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Matatū midfielder Grace Brooker has made history with AFL women's side, Essendon — signing a one year deal as the club's first ever female rookie.
The 25-year-old reveals she pursued the move herself, having always been interested in the sport.
"My greatest goal is to be the best athlete I can possibly be and watching that sport — they are athletes.
The Matatū midfielder is heading to Australia to play for Essendon in AFLW. (Source: 1News)
"They've got this vertical game, this quick-fast thinking game and a complete change of skills and that's what really drew me in," said Brooker.
She admits it's going to be a big challenge as she had never played the sport, nor was she "AFL fit".
"They're covering 10 plus kilometres a game which is a fair few more than rugby," she joked.
The move to Australia next week is bittersweet for the Super Rugby stand-out, who was only able to fulfil the one-year contract with Essendon because she would miss out on Black Ferns selection.
"You have to be the best in the country, if not sometimes the best in the world, for a black jersey. I wanted to put my best foot forward but didn't.. it's understandable and didn't come as a shock to me."
She admitted to being grateful she had this "awesome opportunity" backed up.
"I'm satisified, I'm happy with my season [for Matatū], happy with my choices.. heading there will be a whole new world and probably the best thing for me," she said.
Brooker was a trailblazer in this line of code switch — believed to be one of the only New Zealanders to do it. She hoped it opened doors for others to follow suit.
"We do have quite a few good players in New Zealand and a couple of my club teammates play AFL here. Hopefully, it broadens their horizons from over in Aussie looking here and seeing potential assets and get them over and get them playing," she said.
The 25-year-old knows how beneficial overseas sporting experience could be — having played both rugby sevens and union abroad.
"It taught me so many lessons about myself and I had to really lean on my values and what I care about.
"I came back a better person — maybe not a better rugby player — but definitely a more well-rounded person ready to take on more challenges and step into situations I wasn't so sure about it," she said.
One thing she was sure of was her passion for rugby union. Brooker still had a strong desire to represent the Black Ferns once again.
"I've had that taste of the black jersey and you can't stop that hunger.. whether that happens, well I'll do everything in my power to make sure I'm putting my hand up — instead of hand out," she said.
