Passing the Torch is a new spin-off podcast series under the Credit to the Girls umbrella. It profiles the young players of the AFL Women's competition who who will be at the forefront of the competition over the next 10 years. Episodes can be listened to via the traditional Credit to the Girls feed, wherever you get your podcasts.
Nat Grider doesn't just play footy for the fun of it.
She feels there's an additional layer to playing in the NAB AFLW competition than simply chasing a ball around an oval.
"It's probably that belief in yourself, and more broadly, across the competition. You've got so many people who commit so many hours and time and energy and money into the footy we're playing, and I guess getting AFLW up and running," Grider said.
"So you've got that added pressure and stress to put out the best brand of footy you can, to put out every home-and-away game, to put out a brand of footy that people watching are going to come back and watch again.
"I [wasn't] the most amazing player growing up, and I think that's something that stuck with me for my first few years at the club. One thing I definitely learnt early on, which was probably for the better, was that if you don't believe in yourself, how do you expect anyone else to?
"I think that's something I'm continuously working on as a player and a leader, but I guess having that self-confidence in what we're doing is actually incredible, and we're paving the way for so many young female athletes who might not be playing AFLW right now, but maybe one day they will be.
"And if they want to, then the opportunity is there."
The 22-year-old was named vice-captain of Brisbane last year, is already a premiership player, and was named All-Australian in both seasons last year.
"It's also hard. I was watching the Matildas doco that's out now, and you see Sam Kerr, who's just broken the record for kicking the most goals in the Australian jumper, and the headline was something like 'it's not the same', or 'it's not equal'," Grider said.
"I think that for me, I was like, god it's tough. But if people like Sam Kerr aren't breaking the barriers, then who is?
"So I think regardless of the potential lack of belief a lot of us may have in what we're doing and how important it is, it's almost like if we don't do it now, then we're just setting back that five or 10 years; where the competition could be growing if we continue to step forward.
"It's a lot more than [footy]. And I think that's the beauty of the game, you're not just necessarily trying to encourage people to barrack for the AFLW teams, but you're also trying to encourage them to barrack for women in general, women in sport, women in the workforce.
"There's so many things the AFLW competition is putting forward, and breaking down the barriers, which is amazing to be a part of."
EPISODE GUIDE
0:30 – Nat Grider's introduction to footy with the Jindalee Jags
3:04 – Captaining Queensland at the Under-18 National Championships
6:15 – Soaking up the final minutes of the 2021 premiership
8:59 – Turning her back on expansion offers
11:00 – Season seven Grand Final week at Springfield
14:52 – The next wave of Lions
17:25 – Working as a strength and conditioning coach with Brisbane Academy
21:13 – Grider's in-game KPIs as a rebound defender
23:12 – Grider's views on leadership
