Werner’s fresh start for Aussies in flag football

Ashleigh Werner had a plan for 2026: take a year off elite sport and focus on her corporate career, having landed a promotion at Accenture.

Instead, the 34-year-old former Australian women’s bobsleigh team member and Brisbane Broncos NRLW winger made a surprise leap into a third sport – flag football.

Remarkably, within two months, she played for Australia in the world championships in Dusseldorf, Germany, in mid-August.

Reflecting on yet another unexpected turn in her athletic career, Werner told The AJN last week that it came totally out of the blue.

“High level sport is so hard and unforgiving, so I’d felt I needed a break – and I meant it this time.

“But literally two weeks after I got to do a TEDx talk at the end of May [at Reddam North Shore] on the topic of new beginnings – which seemed very apt – I had a call from Australia’s flag football high performance manager, inviting me to a trial for the Australian team.

“I told her I had no experience, but she said that’s fine, we’ll teach you.

“So, I went down that Monday, and the next four afternoons, and then said, well, I guess I’m staying!”

Her supportive director at work made it possible, which Werner is grateful for.

Within weeks of joining the Australian squad, Werner made her official debut in the sport for the green and gold at an invitational tournament in China.

“That was great for me because it was a low pressure event, but a high level opportunity for me to learn.”

Her teammates and coaches were very kind, and welcomed her questions – “which I had a lot of” – as she grappled with a game that is “so technical and strategic, and a bit like chess, but with humans”.

Playing in the defence, she drew on her strengths from her previous sports.

“I had the short distance acceleration from bobsleigh and then from rugby league I had the aggression.

“And although flag football is a non-contact sport, the strain on the body is still very tough, when you sprint as fast as you can and then come to a dead stop.”

At the worlds, Australia lost to finalist the United States and to quarter-finalist Spain, then beat China 46-8, and lost 20-26 to Italy in a play-off for 11th place.

“My parents and partner came along, and I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous as I was walking onto the field against the USA – I definitely had to pinch myself.

“Learning from feedback became my yardstick of success, more so than what stats I got.”

Next up for Werner is playing the club season from late October for the North Sydney Rebels, followed by a tournament in Adelaide and likely one in Bali in February.

“Then hopefully I can get another national squad contract, with the first LA Olympic qualifiers starting next September.”

What’s become clear to Werner is that she “loves this sport” and the teamwork and learning experience that comes with it.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunities, and to the people that have given me those, and I’m just going to keep taking them.”