Brianna Davey’s successful switch to AFL has continued, with her appointment as vice-captain of Carlton’s AFLW team alongside Madeline Keryk.
Davey, who was announced as a marquee player for the Blues in July last year, will support captain Lauren Arnell throughout the 2017 season.
During the leadership presentation at Ikon Park, Head of Football Andrew McKay described a leader as “‘someone who can perform at an elite level consistently” – a criteria Davey certainly meets.
The 22-year-old began her professional sporting career as a goalkeeper at Melbourne Victory where she won a championship. She then switched over to Melbourne City where she won another championship.
Davey was also selected for the national Matildas squad as a goalkeeper. This achievement makes her one of the few players in the league to have successfully played two different codes at a professional level.
“Hopefully I can bring some of my leaderships skills from my elite sporting background,” she said following her appointment as vice-captain.
“I think my life experience in sport, from the different coaches and girls I met along the way, I can definitely bring to the AFLW side of things.”
Davey has now dedicated herself to football, playing for the Western Bulldogs in the AFL’s exhibition matches the last two years, and for St Kilda Sharks in the VWFL.
Brianna Davey was one of the star performers in the 2016 VWFL season. (Photo: AFL Media)
The strong and versatile defender will be a great asset to Carlton’s women’s side and to its leadership team, where she joins fellow vice-captain Madeline Keryk and captain Lauren Arnell.
“Lauren and Maddy are absolutely awesome people and amazing players as well,” she said.
“I’m really looking forward to learning from them and bouncing off the both of them. I think I’ll learn something valuable from them and I’m hoping they learn something from me as well.”
The appointment as vice-captain is something that Davey has taken in her stride, as the team is in the final stages of preparing for its first-ever AFLW game.
Brianna Davey is enjoying her new chapter at the Blues. (Photo: AFL Media)
“I think we’re going to give Collingwood a really good run for their money,” Davey said.
“It is amazing that I’ve been given this formal role as vice-captain, but at the end of the day it’s about all 27 girls and getting back into training and learning the game plan before February 3.”
Carlton takes on Collingwood in the AFLW season opener on Friday 3 February at Olympic Park Oval, with the match kicking off at 7:40pm.
