THERE are two very distinct sides to Ava Usher. 

There’s the side social media and AFLW supporters see, the energetic, powerful, bull-at-a-gate personality and player who has made such a huge impact for Gold Coast in her first season.

The teenager who sings and dances off the field, is the “life of the party”, that drinks Red Bulls, that took three running bounces to kick her second career goal and that has more than 50,000 Instagram followers.

That side is non-stop energy and action.

On the other side, there’s the kind and caring soul that has endeared Usher to her teammates, be it her youthful peers or those with a few years of experience.

“Her white line fever is incredible,” long-time friend and teammate Georja Davies said.

“Her ability to change from a competitive, doesn’t-take-anything and will not let anyone push her backwards person on the field, to then off the field she is so kind and energetic.

“I really admire how she can switch so quickly. It is such a good personality trait.

“Any team would be lucky to have someone like her. She’s not just a good player, but she’s a good person.”

Usher grew up like many youngsters on the Gold Coast, pursuing surf lifesaving from the age of four until she got drafted.

She loves the beach, the sand, and competing. A talented basketballer, she genuinely considered a path that could have taken her to the US College system to pursue the five-a-side game.

However, after being introduced to Australian Rules at school by now teammate Sunny Lappin and her former St Kilda and Carlton-playing father Matthew, Usher quickly fell in love with the Sherrin.

She played in the Queensland Schools Cup and progressed to being a state captain, winning under-18 All-Australian selection as a 16-year-old.

Although knee injuries all but wiped out her final two years as a junior, Usher had already formed great friendships with Gold Coast’s Academy teammates that would ultimately join her at the Suns.

There was Lappin, Davies, Dekota Baron, Mikayla Nurse, Bronte Parker, Rhi Ingram and Havana Harris, who was a year older.

“You get to the age where you’re getting drafted, and it does get really serious,” Usher told AFL.com.au.

“I had to choose footy. I love the game so much, I had to leave basketball behind.
 
“All my friends were in footy, and they were taking this path. My friends are everything.”
 
Footy is just a part – a very important part – of Usher’s make-up, though.
 
Her social media reach is enormous. 
 
Anything the Suns or AFL Women’s account posts on the tanned, 165cm dynamo gets mass engagement.

It’s something Usher takes seriously. She might be just 19, but she’s fully aware of the impact she can have on others, and consequently is deliberate in what she posts.

“Being a homegrown, Gold Coast girl, I think that helps me out a bit,” she said.
 
“My pathway and what I’ve been through, I can use that for younger girls and what they want to do when they grow up. They’re my target audience.
 
“The younger girls wanting to grow up and get drafted and play AFLW. 

“It comes down to building your brand and how you want people to perceive you if they can’t talk to you in a real-life situation.

“I’ve worked a bit on my Instagram and making my target audience specific and what I’m about. 
 
“It’s quite lifestyle, beach, surfing; I’ve got footy in there, got my friends in there lots. That’s what I’m about and people can see that.”

Heading north to the Suns after nine years at Adelaide, Anne Hatchard had plenty of new, young faces to get used to.
 
“When I first walked in, I thought, 'damn, this girl is loud,” Hatchard said with a big laugh.
 
“She’s up and about. She’s a pocket of energy, and she shows that on the field. Her burst, her speed, and off the field she’s exactly the same.
 
“She’s a really caring person. I’m so excited to see what she can do.
 
“She loves a good chat. She loves to sing, loves to dance, and she does love a Red Bull as well. Maybe has a few too many of those; it’s quite funny, haha!”

Usher defended her love of the popular energy drink, smirking and saying it was all part of her pre-game carbohydrate load, so she “can’t get in trouble” from the team’s dieticians.
 
“I do love Red Bull, but I don’t need it to get going. 
 
“I’m very energetic and love when people thrive off my energy, so I try to bring as much as possible, and the older girls seem to love it lots.
 
“I play my best footy when I’m having fun.
 
“My family are very radiant, bubbly people as well, but I’m definitely more than them. 
 
“We’re a glass-half-full instead of half-empty kind of family, and I’ve definitely come off the back of that and brought it to this environment.”

Usher has been integral to Gold Coast’s dramatic rise this season. Despite missing the final game of the home-and-away campaign through suspension, her 11 goals trails only Harris (19).
 
Her game already has great balance. Arguably the Suns’ best kick going inside 50 already, Usher also has a defensive mindset, averaging more than four tackles a game and already making the rundown tackle one of her calling cards.

Daisy D’Arcy says she’s seen Usher grow enormously in her first season.
 
“Ava, she’s a character and a half, that girl. 
 
"She’s an unbelievable talent. For such a young age she’s confident in who she is and what she wants to achieve as a footballer.
 
“It’s a good inspiration for the young girls coming through and the girls in the team her age. The way she attacks the football.
 
“I’m very grateful she’s on our team, I’ll tell you that.”

Usher says playing in her first final against Hawthorn on Sunday is a dream come true.
 
“We’re just scratching the surface of what we’re capable of.
 
“We’re not done yet. We have a motto of “why not us”? Our first goal was finals, but now that we’ve got here, how much further can we go?
 
“We’re so excited. I can’t wait to take on the Hawks.”