As voted by her peers, Brianna Davey has won the AFLW Players’ Best Captain Award, presented by KPMG Australia.
First-year Blue Brooke Walker pens an exclusive column for AFLPlayers.com.au about Davey’s leadership qualities and how she epitomizes what it means to be a great leader.
Bri Davey epitomises what it means to be a great captain.
She has driven our team culture which has become hugely important to the success we’ve had on field this year.
Every week Bri leads by example to inspire everyone around her and has proven to be a natural leader who embodies so many qualities of not only a great captain, but a genuinely wonderful person as well.
She’s empathetic and approachable, always operating with a team-first mindset.
As a first-year player with Carlton, Bri has been instrumental in my development.
Unselfishly, she has always offered her time and knowledge to me in any way that she can as I make the transition from Rugby Sevens to AFLW.
Whether it be ways to improve my knowledge and understanding of the game or skill acquisition, Bri has taken me under her wing.
A memory that stands out for me where Bri showed her leadership qualities was last year after the AFLW season.
Bri was recovering from her knee reconstruction and we were beginning our preparations for the VFLW season.
As an AFL-listed player, Bri wasn’t required to be there but she attended every training session and would hobble around the track as it rained providing everyone with feedback.
She was conscious of making an effort to get to know everyone and I think it’s those sorts of values and behaviours that show why we appreciate Bri so much.
After our loss to North Melbourne in Round 1 the playing group were deflated.
A few of us had lost our sense of belief and faith within the team because of that loss but Bri took it upon herself to gather us together and motivate us for the remainder of the season.
We went out onto the training track the next day as a group and it was a moment that changed our season.
When you run out onto the footy field with Bri you know that everything is going to be OK.
Having Bri lead us out gives the playing group a sense of security, in a way, because you know that you’ve got a leader by your side who is willing to do anything for her teammates.
It’s a hard thing to be able to instill amongst such a large playing group but it’s something Bri has been able to do really well.
Some captains lead by example in the way they play and their work ethic on the field but Bri’s leadership extends beyond that.
She’s able to inspire us and we work hard for her.
I have the upmost respect for Bri.
Not only is she a pioneer for Carlton but she’s a pioneer for the entire AFLW competition and all women’s sport.
