Skye Emery’s love of football has been tested multiple times in her young career.
In March last year, securing an AFLW spot in November’s draft looked possible when she placed third in under-18 national preseason run testing.
A few weeks later, those hopes were dashed when she was diagnosed with stress fractures in her back.
Sidelined for four months, the 18-year-old questioned her love of the game and considered walking away.
Other athletes may find inspiration in stories of resilience in world champions and Olympians, but for Skye, motivation lay a little closer to home.
Her older brother Kane is also a football player.
Just one year apart, the Melbourne-raised siblings share a deep love of AFL which has bonded them from a young age.
“Kane has always been amazing in supporting my footy,” Skye said.
“Growing up, I had to miss two years of playing as there was no girls competition until I get older.
“But I’d mess around with the footy in the backyard with Kane and I went to every one of his games in that time.”
With Kane’s support, Skye returned to play five games for the Oakleigh Chargers but finished the season missing the spark that was once there.
Kane had told Skye of his intention to move to Bond University – he had friends playing in the Bull Sharks premiership-winning AFL team.
The news flicked a switch for Skye. Suddenly, her next move was clear.
Kane relocated north in January to study a Bachelor of Business and begin pre-season training under Max Kennedy. Skye followed suit a few weeks later, enrolling in a Bachelor of Journalism degree to commence in May.
“I felt like I needed to start fresh, and I’ve also always wanted to live in Byron Bay,” Skye said.
“When I first moved up, I lived in Byron for a few months and wasn’t sure if I was going to play football.
“But it was talking to (head coach) Andy Lovell that sold it to me…he never puts any pressure on anyone, and I knew Bond was where I could fall in love with playing again.”
With the siblings now both living in Bond’s Sports House and on an identical training schedule, they eat dinner together most nights and debrief about training.
Skye is a dynamic mid-fielder in the ladder-topping Bull Sharks QAFLW side, while Kane is a star of the senior men’s team.
In the first six games of the season, he has been named in Bond’s best on ground four times.
A recent concussion sidelined Skye for four weeks and brought back memories of last season, but once again Kane’s support was rock solid.
“It happened around the same time that I got an injury last year, and I was like, ‘oh my god, what is happening?’” she said.
“Kane was awesome to have around - he had a concussion last season and he just knew what to do”.
The supported is reciprocated.
Despite her busy training and playing schedule, Skye still watches every one of her brother’s games.
“I’m his biggest supporter and will always watch whenever he’s playing…I know his game really well by now.”
“It is just so cool to play for the same because we haven't done that for many years.
“The boys’ and girls’ teams at Bond are so close and I’ve got such a good support system with Kane and also all of his best mates in the team.
“It just makes it all really exciting…it is so much fun.”