Sabrina Frederick has detailed the reasons behind her name change – a multi-layered choice that became public when one of the AFLW’s biggest fish left Brisbane and joined Richmond.
An inaugural AFLW marquee player listed in the 2017 and 2018 All-Australian teams as Sabrina Frederick-Traub, the 23-year-old has discussed her deep consideration of identity. Of the choice to leave one AFL club and relocate interstate to join another, Frederick has said: “It was the first decision I had made for my future not based on what other people think, which is a huge step for me.”
The Originals: Episode 5 - Sabrina Frederick interview
Written and presented by award-winning journalist and author, Sam Lane; subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify
In the fifth episode of The Originals podcast Frederick says she had carried her stepfather’s name for most of her life but relinquished it after a family separation. She is cultivating a relationship with her biological father and explains that: “The third, and most important, reason to me is I’m about to marry my partner. In December. And she will be taking my last name”.
Laying emotions bare, Frederick speaks of “losing the love of the game” in a challenging period after her first move for AFLW - from Perth to Brisbane – alone as a 19-year-old.
“I just didn’t feel whole. Even though I tried so much,” she says in the podcast, crediting former Lions teammate now Carlton player, Tayla Harris, as a crucial support.
“She’ll probably never know how much I appreciate what she does for me and did for me,” Frederick says.
Relocating to Melbourne was a decision based on Frederick prioritising love, extended family and her hope to be a mother with her soon-to-be-wife, Lili.
“It’s just nice now to be in a spot where I really enjoy playing, I enjoy training, I’m really happy with my family life, I’ve got a partner; I’m in a really good spot,” she says.
Later in the podcast Frederick describes her new club’s AFLW captain, Katie Brennan, as “one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met”. She is also critical of the way AFL players can be scrutinised to the point of what she terms bullying.
Reflecting on telling the Brisbane Lions that she wanted to leave, Frederick says: “I was really upset. They were really upset. It wasn’t a malicious thing at all.
“Craig (Lions coach Craig Starcevich) and I had a really, really good relationship where he knew, at some point, I’d want to go home.”
The Originals podcast; Sabrina Frederick: Redefined
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