| Molly Brooksby | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Molly Brooksby | ||
| Date of birth | July 18, 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Adelaide, South Australia | ||
| Original team(s) | Golden Grove (Under 12 Girls) | ||
| Draft | Pre-signed, 2023 AFLW Expansion U18 Talent Pathway | ||
| Debut | 2024, Port Adelaide | ||
| Height | 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder / Defender | ||
Molly Brooksby (born 18 July 2005) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition. She was signed by Port Adelaide ahead of the 2024 season through the league's Expansion U18 Talent Pathway.
Brooksby was born in Adelaide, South Australia. She initially played soccer for Modbury Vista, including at State League level, before switching to Australian rules football in 2017. That year, she began playing with Golden Grove Football Club's Under 12 Girls team.
In the 2017 junior season, Brooksby played 12 games, recorded 80 kicks and 40 handballs (totaling 120 disposals), took 15 marks, and kicked 3 goals and 5 behinds. [1]
She later joined Norwood in the SANFL Women's League (SANFLW), where she was named the club’s Best First-Year Player in 2022. [2]
In June 2023, Brooksby was signed by Port Adelaide during the AFLW Expansion U18 Talent Pathway Pre-Signing Period. [3] She made her AFLW debut in the 2024 season.
In Round 5 of the 2024 season, Brooksby was nominated for the AFLW Rising Star award after collecting 18 kicks and 525 metres gained against Richmond. [4] Across the season, she played 14 games, averaging 11.6 kicks, 1.2 handballs, and 12.8 disposals per game, with a disposal efficiency of 67.0%. She also averaged 1.4 marks, 1.4 tackles, and 333.4 metres gained per game. [5]
Brooksby plays primarily as a rebounding defender or outside midfielder. She is noted for her kicking efficiency, ability to move the ball out of defence, and composure under pressure. [6]
At the age of 15, Brooksby was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She manages the condition with the use of an insulin monitor and regular blood sugar testing during matches and training. [7]