Fourth year Breanna Koenen says she’s “just lucky” to have had had the opportunity to play football for the Lions AFLW team, as she cracks her first milestone with her 25thgame.
Koenen has been a defensive rock in the backline for the Lions over the past four years.
She started her football journey for the Magnetic Island Magpies, an island situated off the coast of Townsville. Playing footy was really her only option to play sport, with no other club situated on the island.
Each weekend a game of footy would require a ferry ride and bus return trip, taking most of the day.
“There was no pathway back then, I played it because I love it,” she said.
She eventually moved to Brisbane to play more football and was eventually drafted to the Lions in late 2016.
“I’m just lucky and had a few good people around me,” she said.
Koenen’s luck has come off the back of hard work.
This season she shifted from the backline to more of a midfield and half back role. She pushed herself hard in the pre-season to be considered for the switch; shaving one minute off her 2km time trial helped convinced the coaches.
“Fitness was a big focus for me this year,” she said.
“I just wanted to bring more versatility to my game.”
Koenen works as a physio during the week and comes from a successful sporting family – her sister Cara plays for the Sunshine Coast Lightening netball team and younger brother Dirk plays in the VFL.
