The Brisbane Lions are delighted to announce the signing of cross-code sensation Courtney Hodder for the 2021 AFLW season.
The fleet footed Jill of all trades returns to football after a successful stint in rugby.
As a State representative for Western Australia in her junior years the highly decorated Hodder, was a three time All Australian in the Under 18s national carnival, before making the switch to rugby and becoming an overnight sensation.
As a 17-year-old, Hodder scored six tries in a game for Western Australia in the inaugural Super W season in 2018.
She then made a major impact after crossing the country to join the Queensland Reds in Super W rugby.
Australian representative honours have come in both rugby and rugby sevens with selection in the Australian Youth Sevens in 2017 and the Wallaroos’ Australia A squad for the 2019 tour to Fiji for the Oceania Rugby Championships.
Her 2019 season was wiped out after she broke both bones in her left leg in a tackle and it was during that rehabilitation process she began to think about a homecoming to Australian Football.
She returned to her try scoring best for the Reds this season but the passion to have a crack at the AFLW had been ignited.
She joins the Lions after the Club sought AFL permission to sign her as an other sport rookie due to her two seasons in elite National and State rugby programs.
Congrats Courtney Hodder #YGChamps Pool A MVP & WA MVP @WAWFL @WAFootball #journeyto2017 pic.twitter.com/euGwgzSrtU
— AFL Female (@AFLFemale) May 6, 2016
Women’s CEO Breeanna Brock said the club was thrilled to receive the approval to bring an elite junior footballer back to the AFLW.
“We tried last year to see if Courtney wanted to come to AFL but she had lots going on with her recovery and it wasn’t something she was really thinking about,’’ Brock said.
“A year on and here we are getting one of our most talented youngster back to AFLW.
“She’s an exciting player in any sport she chooses to play. Quick, agile and a natural footballer we were all hopeful she’d come back one day. We are really looking forward to getting a Sherrin back in her hand. “
Hodder will join Irishwoman Orla O’Dwyer as the Club’s other rookie for 2021.
