South Mandurah Football Club women’s star Brianna Moyes will trade her blue and gold jumper for a purple one after signing on with the Fremantle Dockers for the upcoming AFL Women’s season.
The gun Falcon was announced as one of two Dockers rookie signings on Wednesday, just days after playing for Souths in a grand final against Pinjarra, and joins former Perth Glory soccer player Angelique Stannett on the squad.
Both players were identified through the club’s annual rookie talent search program and signed contracts with Fremantle on Tuesday afternoon.
A former Perth Lynx basketballer, Moyes is no stranger to the demands of a national competition and will look to transfer any skills she can to the AFL Women’s.
Speaking to fremantlefc.com.au, the 27-year-old said footy had always been a passion of her’s.
“I’ve always loved footy and taken a keen interest and it wasn’t until this year that it became an option for me,” she said.
“I used to kick the footy around in the back yard with my dad – he built wooden posts and painted them white.
“And now (to be on an AFLW list) it is just a dream come true.
“I can’t believe it.”
Moyes was a star in South Mandurah’s inaugural women’s team throughout the 2018 season, booting 17 goals from her seven games and playing a key role in spurring the Falcons on to a grand final berth.
She was named among the Falcons’ best two players in six of her seven games at the club, with her skills highlighted in a clash against the lowly Dwellingup where she collected a six-goal bag.
Moyes was also fantastic in her side’s qualifying final win over Pinjarra, helping the Falcons nail down the first spot in the grand final.
Fremantle AFL Women’s manager Darryn Fry said Moyes would bring a real tenacity to the side.
“Brianna showed us through the process she isn’t intimidated by anything, so she will come into the program and will acquit herself really well,” he said.
Fry said the girls would be ready to go come pre-season kicking off at the start of November.
“They meet the expectations already from a fitness and conditioning perspective so the foundations are there which is really handy,” Fry said.
“For them, now it is a matter of chipping away at some individual skill development so that when they come to day one of pre-season they are ready to go.”
Teams will have the chance to finalise their squads for the 2019 season at the NAB AFL Women’s Draft in Melbourne next month.
Peel Thunderbirds product Sabreena Duffy looms as a serious chance to be recruited in the draft.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
