“We’re on a similar journey of building respect in our games.”

Always open to new challenges, the former Australian touch football representative still holds a candle to the possibility of adding another string to her sporting bow, having previously alluded to the attraction of playing rugby league for her beloved Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW.

“I watched a lot of the [NRLW] games and ‘Woosh’ [Jessica Wuetschner] and I were talking about how it seemed like a good idea...but they get absolutely smashed! Then they just get straight back up – I think like I’d just be on the ground in a ball, wanting to cry.

“Who knows though? I’ve never backed down from a challenge, if the club was interested enough to approach me, I’d absolutely go and have a pass around to see if I was good enough and if I was then I’d definitely have a crack at it.”

For Kate, the shared “one club, two teams” culture of an organisation like the Lions has also led to other off-field opportunities for the mathematics and physical education teacher.

“I do love teaching and kids and love giving back to the community in that way, but I’ve always had a passion for media and public speaking, that’s just something that comes naturally to me and I find it enjoyable.

“I’ve really loved doing the commentary for Triple M for the men’s games. If there was an opportunity in the media come up, I’d think long and hard about that because it is something I am very passionate about, not just for the AFL, but all sports & female sport in particular.

“If I could play a part in helping to portray in the media and giving people more of an insight into what [female] athletes have had to go through to get where we are today that would be something that I’d love to do.”

Image supplied: Kate McCarthy

Despite Brisbane’s overwhelmingly positive momentum, injuries can upset the best laid plans of even the strongest clubs. With rookie Bri McFarlane recently joining young star Sophie Conway on the rehabilitation trail, Kate points out another Lion at the end of her comeback journey for an indication of how the club deals with this type of adversity as they look to go one better in 2019.

“Sam [Virgo] took up our role of team manager last year. She was still contracted, they aligned her role with management so she could still be around all of the girls and do her rehab, still be involved in the team environment.

“Sophie and Bri, they’re pretty much just listed players except for the fact that they’re not out doing field sessions; we don’t see them as people in rehab, they’re just part of the group that are in a different phase of training at the moment.

“Those girls do really feel a part of everything because they are...they’re still aware of our tactics, our culture of what we want to be as a team, as soon as they’re able to play and train again they’ll just be able to walk straight back in. It’ll be great to see them back.”