Libby Birch

Libby Birch (born 3 December 1997) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for North Melbourne in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne. She previously played netball and captained Victoria at the National Netball Championships. Birch is currently studying a Physiotherapy degree at La Trobe University. In 2016, Birch switched from netball to Australian rules football and was recruited by the Western Bulldogs as a rookie after having only played football for three months for the Darebin Falcons in the VFL Women's.

Sporting background
In April 2016, Birch won a silver medal for netball when Victoria finished runners-up at the under 21 national championships. After the tournament, Daisy Pearce from the Darebin Falcons made contact with Birch and invited her to trial for the inaugural AFL Women's season. Prior to 18 June 2016, she had never kicked a football but only ten weeks later, Birch played and won a VFL Women's premiership with her team, Darebin. In 2015, she had also won the Victorian Netball League grand final (championship division) with Boroondarah Express.

AFL Women's career
In 2017, Birch played all seven games for the Western Bulldogs as a 19-year old rookie. She made her AFL Women's (AFLW) debut in the opening round against Fremantle and played as a half back and also on the wing but her overall athletic profile allows her the ability to play any position. In the off-season of the AFLW, she continues to play for Darebin in the VFL Women's. In May 2017, she re-signed with the Western Bulldogs on to the senior list for the 2018 AFLW season.

Birch was one of two round 2 nominees for the 2018 AFL Women's Rising Star award after a strong defensive tagging role and six disposal match against Brisbane in February 2018. She went on to run fifth in the bulldogs best and fairest count, play in their premiership win and make the All Australian Squad. Birch also won the competitions AFLW rebel young leader award for 2018.

After playing every game in AFLW season 3, Birch finished 5th again in the Bulldogs best and fairest. On the last day of the AFLW April 2019 sign and trade period Melbourne secured Birch for at least the next 2 seasons. The Western Bulldogs finally agreed to terms with Birch being traded for Ashleigh Guest plus picks 8 and 48.

In April 2019, Birch was traded to Melbourne, while Ashleigh Guest joined the Western Bulldogs.

In her first season for Melbourne in 2020, Libby won the clubs Trademark Award along with finishing 5th in the Best and Fairest. In addition to this, Libby was picked in the AFLW All Australian Team as well as the AFLPA 22Under22 All Australian Team. Libby was also a nominee for the AFLPA's MVP Award and Most Courageous.

Outside of her on-field playing ability, Birch also featured in a special comments role for SEN's AFLW Commentary as well as playing a prominent role in NAB AFL Auskick at Home Content Series, motivating kids to stay active during the COVID-19 lockdown periods. Birch joined Melbourne's leadership group in the 2021 AFLW season. In 2022 season 6, Birch was again named in the All-Australian team, and in 2022 season 7 she won the AFLW premiership for the second time. This made her the first woman to win a premiership for two different AFLW clubs. Birch continues to write for The Age and feature as a specialist for channel 7. In 2023, Birch will also cover AFL for 3AW as an expert commentator.

In December 2023, Birch was traded by Melbourne to North Melbourne, in exchange for a first round pick.

Sporting achievements

 * Victorian state hockey team and open state league team in 2011 and 2012 (Footscray Hockey Club)
 * Captain Victorian state netball team — gold medallist in the National Championships from 2011 to 2014
 * Australian netball underage squad member in 2012, 2013, 2014
 * Victorian Institute of Sport full scholarship from 2013 to 2015
 * Victorian Netball League grand final player — Premiership winners in the Championship division with the Boroondara Netball Club in 2015
 * Most valuable player Victorian Netball League in 2016 (Boroondara Netball Club)
 * Under 21 and Australian Netball League squad (Victoria) in 2016 and 2017
 * Western Bulldogs AFLW player, inaugural 2017 season
 * VFL Women's premiership player 2016 and 2017 Darebin Falcons
 * Nab Rising Star Nominee 2018
 * All Australian AFLW squad selection 2018
 * rebel 2018 AFLW young leader award winner
 * Western Bulldogs AFLW premiership player 2018
 * Western Bulldogs VFLW 3rd place Best & Fairest 2018
 * VFL Women's Team of the Year selection 2018 and 2019
 * Casey Demons Runner Up Best & Fairest 2019
 * 2019 Inaugural Western Bulldogs Community Service Award.
 * Melbourne AFLW Trademark Award 2020
 * Melbourne AFLW 5th Place Best & Fairest 2020
 * AFLPA MVP Nominee 2020
 * AFLPA Most Courageous Nominee 2020
 * AFLW All Australian Team - Centre half back 2020
 * AFLW 22Under22 All Australian Team 2020