Libby Birch
Club: Melbourne
Playing Honours:
Melbourne FC Trademark Award 2020
AFLPA 22 Under 22 Team 2020
AFLW All Australian 2020
AFLPA MVP Nominee 2020
AFLPA Most Courageous Nominee 2020
VFLW Team of the Year 2019
Casey Demons Runner Up B&F 2019
AFLW Premiership 2018
NAB Rising Star Nomination 2018
Rebel Sport Young Leader Award 2018
VFLW Premiership 2016 & 17
Australian Netball Squad 2016 & 17
MVP Victorian Netball League 2016
VIS 2013, 14 & 15
Victorian Netball Captain 2011, 12, 13 & 14
Victorian State Hockey Team 2011 & 12
Libby is a highly talented athlete who has quickly carved out a career in AFLW. Having only recently started her Football career upon receiving a call from Daisy Pearce who she did not know at the time, encouraging her to give AFL a go. After numerous attempts from Daisy to lure her across, Libby eventually accepted the offer and borrowed a pair of Daisy’s old boots before heading down to Darebin Football Club mid-way through the season which ended in Libby winning her first VFLW Premiership with Darebin in 2016.
After a promising Netball career, which included being Captain of Victoria in the National Netball Championships, a member of the VIS, and participating in a number of Australian Netball Squads, Libby has made an exceptional conversion to Football. After only half a season with Darebin, Libby was selected as a Rookie by the Western Bulldogs for the inaugural AFLW Season where she featured in every game for the year. An outstanding result for someone so new to the game.
At the conclusion of her first AFLW season, Libby headed back to Darebin to further develop her game. Once again Darebin were a force in the VFLW and again Libby played a pivotal role in the team winning the 2017 Premiership. Post the VFLW season, Libby was upgraded to the Western Bulldogs Senior List for the 2018 season where she took her game to another level and was influential in the Bulldogs winning the AFLW Premiership.
In addition to the Premiership, Libby was nominated in the AFLW All Australian Squad, received a NAB Rising Star Nomination, and finished fifth in the Western Bulldogs Best & Fairest. Libby’s 2019 season continued on in great fashion, again finishing fifth in the Best & Fairest in what was a difficult year for the team. At the conclusion of the season, Libby made the difficult decision to leave the Western Bulldogs and join Melbourne during the AFLW Trade Period.
Libby is a highly driven and competitive person who took her game to a new level in 2020. Cementing her position in the Melbourne backline, Libby was dominant in her performances which were recognized through the AFLW resulting in her become an All Australian, AFLPA MVP Nominee, AFLPA Most Courageous Nominee, AFLPA 22 Under 22, and taking home the Melbourne FC Trademark Award.
Outside of Football, Libby is currently studying Physiotherapy and is an Ambassador for School Sports Victoria, AFL Kids, and Rebel Sports, along with engaging in many other programs and initiatives. In addition to these Ambassador roles, Libby is an exceptional speaker who shares her amazing journey and the adversity she has overcome, which she adapts to many corporate and non-corporate audiences to ensure her story resonates on every occasion.