It’s the love of the game and North Melbourne that makes it all worthwhile for star recruit, Brittany Gibson.
“It is a huge honour [to play for the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos] and to be honest it is one of my lifelong dreams ticked off,” Gibson told The Mercury.
A Brisbane Lion for the first two seasons of AFLW, Gibson is eagerly awaiting the chance to run out in front of a home crowd in the royal blue and white stripes on Sunday.
“I didn’t think I could top the feeling of my first ever AFLW game against Melbourne at Casey Fields,” Gibson said.
“But I think this goes one better being part of a team I feel like I belong in, in the sense I have always barracked for them all my life and then obviously being in my home state where family and friends can come by the dozen and really watch the top level of football, I never thought it would be possible.”
Gibson has wasted no time making her presence felt.
“Anywhere where I can put the body on and clear a path for our runners or make it harder for the opposition to gain possession of the ball, that is what I’m going to do,” she said.
North’s vice-captain has more on her plate than most, having to juggle part-time work and a newborn.
“I’ll go to training and straight to nightshift or I’ll come straight from nightshift and go to training, so it is tough but you’ve got to pay the bills. For now I’m doing what I love, I’m playing for the club I love so I can’t really complain,” Gibson added.
“It is a challenge, but it is a short season at the moment and it is what you have got to do.
“You have to have that support network from your club and partner and family and friends, because without them it wouldn’t be possible.”