Gabby Collingwood

Gabby Collingwood
Collingwood after the 2022 season 7 Grand Final
Personal information
Full name Gabrielle Collingwood
Date of birth (1999-01-15) 15 January 1999 (age 25)
Original team(s) University of Queensland (QWAFL)
Draft No. 7, 2017 AFL Women's rookie draft
Debut Round 1, 2018, Brisbane vs. Adelaide, at Norwood Oval
Height 163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018–2022 (S7) Brisbane 12 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2022 season 7.
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Gabrielle "Gabby" Collingwood (born 15 January 1999) is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions in the AFL Women's (AFLW).

Junior and state football

Collingwood started playing Australian rules football in May 2011, with the Forest Lake Dragons.[1][2] She played three years with the Jindalee Jags, including with the boys' squads.[3] Following that she was selected to play with the under-17 Brisbane Flames in the 2012 Under 17 Youth Girls State Championships.[1][4] She was also a member of the Sunfire Academy[1] and of the Brisbane Lions Academy.[5] Collingwood played for University of Queensland in the AFL Queensland Women's League (QWAFL).[6] Collingwood represented Queensland at the 2017 AFL Women's Under 18 Championships and was selected for the initial 54-person All-Australian squad, but didn't make the final team.[7]

AFLW career

Collingwood was drafted by Brisbane with their first selection and seventh overall in the 2017 AFL Women's rookie draft.[6][8] She said that Craig Starcevich is the best coach she ever had.[9] She made her debut in Brisbane's twelve-point win over Adelaide at Norwood Oval in the opening round of the 2018 season, along with debutants Sophie Conway, Jordan Zanchetta, and Arianna Clarke.[10][11] In April 2019, Collingwood re-signed with Brisbane for the 2020 season.[12] In March 2023, Collingwood was delisted by Brisbane Lions.[13]

Personal life

At the age of nine, Collingwood went through surgery to remove a brain tumour from her right frontal lobe. While she was recovering, Brisbane Lions player Jonathan Brown visited her, which inspired her later to play Australian rules football.[11] From a young age, she was a Brisbane Lions supporter.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Female Football Profile – Gabby Collingwood". AFL Queensland. 22 October 2012.
  2. ^ Estwick, Douglas (23 July 2014). "Gabby won't let tumour defeat her Aussie Rules goals". The Courier-Mail.
  3. ^ "AFLW the next chapter in Grider's Collingwood connection". Brisbane Lions. Telstra Media. 19 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Initial Brisbane Flames squad named". AFL Queensland. 21 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Lions Academy Youth Girls Squad Announced". AFL Queensland. 17 November 2017.
  6. ^ a b Fielding, Josie (20 October 2017). "Lions recruit three more in AFLW Rookie Draft". Brisbane Lions. Telstra Media. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  7. ^ Black, Sarah (18 July 2017). "AFLW U18 All Australian squad named". Australian Football League. Telstra Media. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  8. ^ Colangelo, Anthony (20 October 2017). "Highly rated midfielder among women given AFLW lifeline". The Examiner.
  9. ^ "Gabby Arrives at the Gabba". AFL Queensland. 2 November 2017.
  10. ^ Salemme, kate (1 February 2018). "AFLW Round 1 teams named: Stars set for second season". Herald Sun. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  11. ^ a b Arnold, Rikki-Lee (1 February 2018). "Gabby Collingwood to make AFLW debut for Brisbane after being inspired to play by Jonathan Brown". The Courier-Mail.
  12. ^ "Lions den sees four re-commit". The Women's Game. 15 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Thank You Jesse & Lulu". Brisbane Lions. Telstra. 9 March 2023. The Brisbane Lions have also informed Gabby Collingwood, Ava Seton and Maggie Harmer that they will not be offered a playing contract for the upcoming season.