In 2016 Brooksby continued to be Gold Coast's third choice ruckman, now behind Tom Nicholls and Daniel Currie. However, when both of them were injured, Brooksby got his first opportunities to play as a specialist ruckman at AFL level. His final game in 2016 was his best, collecting 17 disposals and winning 29 hit-outs against Port Adelaide in round 23. At the conclusion of the 2016 season, he was delisted by Gold Coast. He was subsequently re-drafted by Gold Coast in the 2017 rookie draft.
