Today marks the first instalment of the Leader's Unsung Sport Heroes series, in which we recognise people whose contribution to sport is substantive yet unrecognised among the wider community.
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When the Tamworth Swans women became a feelgood sports story last year en route to a finals appearance in their debut season, Nathalie Joice was there absorbing the highs.
She was also there when players needed someone to talk to, or perhaps a shoulder to cry on.
Joice established the side, pouring her heart and soul into it.
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It's her baby. She adores it. And the players return that affection by calling her Momma Nath.
"I love it. I love it," she said. "Honestly, it's my passion.
"It's just about encouraging these girls to believe in themselves, try something they haven't tried before and give it a red-hot crack.
"And they've not let me down once. It's just amazing to have that outlet, other than work and normal life. It's very rewarding."
Joice's connection to the Swans was established through the partner, former Swans player Andrew Donohue.
Her daughter Gabrielle had played for the Tamworth Kangaroos, because at the time they were the only women's side in town.
"And then I just went to the Swans and I said, 'I reckon I can get a girls side up,' and they supported them. So I did," Joice said.
She manages the side and Donohue coaches it. "I leave my partner to the coaching stuff, and I do the girly stuff."
She added: "I was always confident [of establishing the side], because my daughter's very sporty, so she had a lot of sporting contacts.
"I've been mixed up in water polo and things like that my whole life in Tamworth ... I just pulled on the resources that I knew of.
"Having my daughter that age, and just putting it out there on social media, they all came to me.
"And because it was such a welcoming environment, it was easy. And I ended up an adoptive mum of about 26 girls."
Joice works as a job-placement consultant. She said key traits in that job - empathy, understanding and, above all, flexibility - helped her better deal with the players.
She had no idea her manager's role at the Swans would be so rewarding.
"My daughter went off to uni, so I was feeling a bit like a lost mum. And I've just got these other girls now.
"I've had some wonderful feedback from the girls. A few of them were going through rough times, and they feel like this has helped them."
Gabrielle Joice attends university in Newcastle, but played in every Swans game last year and will line up for the side this year.
The AFL North West season starts July 18 after being delayed by the lockdown.
Joice established a leadership group to make sure players' "mental welfare" was seen to during the lockdown, "because the Swans are a big family".
To nominate someone as an Unsung Sport Hero, please email their name and contact details to sport@northerndailyleader.com.au (include a brief description of why the person deserves to be recognised).
