AS the postponement of all seasons commenced over the last week, we head back to the preseason a few weeks earlier where we chatted to a number of athletes across the country. In a special Question and Answer (Q&A) feature, Draft Central‘s Taylah Melki chatted with Queensland’s Jorja Guyatt at the state testing day hosted by Rookie Me.

TM: How did you get into footy?

JG: I got into footy in high school. these Auskick coaches came to my school and watched me train and they were like ‘yeah you should come down and play’ so I was like ‘why not?’. So I did and I just loved it, so I kept playing.

What is it you love about footy?

“Probably just meeting new people. “The amount of new people that you meet, we have the same interests so we get along so well.”

Is there a particular area that you think you’re really strong at when it comes to footy?

“I think the running aspect, I just like running.”

Did you do athletics when you were younger?

“Yeah I did triathlons actually. “So the endurance, got used to it easy.”

How have you found that transition from triathlons to footy now?

“It’s pretty good. “Because I didn’t realise how much running you do in AFL so I got there and … because on TV the oval looks so much smaller and you get there and you’re like oh my God it’s actually massive. “I found that pretty easy, so that was good.”

Is there a particular spot you like on the field more than others?

“I love the wing the most.”

Is there a particular area you’re hoping to improve on this year?

“Just my defense. “My tackling and stuff because I’m not the best at it.”

How’s the preseason going for you?

“Yeah preseason’s good. “I’ve got shin splints. “I just got back from shin splints so I haven’t been able to run for a while, but hopefully get back into it.”

How’s that recovery process been?

“It’s annoying watching people train and I can’t. “Because I can’t do anything, but being on the bike so getting back into it is pretty good.”

What are you hoping to get out of this year?

“Maybe getting to the draft, but not sure yet. “Dream big.”