The thread that weaves through almost every aspect of Jess O'Brien's life is her heritage.
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The newly-appointed Tamworth Swans women's captain is a "very proud" member Dunghutti mob, and this passion for her Indigenous roots was instilled by her father, Paul.
"My dad wrote me this beautiful card for my birthday. He said 'I'll always be your biggest supporter', and he really has been," O'Brien said.
"When he was growing up, he wasn't allowed to be Indigenous. He wasn't allowed to stand up and say 'I am blackfella, and I'm from the Dunghutti mob in Kempsey'.
"Whereas I can, and I do it so proudly. I do it for him too, and I think he sees that."
So deep is O'Brien's connection to her cultural history that, after a lifetime of playing rugby league. OzTag, and League Tag, she only reluctantly tried AFL in 2020 and almost immediately fell in love with the game.
The Swans are dedicated to celebrating their players' culture, which was particularly evident during last year's Indigenous Round, which O'Brien said to be a part of was "chilling".
"To have the Indigenous Round that we had last year was amazing," O'Brien said.
"I've never felt so in touch with my sport, with a football, with a group of girls as I have playing in that round."
In previous seasons, the club has held votes to decide the captaincy, but with the departure of former captain Daisy George earlier this year, Swans women's coach Andrew 'Tassie' Donohue offered O'Brien the role.
"Tas approached me probably two weeks ago and asked me what my commitment was going to be like this year," she said.
"I said 'Same as every other year, I'll be here as much as I can unless I'm working or dead' [laughs].
"He said he wanted to make me captain ... it was a very big surprise, I'm very honoured."
Adding the captaincy to O'Brien's already full list of responsibilities has made life "hectic", as she aims to juggle her work as a police officer, and a mother to sons Darcy and Jedd, with football.
But she "wouldn't change it for the world", and AFL serves as a release for O'Brien - a way to forget about the pressure of life and just play a game she loves.
And this year, in charge of an "incredible" squad, O'Brien has the highest hopes for the Swans women.
"I think we'll make it to the big dance this year, absolutely," she said.
"Watching these girls train, I don't need to set goals, because I know we're going to get each other there anyway. The skills at pre-season were unbelievable."
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