Fremantle forward Sabreena Duffy has opened up about her upbringing as a foster child, adding how both the love of her foster parents and the game of football helped her develop a sense of pride and belonging.

Speaking in the latest episode of Ordineroli Speaking with host Neroli Meadows, Duffy spoke about her difficult family situation growing up, which included making the decision at 10 years old to cut her parents out of her life because of their persistent drug use.

Meadows said it was one of the most inspiring stories she’d had the privilege to share.

“Sabreena Duffy has overcome an enormous amount in life to become one of the country’s best footy players,” Meadows said to open the podcast.

“She’s played two seasons of AFLW and made the All Australian squad both times. ‘Sabs’ was an integral part of Fremantle’s undefeated campaign in 2020. She booted 12 goals, the most across the competition. All this, and she has only just turned 20.”

Duffy left Meadows gobsmacked when she concluded the story of her upbringing by saying how lucky she felt to be in her situation.

“People go through worse I guess…I think they do. I’m pretty lucky to have the foster parents that I do, they’re my whole entire world,” Duffy said.

“I love them to pieces and to be able to live with my (biological) sisters, for example, most (foster) families don’t get that. I love my sisters so much and would do anything for them.

“People sometimes don’t get into the foster care system, they’re out there and living in their cars and things like that.

“It’s just a real blessing that my foster parents are angels from heaven.”

Footy was everything to Duffy and her family, especially when it came to the Fremantle Dockers.

“I was born and bred Freo. We were Fremantle members, I can even remember the seat number and the row at Subi Oval. It was block 131, Row C, Seats 10 to 15,” Duffy said.

“Me and my foster Dad would sit on the end next to each other and we’d be there every second week.”

Duffy said her foster dad was instrumental in her development into one of Australia’s most exciting young football talents.

“(When I was drafted) I think he nearly cried more than I did, he’s a big softie!” Duffy said.

“He’s always at my games, even when I played for Peel, he was always there every week with his Peel hat on, getting amongst it all.

“He always could see (my potential), even when there were days I’d come home from training exhausted and think I couldn’t do it anymore.

“He would be the one who would really push me to do it.”

While getting drafted to Fremantle was a dream to Duffy, she said it wasn’t always smooth sailing as she battled with her own anxiety.

Duffy said she was thankful for the support for the club, especially from Gary Ingraham, the club’s boxing-fitness coach.

“I’m quite an anxious person. There was a stage where I thought it was getting too much, but the Dockers, they have supported me so much through this process and I cant thank them enough,” Duffy said.

“There was no other club that I would rather be at. I think that’s what got me through that, as well as my parents.

“I went and saw ‘Springer’ (Ingraham) three times a week at his gym, we would go out and get smoothies and stuff, he was a really good mentor for me.

“He was really there for me, as well as my partner, having someone to come home to when I needed it.”

Duffy said she was already focused on helping the next generation of kids doing it tough.

“I’ve always been a lot harder on myself than I probably should have been,” Duffy said.

“Now days, that I’ve accepted who I am, I think I’m proud. I want to get my story out there, so I am proud of who I am.

“It shows me, for example, if I’m ever to have a child what I can give them…I can’t wait to be a mum, I really can’t wait.

“I’ve done a bit of youth work, even just to give back and give kids that safe space as a role model.

“I knew I always had that safe space but I didn’t necessarily have that role model, so I really just want to be that for those young kids and show that they don’t have to be alone.”