Diamonds netballer Ashleigh Brazill grew up playing Aussie rules, but netball was where the women's opportunities were.

With netball being the dominant women's code and clearest avenue to success, the self-confessed footy natural, chose the court over the field — now she does both.

"I am lucky at the moment I get to [play both], but I would love to see it where footy is so strong that you can't do it," Brazill said.

In netball, Brazill came through the NSW junior ranks before playing for the NSW Swifts in 2010, then the West Coast Fever and currently the Collingwood Magpies.

She debuted for the national team in 2015.

Her AFLW career kicked off last year when she joined Collingwood and was named as an All-Australian this year.

Ashleigh Brazill has become a key member of the Magpies and made the AFLW All-Australian team in 2019. ( AAP: Hamish Blair, file photo )

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It is a packed, year-round schedule for the 29-year-old, with the AFLW season played during netball's preseason, but juggling both codes through one club makes it manageable.

"I am pretty lucky that both netball and football fall under the one Collingwood banner, I really get looked after, I have a physio that manages me for both sides," Brazill said.

"It is hard when I get pulled out of certain things, but that's what happens when you do both."

As women's sport becomes more professional, she believes the days of playing dual codes could be dying as the leagues are set to "collide".

Ashleigh Brazill says her work in AFLW has improved her strength and game on the netball court. ( AAP: Daniel Pockett )

"We will have that conversation soon, being in the Diamonds colours — there might be a bit of crossover, but not at the moment," she said.

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Brazill was dropped from the Australian team four years ago, but has made a remarkable comeback this year, benefitting from a positional change to centre.

"It kind of feels like my first time ever, the last time I played I came in through injury, so to be here on my own merit at 29 is literally a dream come true," she said.

Brazill was instrumental in the Diamonds' 48–42 win over New Zealand's Silver Ferns this week in the second Constellation Cup Test.

The series is currently 1-1, with the final two games being played in Sydney this Sunday, then Perth a week later.

She feels footy is the secret to her resurgence.

"I just love it, it makes me feel younger, the football makes me love netball more and netball makes me love football more — so I am in a good place," Brazill said.

She has had to change her body for footy, putting on five kilograms, but that may have actually helped her in netball.

"I've noticed it on the netball court, I feel a lot stronger and it's definitely changed my game," she said.

A big year off the court

In 2016, Brazill became the first elite netballer in Australia to publicly state that she was gay, at a time when she feared she could lose her passion and livelihood.

"My biggest fear coming out was not being able to be a netballer, and that hasn't happened," she said.

"I am extremely lucky that my sport and teammates have always been accepting and advocate the biggest thing is be who you are."

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Today she believes being openly gay is more accepted.

"I haven't lived my life waving a rainbow flag or been in any parades, I just live my life the way I know how, by loving Brooke, and I want people look at that as a normal, loving relationship," she said.

Brazill and her wife are set to welcome their first child in December.

"Ten more weeks until we are parents is mind blowing, but I'd give sport away just to have a baby," she sai.

The couple decided Brooke would carry the child so Ashleigh could continue to compete.