COURTNEY Hodder's absence this season has been due to pregnancy, the Brisbane star revealed on Wednesday.
Following her showing for Australia in August's historic Australia v Ireland game, Hodder was withdrawn from the Lions' round one side due to personal reasons, and hasn't been sighted this season.
But she posted a photo of herself and her partner to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon, saying: "THE BEST NEWS WE'VE EVER SHARED..."
Hodder is expecting her child in April 2027.
"We are absolutely over the moon and feel incredibly lucky to be starting this next chapter together,” Hodder said.
"April can't come quickly enough! We're so excited to meet our little Baby Brill and, most of all, we can't wait to become Mum and Dad.
"It's been a special secret to keep, and being able to finally share our news is pretty surreal.”
The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) dictates that club doctors cannot share any information outside of a player's fitness to train and play during their first trimester, and that any announcements about the player's pregnancy must be made in consultation with the player.
Brisbane GM of of women's football Danielle Smith said the club and Hodder's teammates were delighted by the news.
"We are thrilled for Courtney and Kana and the exciting chapter which lies ahead for them," Smith said in a statement.
"We will miss her on the field this season, but we're lucky to still have Courtney around the group, attending training and contributing her expertise in our team meetings.
“Courtney is hopeful of returning for the 2027 season.”
Hodder is a two-time premiership player and 2025 All-Australian, and holds the all-time record for tackles inside 50 in the AFLW.
She has played 77 games and kicked 52 goals across her seven AFLW seasons to date.
Brisbane heads into round nine with just two wins to its name, with a loss mathematically ruling it out of finals contention for just the second time across its 11 seasons. Hodder's absence has been a factor, given her impressive form, compounded by injuries to fellow forwards Neasa Dooley and Ruby Svarc throughout the season.
