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Why Ellie Brush was always made for AFL Women’s success at the GWS Giants

If footballing pedigree is anything to go by, Ellie Brush’s rapid rise from W-League captain to AFL Women’s star should be no surprise to anyone ahead of the Giants’ round-four clash with Brisbane on Saturday.

The Australian game has always been in her blood, long before she made her name with the round ball – a journey that led to representing her country in a Matildas shirt.

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In 1963, a former World War II medical doctor by the name of Donald Duffy, who served in the Middle East and New Guinea, took over the presidency of the Melbourne Football Club, a position he held for more than a decade.

Duffy was Brush’s great uncle. She’s a long-time MCC member and grew up a mad Sydney Swans fans before she was signed to the Giants in October of last year as one of two pre-draft recruits.

And in just two AFL Women’s games she has established herself as a key member of the Giants, already showing enough promise for coach Tim Schmidt to push her from defence into midfield and even to the forward line so she can exert maximum influence over her opposition.

“I’m from a big footy family, dad grew up in country Victoria playing footy, it’s always been in the blood I guess, so I love footy,” Brush said.

“I became a massive Swans fan in ’96 when we moved to Sydney for the year with Dad’s work. Swannies making the grand final that year, it was a massive thing at school and we became members that year and went to all the open training sessions and barbecues.

“I remember learning the song at school and I think a couple of players came out at one stage. I fell in love with the game then.

In the blood: Ellie Brush looks like she’s been playing footy for years. Photo: Getty Images

“I guess I just never played it because I was always playing soccer. I wanted to play for Australia and play overseas so I just played soccer.”

Brush plays both codes with the same uncompromising attitude. Schmidt signed her as a hard-nosed defender and is only happy to admit his delight with the recent discovery that she’s just as adept elsewhere on the ground.

In last weekend’s draw with Fremantle, Brush was used at times through the middle of the ground and even kicked a goal when Schmidt threw her up forward.

It was also Brush who collected the football late on and spotted up Aimee Schmidt with a spearing pass that was subsequently converted into a match-tying goal.

But for all the silk in her disposal, it’s the physicality Brush is embracing most in her new sport.

“Now that I can actually really put a hit on and get really stuck in, I’m really loving that,” Brush said.

“I’m known as a physical player for soccer anyway. I certainly do love getting stuck in as legally as you can even in soccer.

“I always tended to love the warm-ups or the drills in soccer where you’d warm up playing a variation on Aussie rules or tackle footy and be able to tackle your teammates.

“I’m really enjoying the transition, I’ve really got to thank my teammates who have been great in being tolerant and helping me a lot and the coaching staff have been awesome as well in making my transition as easy as it could be.”

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