AFLW: Walyalup (Fremantle) forward Gabby Biedenweg-Webster full of confidence after career lifeline
Walyalup (Fremantle) forward Gabby Biedenweg-Webster has credited her new side for empowering her and giving her the confidence to contribute despite only arriving at the club in June.
Signed as an injury-replacement player after captain Ange Stannett’s season-ending torn ACL, the former Gold Coast Sun has adjusted on the fly to life on the west and happily rolled with the punches to embrace her AFLW lifeline.
Biedenweg-Webster made a surprise dockers debut in round three, but has been a permanent fixture in the side since then, and has now more than tripled her career appearances in just one season with Walyalup.
The 26 year-old credited coach Lisa Webb and her teammates for helping to find her feet and contribute so quickly.
“Confidence is something you don’t really think about as an athlete — I didn’t going into AFLW — and the club has provided me the grounds with continuous games to really show what I can bring to a team,” she said.
“With role clarity, you know what you’re doing, you know if you’re doing it right, you’re getting it done, and if everyone does it together, then we know that we’re all in for success there.
“Coming into the team, everyone’s been so welcoming, it makes it so much easier to play well and enjoy.”
Camera IconBiedenweg-Webster celebrates a goal in last weekend’s derby. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Having not kicked a goal in two seasons with the Suns, Biedenweg-Webster has kicked four in seven games with Walyalup, including two in their derby win on the weekend over Waalitj Marawar (West Coast).
“It’s exciting to get on the board, but then it just comes across from how the team is delivering it into the forward line,” Biedenweg-Webster said.
“We’ve just got so much depth within the team that we know that anyone in the forward line, midfield, back line, we’ve got Braz (Ash Brazill) kicking goals as well.
Biedenweg-Webster credited injured forward Aine Tighe for continuing to provide leadership inside 50 despite her torn ACL keeping her on the sidelines.
“We’ve lost Aine on the field, actually being out there, but she’s still been there every game, every training for her wisdom, and she’s incredible,” she said.
“You can hear her from the sidelines; every training, everyone looks to her to give that guidance. She’s not out on the park, but we still feel her presence every game.
“We’ve got the depth to be able to fill it, it’s not one person that’s going to win a game for us.”
Biedenweg-Webster grew up in country New South Wales, and her grandmother was a Wiradjuri woman and an Indigenous elder.
Camera IconFremantle players show off their Indigenous jumper. Credit: Fremantle FC
With the penultimate round of the season AFLW Indigenous Round, Biedenweg-Webster said she was proud to don Walyalup’s Indigenous jersey against the Giants.
“It’s really special, every Indigenous round across the AFL and AFLW, everyone feels really proud, there’s always that big sense of excitement going into Indigenous rounds,” she said.
“I’m very excited to pull on the jumper. The hibiscus flower on the front touches on the Stolen Generations, and it shows our resilience within the club and across every Indigenous person – personally, my family was involved in the Stolen Generations.”
West Coast/Fremantle will be known as Waalitj Marawar/Walyalup for AFLW Indigenous round.
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