not get the accolades some of her team mates get. Koenen herself is perfectly fine with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have never been one to sort of put my hand up and jump around and I guess be the front of everything. I really enjoy seeing my team mates play great and play good footy, so at the end of the day I can support my team mates in doing what they do best I think I\u2019ve done my job. Hopefully I can play my role at the same time, so I just go about my business back there and keep plodding along because inside the four walls my team mates really respect what I do, so I think that\u2019s better then anything I can get from the outside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weight of captaincy and the respect that comes with that doesn\u2019t weigh as much on Koenen as it used to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis year less so. I\u2019ve been more focused on myself and being able to perform and play my role for the team. It definitely has in the past and you sort of feel a weight on your shoulders sometimes to lift but I think just reminding myself I\u2019ve got to do my job and not try and do it all is probably something I\u2019ve learnt a lot over the last season and coming into this year. It\u2019s definitely one of my biggest areas of improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Koenen is not the only member of her family that has made it to the top of her sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her sister Cara is a Gold Medal winning netballer, having been a member of the Diamonds side that won gold at this year\u2019s Commonwealth Games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Koenen is a super proud big sister, and laughed after the mention of any sibling rivalry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s probably a good thing we\u2019re in separate sports so we can actually encourage each other rather than be opposition. I\u2019m super proud of everything she\u2019s achieved. She\u2019s worked really hard and to be rewarded with a Gold Medal at a Commonwealth Games is pretty amazing, but we just obviously support each other in everything we do and to have that from your siblings, even from my younger sister and brother, it\u2019s really special.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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