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Libby Birch

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Libby Birch (born 3 December 1997) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for North Melbourne in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne. She previously played netball and captained Victoria at the National Netball Championships.[1] Birch is currently studying a Physiotherapy degree at La Trobe University.[2] In 2016, Birch switched from netball to Australian rules football and was recruited by the Western Bulldogs as a rookie after having only played football for three months for the Darebin Falcons in the VFL Women's.[3]

Libby Birch
Personal information
Full name Elizabeth Birch
Date of birth (1997-12-03) 3 December 1997 (age 26)
Original team(s) Darebin Falcons (VFL Women's)
Debut Round 1, 2017, Western Bulldogs vs. Fremantle, at VU Whitten Oval
Height 176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current club North Melbourne
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2017–2019 Western Bulldogs 22 (1)
2020–2023 Melbourne 55 (0)
2024– North Melbourne 00 (0)
Total 77 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2023 season.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Sporting background

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In April 2016, Birch won a silver medal for netball when Victoria finished runners-up at the under 21 national championships.[4] After the tournament, Daisy Pearce from the Darebin Falcons made contact with Birch and invited her to trial for the inaugural AFL Women's season.[5] Prior to 18 June 2016, she had never kicked a football but only ten weeks later, Birch played and won a VFL Women's premiership with her team, Darebin.[6] In 2015, she had also won the Victorian Netball League grand final (championship division) with Boroondarah Express.[7][8]

AFL Women's career

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In 2017, Birch played all seven games for the Western Bulldogs as a 19-year old rookie. She made her AFL Women's (AFLW) debut in the opening round against Fremantle and played as a half back and also on the wing but her overall athletic profile allows her the ability to play any position.[5] In the off-season of the AFLW, she continues to play for Darebin in the VFL Women's.[9] In May 2017, she re-signed with the Western Bulldogs on to the senior list for the 2018 AFLW season.[10]

Birch was one of two round 2 nominees for the 2018 AFL Women's Rising Star award after a strong defensive tagging role and six disposal match against Brisbane in February 2018.[11] She went on to run fifth in the bulldogs best and fairest count, play in their premiership win and make the All Australian Squad. Birch also won the competitions AFLW rebel young leader award for 2018.[12]

After playing every game in AFLW season 3, Birch finished 5th again in the Bulldogs best and fairest. On the last day of the AFLW April 2019 sign and trade period Melbourne secured Birch for at least the next 2 seasons. The Western Bulldogs finally agreed to terms with Birch being traded for Ashleigh Guest plus picks 8 and 48.[13]

In April 2019, Birch was traded to Melbourne, while Ashleigh Guest joined the Western Bulldogs.[13]

In her first season for Melbourne in 2020, Libby won the clubs Trademark Award along with finishing 5th in the Best and Fairest. In addition to this, Libby was picked in the AFLW All Australian Team as well as the AFLPA 22Under22 All Australian Team. Libby was also a nominee for the AFLPA's MVP Award and Most Courageous.[citation needed]

Outside of her on-field playing ability, Birch also featured in a special comments role for SEN's AFLW Commentary as well as playing a prominent role in NAB AFL Auskick at Home Content Series, motivating kids to stay active during the COVID-19 lockdown periods. Birch joined Melbourne's leadership group in the 2021 AFLW season.[14] In 2022 season 6, Birch was again named in the All-Australian team, and in 2022 season 7 she won the AFLW premiership for the second time. This made her the first woman to win a premiership for two different AFLW clubs. Birch continues to write for The Age and feature as a specialist for channel 7.[15] In 2023, Birch will also cover AFL for 3AW as an expert commentator.[16]

In December 2023, Birch was traded by Melbourne to North Melbourne, in exchange for a first round pick.[17][18]

Sporting achievements

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  • Victorian state hockey team and open state league team in 2011 and 2012 (Footscray Hockey Club)[19]
  • Captain Victorian state netball team — gold medallist in the National Championships from 2011 to 2014[20]
  • Australian netball underage squad member in 2012, 2013, 2014[21]
  • Victorian Institute of Sport full scholarship from 2013 to 2015[22]
  • Victorian Netball League grand final player — Premiership winners in the Championship division with the Boroondara Netball Club in 2015[23]
  • Most valuable player Victorian Netball League in 2016 (Boroondara Netball Club)[24]
  • Under 21 and Australian Netball League squad (Victoria) in 2016 and 2017[25]
  • Western Bulldogs AFLW player, inaugural 2017 season[26]
  • VFL Women's premiership player 2016 and 2017 Darebin Falcons[27][28][29]
  • Nab Rising Star Nominee 2018
  • All Australian AFLW squad selection 2018
  • rebel 2018 AFLW young leader award winner
  • Western Bulldogs AFLW premiership player 2018
  • Western Bulldogs VFLW 3rd place Best & Fairest 2018
  • VFL Women's Team of the Year selection 2018 and 2019
  • Casey Demons Runner Up Best & Fairest 2019
  • 2019 Inaugural Western Bulldogs Community Service Award.
  • Melbourne AFLW Trademark Award 2020
  • Melbourne AFLW 5th Place Best & Fairest 2020
  • AFLPA MVP Nominee 2020
  • AFLPA Most Courageous Nominee 2020
  • AFLW All Australian Team - Centre half back 2020
  • AFLW 22Under22 All Australian Team 2020
  • First AFL/AFLW player to win a premiership with 3 clubs (Western Bulldogs, Melbourne & North Melbourne)

[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Western Bulldogs AFL Women's Team Player Profiles". Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  2. ^ Ryan, Peter (21 June 2016). "Victorian netball talent makes impressive switch to footy". Afl.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  3. ^ Sewell, Eliza (14 September 2016). "Western bulldogs sign state league netballer Libby Birch as a rookie for National Women's League". heraldsun.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  4. ^ "MyNetball". my.netball.com.au. 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  5. ^ a b Guthrie, Ben (18 January 2017). "Exnetballer is bulldogs surprise packet". westernbulldogs.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  6. ^ Robin, Joanna (12 April 2017). "Libby Birch's Netball Dream Shattered". mamamia.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Boroondarah Victorian Netball League Grandfinal Winners". bna.org.au. 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Maribyrnong Sports Academy's first Female Afl player". 15 September 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  9. ^ "They are coming home AFLW PLAYERS IN VFL WOMEN'S". vfl.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  10. ^ "AFLW: All the clubs' full lists after trade period - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Telstra Media. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  11. ^ Buxton, Aaron (13 February 2018). "AFLW: Dog duo named round two Rising Stars". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  12. ^ Nobes, Caitlin (8 April 2019). "AFLW: Birch requests trade to Melbourne". Melbourne. Telstra Media.
  13. ^ a b Nobes, Caitlin (26 April 2019). "AFLW: Birch joins Melbourne". Melbourne. Telstra Media.
  14. ^ Nobes, Caitlin (15 January 2021). "AFLW: New look leadership group". Melbourne. Telstra Media.
  15. ^ Zita, David (27 November 2022). "AFLW:Demons seal first ever premiership in heart stopping lions thriller". fox sports.
  16. ^ last= Gullan|first= Scott|date=23 February 2023|title=Time To make a splash|location=Docklands, Victoria, Australia|publisher=Herald Sunpage=65
  17. ^ "Birch departs Melbourne". Melbourne Football Club. 10 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Kangaroos welcome two-time All-Australian and premiership defender". North Melbourne Football Club. 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Hockey Premier State League Squad(Libby Birch)". footscrayhockey.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Netball Victoria State team side crowned national champions". vic.netball.com.au. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  21. ^ Howard, Michael (13 March 2014). "Ascot Valley Netballer Libby Birch, 16, Is Shooting for the Top". heraldsun.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Rising-star-libby-birch". StarWeekly.com.au. Star Weekly. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  23. ^ "Boroondarah Express Victorian Netball League Grandfinal fairytale". vic.netball.com.au. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  24. ^ "Boroondarah Victorian Netball League VNL Awards Winners". bna.org.au. 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  25. ^ "Netball Victoria State team announcements". vic.netball.com.au. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  26. ^ "Bulldogs Secure". westernbulldogs.com.au. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  27. ^ Olle, Sarah (29 April 2017). "Eight-aflw-marquee-players-among-the-range-of-big-names-named-in-vflw-squads". www.foxsports.com.au. FoxSports. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  28. ^ "Libby Birch has joined the western bulldogs after impressing for the Darebin falcons". heraldsun.com.au/leader/north. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  29. ^ "VFL Women's grand final: Darebin claims fifth consecutive flag with win tense win over Diamond Creek". heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  30. ^ "Conti claims Bulldogs Best and Fairest". Telstra Media. 4 April 2019.
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