Quick Facts
Biography
Libby Birch (born 3 December 1997) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Western Bulldogs in the AFL Women's competition. She previously played netball and captained Victoria at the National Netball Championships. Birch is currently studying a Physiotherapy degree at Latrobe University.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.
Sporting background
In April 2016, Birch won a silver medal for netball when Victoria finished runners-up at the under 21 national championships. 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. 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. In 2015, she had also won the Victorian State Netball League grand final (championship division) with Boroondarah Express.
AFL Women's career
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. In the off-season of the AFLW, she continues to play for Darebin in the VFL Women's. In May 2017, she re-signed with the Western Bulldogs on to the senior list for the 2018 AFLW season.
Sporting achievements
- Victorian state hockey team and open state league team in 2011 and 2012 (Footscray Hockey Club)
- Captain Victorian state netball team — gold medallist in the National Championships from 2011 to 2014
- Australian netball underage squad member in 2012, 2013, 2014
- Victorian Institute of Sport full scholarship from 2013 to 2015
- Victorian Netball League grand final player — Premiership winners in the Championship division with the Boroondara Netball Club in 2015
- Most valuable player Victorian Netball League in 2016 (Boroondara Netball Club)
- Under 21 and Australian Netball League squad (Victoria) in 2016 and 2017
- Western Bulldogs AFLW player, inaugural 2017 season
- VFL Women's premiership player 2016 Darebin Falcons