Pride round in the AFLW has always been important to Collingwood star Sabrina Frederick, but this year, there’s an extra layer of meaning, as it’s the first since becoming a mother with wife Lili.
“Being a part of the community [LGBTQIA+] myself, and also now having a daughter, it’s even more special because I know that she’s been born into a world where people were talking about inclusivity,” Frederick told The Age.
Frederick and Lili welcomed daughter Florence Elton into the world in early August. The AFLW veteran says starting a family has enhanced the importance of pride round in the competition for her.
Sabrina Frederick models Collingwood’s pride guernsey.Credit:Chris Hopkins
“I’ve always felt so passionate about the next generation, whether it was my daughter or not, I’ve always been so passionate about knowing that we have a responsibility to lead the way and also leave the game in a better place than when we found it,” Frederick says.
“But now being a parent, you have that extra level of protectiveness and an extra level of duty, I suppose, to the next generation that you are growing and nurturing in your own household. So for me, it’s probably just added an extra layer to that.”
Frederick has seen first hand the impact of AFLW, beyond those who play it.
“Lil, she’s never really played too much sport but she’s the example of so many people that have just been touched by AFLW and the impact it’s had on the community… She’s just a fan of what it’s done and in bringing people together,” she said.
“It just brings me joy knowing that there’d be so many other people that are also touched that way.”
Frederick says having Lili and Florence to come home to has been grounding, as playing an elite sport can feel like “a pressure cooker” but they help her understand the role AFLW plays in society.
“You really do understand it’s just so much bigger than just sport for us,” Frederick says.
Along with celebrating diversity and inclusivity within the game, Frederick also notes the round’s importance in recognising the queer community’s involvement in women’s football, long before the AFLW existed.
“For me personally, it’s [pride round] huge just because of the fact that the league has been built off that community [LGBTQIA+] … before AFLW existed, in women’s football the majority of the people playing the game were strongly part of the community or strong allies of the community,” said Frederick.
“And that’s why, for me, it’s so important because I feel like these people just paved the way and were so passionate about women getting involved in sport and getting involved in an AFLW and ultimately really pushed to make AFLW something that the AFL thought was worthwhile.”
Now Frederick wants to use her public profile to help others feel as though they can be themselves. Being a queer woman of colour, part of three minority groups, she understands feeling different.
“If I can play a small part in that, just showing that you know, there are differences and the differences are a positive thing and they make you who you are and that’s positive.”
“I carry that with me in whatever I do as an extra strength because once upon a time, when I was only young, I felt like having those differences was not a positive thing, and being different was something that I didn’t want and I was trying so hard to fit in I suppose with other people and try so hard to be something that I’m not. [But] I realised growing up that it’s being different that’s your superpower.”
AFLW pride round is held from October 14 -16 with all 18 clubs wearing a uniquely designed guernsey.
Collingwood face Fremantle at Fremantle Oval on Sunday.
