Naomi and Ruby Spark's sporting pursuits take them from the hockey pitch to the AFL field

But when daughter Ruby decided she wanted to try her hand at AFL, that's exactly what happened - sparking a memorable journey for the two and one that has seen them enjoy the opportunity to not play just one sport together but two.

This season after suiting up for the Tamworth Kangaroos in the North West AFL competition on Saturday they'd then swap the Sherrin for a hockey ball and back up for Flames in the Tamworth first grade women's competition on Sunday.

Something pretty rare to experience, Naomi described being able to play two sports with her daughter as "pretty special".

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"She's obviously got to carry me in both because I'm getting too old and too sore," she said jokingly.

Taking a more serious tone, she added she "couldn't ask for more".

"If I was to ask for more it would be the ability to play something with my husband and son," she said.

They have also got to share the field together.

"Rod had a long time off hockey, I'm talking about 15 years, and over the last the few seasons he's attempted some comebacks, and that has enabled him and Lachlan to play together for Workies," Naomi said.

Hockey has long been a shared family passion with Naomi a stalwart for not only Flames but also NSW masters sides, and Lachlan and Ruby both playing from a young age.

Ruby can't trace her interest in AFL back to anything specific, but remembers sitting at the kitchen table (some time before the 2019 season) and proclaiming to her dad that she was going to try AFL.

His initial response was 'no you're not', but then she gently reminded him that he had told her "to do things I want to do".

So she got in contact with Roos president Brett Douglas, who is also the coach of the women's side, about coming and playing with them.

Turning up for the first training session, having expected a few more players her age, she was a bit daunted, so Naomi said she'd get out and train with them too.

Ruby didn't get to actually play that first year - she was too young - but Naomi went on to lace up the boots.

Up until then she had never played any footy code before, and hadn't had to learn a new sport for probably 30 years. But as the weeks went on she found she actually came to enjoy it.

A big part of that enjoyment factor was sharing the journey with Ruby.

"I found it was something that Ruby and I were having a lot of fun in, something different, and I just kept going stage by stage with it," Naomi reflected.

After not being involved last season she decided to continue with it this year.

"I decided to stick with the AFL for Rubes and with Rubes, because it was a bit of a turnabout," she said.

"I felt like I'm teaching her with the hockey and I feel like with the AFL she's got that chance to teach me something."

As for Ruby, she feels like she has "found her sport".

From never having watched a game before she has immersed herself in AFL, even downloading aps and listening to podcasts.

She has also roped in some of her school friends to play and is already counting down to next season.

"I just wish it was a year round game," she said.

Asked what it is about AFL that grabbed her, Ruby said she loves the physical contact and has just found that she is "a lot more competitive in it".

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