All-Australian defender Ash Brazill has announced she will return to Collingwood this AFLW season just weeks after claiming a Commonwealth Games netball gold medal with the Australian Diamonds.
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Brazill sat out all of last season in order to focus on her netball career ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The move paid dividends, with Brazill part of the squad that beat Jamaica 55-51 in the final earlier this month.
Collingwood revealed on Friday that Brazill had decided to return to the AFLW this season, but no exact timeline has been set for the 32-year-old's first game.
"Ash has recently returned to training with the AFLW team, and while we are yet to set an exact return date to playing a match, we hope that it is not too far away," Collingwood's head of women's football Jess Burger said.
"Ash is much-loved member of both the football and netball programs at Collingwood, and we are proud to see her returning to footy in season seven of AFLW.
"She is a strong leader with an elite work ethic who has experienced a sporting career balancing two sports - both of which she is extremely talented at and passionate about.
"It is quite unique and something we remain supportive of Ash pursuing."
Brazill has played 16 AFLW matches across five years at Collingwood, winning All-Australian honours in her 2019 breakout season.
She also represents the Magpies in the Super Netball competition.
Collingwood's 2022 AFLW campaign got off to a winning note on Thursday night when they defeated Carlton by 18 points, 5.6 (36) to 3.0 (18).
Australian Associated Press
