Former Super Netballer Melissa Bragg was contracted to the Geelong Cat’s AFLW side just before Season Seven kicked off. She talks to Matt Hewson about the transition from one elite-level sport to the next.
Melissa Bragg may still officially live in Werribee but the Cats’ latest recruit is no stranger to Geelong.
“I love Geelong, I started playing netball here when I was 14,” Bragg said.
“Mum used to to drive me down, then once I got a bit older I’d catch the train down then go back for school the next day when I was playing for East Geelong in the GFNL.
“Then I started playing with Geelong Cougars as well, I went to uni in Geelong, so most of my life is down here.
“I work in Werribee at the moment still, so I go in between; my family house is in Werribee and my fiance lives in Geelong and we’re trying to buy a house here. So I’ve always done the travel between both.”
Bragg transitioned to football this year, playing in the VFLW season for Geelong and displayed enough talent and versatility to earn her new contract in the club’s AFLW squad, but it’s not the first time she’s received an offer from the Geelong Football Club.
“When Geelong first got a VFL team I’d just started playing netball at the elite level, and they contacted me and asked me if I wanted to come down for a kick,” Bragg said.
“But I actually said no, as I’d just started to make it at netball, which was a lifelong goal, to play netball at an elite level.
“And then at the end of last year, when I didn’t get re-contracted for netball, I ran into Renee Garing, who I knew quite well through netball. She asked if I’d heard anything from another netball club and I said nah, I think I’m done with it.”
Garing, with whom Bragg had played at Geelong Cougars, spoke to club, and soon Bragg got a call.
“I went down for a kick with Dan (Lowther, Geelong AFLW coach), and from there he said they wanted me to play VFL if I was interested, and it all started from there.”
As a netball, Bragg was a plucky, agile player and despite, at 5’9”, being considered on the shorter side, she was known as someone who didn’t shy from a physical contest.
“I’ve probably always had the tag of being a physical player; netball is technically a non-contact sport, but we all know the physicality that comes with elite-level play,” she said.
“I quite enjoyed being an on the body, physical player, and that’s transferred to footy too. But I can tell you right now, when I first got tackled I was like, wow, this is next level.
“The ones you’re expecting are alright, but when you get hit unexpectedly it’s a shock to the system. But one of my natural strengths is my physicality, so to bring that across to footy’s been pretty fun.”
Along with her competitiveness and willingness to go in hard at the ball, Bragg’s athleticism and agility, and the work ethic she developed playing netball at the national level, have helped elevate her to the AFLW.
Her former VFLW coach, Andrew Bruce, had nothing but praise for Bragg when asked to describe her game.
“Mel’s a highly competitive player who excelled in her first year at VFLW level,” Bruce said.
“She demonstrated her ability to play at both ends of the ground throughout the season, and her natural competitiveness and willingness to learn. Her key attributes will be a welcomed addition to our AFLW list.”
Bragg said her experiences as a netballer made the transition to AFLW a smooth one.
“The fitness and agility I needed to play through the midcourt has transferred across to football,” she said.
“In netball I’m considered on the shorter side, whereas in football I’m considered tall. So now I’m one of the bigger bodies but I’ve got the fitness and agility of a smaller player, if that makes sense.
“As a footballer, I’m still working on my skills and developing my craft, but the standards that comes across from netball, being in that elite environment, has held me in good stead. I live and breathe it, day to day.”
Bragg said she still can’t believe she’s been contracted to play football at the highest level.
“The whole thing’s just been so unexpected,” she said.
“This time last week I was just at work, you know what I mean? It’s a big shock. But the one thing I hold on to is my work ethic. I’ll always try my best, so as much as it’s a shock I think it’s a bit of a reward for effort as well.
“But I’m still just gobsmacked, to be honest. The change to football has been really refreshing and Geelong has been a really welcoming club. I’ve never felt out of place.”
