Olivia Barber is an Australian rules footballer playing for Collingwood in the AFL Women's (AFLW) league. She has previously played for Geelong.

Early life

Barber was a representative for the New South Wales country team in both the under 16s and under 18s divisions.[1] She played basketball for four years at state level, around the same time she was playing for Vic Country at Under 16s level.[2] Barber played for the Murray Bushrangers in the NAB League Girls in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. She kicked 7 goals from 6 games in the 2019 season, while she only kicked a singular goal in the 2020 season due to it be cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] She had her best game for the 2019 season in the Bushrangers' round two 42 point win over Queensland, where she kicked 4 goals and was named in the team's best.[4] She was named as an All-Australian in the 2019 AFL Women's Under 18 Championships as a 17 year old,[5] after kicking 5 goals from 3 games.[3]

AFLW career

Barber was recruited by Geelong with the 21st pick in the 2020 AFL Women's draft.[6][7] She debuted in the team's 29 point loss to Collingwood.[8] On debut, she kicked her first career goal in the opening 30 seconds of the game.[9] Barber would go on to play every possible game for the season, with the exception of round 5. Barber injured her knee in Round 12 of the VFL Women's season,[10] but avoided surgery.[11]

In June 2022, Barber was traded to Collingwood in exchange for pick #33.[12]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2022 season.[13]

References