AT JUST 22 years of age, winger Sophie Conway is one of the most experienced players at Brisbane, and embodies the role-playing attitude the club exudes. 

While she won't admit it, and always reverts to the concept of playing her role for the team, Conway is having a career-best season. Playing the increasingly important wing role, she is averaging a career high 13.3 disposals and 4.1 intercepts, and has also kicked eight goals in her eight games in 2022. 

"At the end of the day, if we can contribute and play our role, do three good things a game and get the win we're all happy," Conway told womens.afl, deflecting any praise that might be directed at her game individually. 

"That [team first attitude] hasn't just come overnight. A few years ago, unfortunately, we went through the expansion... but the players we brought in they just bought in to the club culture straight away, and that made it a hell of a lot easier." 

But Conway's individual impact cannot be ignored. The Lions' running game is built around players like Conway, Orla O'Dwyer, Jade Ellenger, and Cathy and Ruby Svarc, making that outside role incredibly important to the side's overall performance. 

"Playing the wing role, it's a very specific type of role," Conway said. 

"It can be obviously quite a challenge because there's a lot of two-way running and a lot of running for sometimes not much reward... sometimes you may not even touch it." 

TEAM OF THE WEEK Who made womens.afl's team of the week for round nine?

Despite the workload, Conway loves her position out on the wing because it encompasses practically every aspect of the game. 

"It's a position where you pretty much get to play offence and defence. Run back and support the backs, or sometimes get up and either hit the forwards up, or sometimes maybe get on the end of it. There aren't many positions where you get to be able to do that." 

Conway is tentative when mentioning "sometimes" getting on the end of it, but the reality is she is hitting the scoreboard more than ever off the back of her work rate. After kicking two important goals in her side's win over the Kangaroos on Sunday, her goal celebrations are becoming a highlight of Lions games.

"Sometimes there's a bit of a carry on," Conway laughed. 

"In the moment I get pretty excited and I'm like 'I should probably dial it down a bit', but then it happens again, and I don't even dial it down." 

THE RUN HOME Three teams in top-two race, can the Dogs make finals?

But as much as her unrewarded running and support in defence is playing her role, getting up and about after kicking a goal is equally important. 

"If I can provide my energy that I have for the team, getting up and about and being positive, celebrating little things or celebrating goals, whatever it may be, then that also helps get the team up and about as well."  

Did you head to the footy over the weekend? Tell us your thoughts! Take the survey now