From Gippsland to gridiron: Brett Thorson’s remarkable journey

Growing up among muddy paddocks, early morning milkings and long days fixing fences, Brett learned the value of hard work, perseverance and staying grounded – lessons that would carry him far beyond the farm gates.

As a kid, Brett loved nothing more than kicking the footy around after chores, showing off a booming left boot that would one day take him halfway around the world. 

Encouraged by his dad, Glen “Jacko” Thorson, Brett took a leap of faith and joined ProKick Australia, a program designed to turn Aussie Rules players into American football punters.

The idea seemed crazy at first. America, gridiron, scholarships – it all felt a world away from life on the farm. But Brett’s work ethic, resilience and natural talent soon caught the eye of recruiters, and in 2021 he packed his bags for the University of Georgia, sight unseen.

In the US state of Athens, he didn’t just fit in – he flourished. Brett became the Bulldogs’ starting punter, setting records with towering punts, including a stunning 75-yarder against Tennessee. By 2022, he was a national champion, living a dream that once seemed impossible from the dairy sheds of Gippsland.

Through it all, Brett remains humble –
a “normal bloke from Dumbalk North” at heart – grateful for the lessons of his upbringing, the love of his family and the winding journey that led him from the farm to the fields of American football glory.