AS the postponement of all seasons commenced over the last few weeks, we head back to the pre-season a few weeks earlier where we sat down with a number of athletes across the country. In a special Question and Answer (Q&A) feature, Draft Central‘s Michael Alvaro chatted with Sandringham Dragons’ Ollie Lord at the NAB League Fitness Testing Day hosted by Rookie Me.
MA: How’s the day been for you so far?
OL: Yeah it’s been really good. Pretty long and seeing all the boys again. It’s been pretty good, yeah loved it.
How’s the preseason been as well?
“Yeah pretty good. “It started back in October/November so it’s been quite a while so looking forward to playing the games. It’s been pretty hard on the body but I’ve loved it, but yeah pretty keen for the season.”
Given you’ve had a pretty good bottom-age year, are you looking forward to proving yourself in your top-age year as well?
“Yeah for sure. “I thought the bottom-age year is a good eye-opener for the top-age year and really keen just to get stuck into it and just play games of football to be honest.”
Sandy always has a good bunch of talent on the list. Got a good bunch of bottom-agers and guys your age as well. Looking forward to playing with a few of those guys?
“Yeah really looking forward to it. “Arch Perkins and Jake Bowey, I love playing with them and alongside them and it should be a really good season hopefully.”
You’re in the Academy hub as well, what’s that been like around the traps at Metro?
“Yeah it’s been pretty good. “The two camps we’ve had have been good to know a few boys from other districts and other zones. “So I’ve been really loving it and meeting some good coaches and stuff like that.”
What have you been learning in those camps to help develop your game?
“Probably just like the small fundamentals. “As a forward myself I’ve just been focusing on a bit more contested marking, body positioning myself. “Those little craft things have been really important through the Academy.”
You thrived towards the back of the season and locked down that key forward role, is that something you’re looking to do again this year?
“Yeah for sure. “I’d love to lock down that key position role up forward and hopefully do something good for the team and bring success.”
You’re mixing your time between school football and Sandy?
“Yeah I’m a Geelong Grammar boy so I play pretty heavily in the APS league, so I’ll be there for the bulk of the season. “But when I can get down to the Dragons I love it. “So it should be good.”
Are you from Geelong way as well?
“Nah I live in Melbourne but I’ve just been at school there since Year 7. “So been there a while.”
Howley hopping up the seaboard to chase dream
LIKE dozens of her peers, this week saw the realisation of a dream for young star Sara Howley, who was drafted to the GWS Giants in Monday night’s AFL Women’s Draft. But, the realisation of that dream has meant having another kind of realisation – a big move away from home. But, the Geelong Falcon […]
Former Oztag Aussie captain chases AFLW dream
STORIES like Brooke Bailey do not come around too often. While cross-coder journeys are nothing new, few have represented – let alone captained – their nation at international level. However for the Sydney Swans train-on and three-time East Coast Eagles premiership player, that is exactly the case. “I grew up playing Oztag since the age […]
Trending the Wright way for Tiger cub
NATIONAL Academy member Claudia Wright has had more than her fair share of setbacks over the last couple of years, missing the entire 2023 WAFLW season, and only playing one AFLW Under 18 Championships match out of a possible six. But through it all, the versatile top-ager has remained a player of interest for AFLW […]
Harrington grateful for “amazing” opportunity
QUEENSLAND AFLW Draft prospect Tara Harrington has not been lost on just how valuable the experiences have been for her over the last couple of years. Speaking to Rookie Me Central at the National Draft Combine, Harrington said despite missing the bulk of the year through injury, still felt connected thanks to assisting with the […]
Q&A: Mackenzie Williams (Tasmania Devils)
BOASTING a powerful kick and great strength, Tasmanian Mackenzie Williams is the standout AFLW Draft prospect from the Apple Isle this year. Williams has long been among the draft talents for 2024, having represented the Devils and Allies for the past three years and really shone as that intercepting and rebounding defender. However in 2024, […]
Pies’ Patterson prepared for next level
ONE of only two father-daughter prospects in this year’s AFL Women’s Draft, Violet Patterson has gone about building a nice CV leading up to next Monday’s night of nights. Tied to Collingwood thanks to her father Stephen’s 96 games in the black and white, Patterson looms as a high upside prospect with a nice balance […]
Q&A: Chloe Gaunt (Brisbane Lions Academy)
A LATE bloomer to the code as well as admittedly getting more serious about her fitness over the off-season, athletic key forward Chloe Gaunt received a AFLW National Draft Combine invite. Bursting with potential as a 182cm utility who can roll into the ruck, the raw key showed glimpses of what she is capable of […]
Q&A: Emma Juneja (Swans Academy)
HARD-RUNNING wing Emma Juneja looms as Sydney Swans Academy’s top Academy draft prospect in the December 16 AFLW Draft, having pieced together a consistent top-age season. She played across multiple competitions for the Academy, Allies and Sydney University, as well as running out for the National Academy. We spoke to Juneja at the AFLW National […]
Determined Rasheed raises own bar
THEY say that you are your own harshest critic, and that could not be more true of young gun India Rasheed. The promising top 10 talent has long caught the eye of fans and recruiters alike, with Rasheed’s snap goal in the 2022 SANFLW Grand Final sending her viral around the footballing community. Considering the […]
