AFTER the last two seasons had been interrupted by a mix of injury and the COVID-19 pandemic, Bridie Hipwell hopes for a clean run. The Sandringham Dragons talent was recently named in the AFL Women’s Academy for the upcoming season, and after an ankle injury curtailed the early part of her 2021 season, she is hoping for a fresh start in 2022. It is a case of so far, so good for Hipwell who has also enjoyed training as part of the Vic Metro hub.

“The camp was awesome,” she said. “Training and spending a few days with some really good girls was awesome and it really lifted my standard as well, and I got heaps from the coaches and just the whole experience was awesome.”

Though she said she got on with everyone at the camp, she always enjoys catching up with Western Jets duo, Montana Ham and Charlotte Baskaran. They were among the players Hipwell was able to train and play alongside when she had Vic Metro duties last year. Unlike many, Hipwell was able to run out and represent Metro at both Under 17s and Under 19s level.

“It was awesome. Just being able to step up to another level,” Hipwell said of her Metro carnival experience. “Obviously NAB League’s great, but that was something else and just a really good experience… It was quite significant I think, some bigger bodies and the game was a bit faster. “The skills were similar, maybe slightly better at 19s but not too big of a difference.”

Hipwell’s football journey started in high school and she has taken to the code like a duck to water, rising through the grades and progressing to the top level of junior football.

“I started playing footy when I was in Year 7,” Hipwell said. “I was about 13, that was my first season. “Played every year since, then been at the Dragons for a few years now which has been really good.”

That journey and work over the years culminated in Hipwell receiving an invitation for the 2022 AFL Women’s Academy. When asked if that was a goal she set, Hipwell said it was not something she had necessarily targeted, but was certainly an honour to be included.

“I wouldn’t say a goal,” she said. “Someone kind of mentioned it to me. “Had it in the back of my head but didn’t expect anything at all, it was a bit of a shock, but a good surprise.”

Quite the utility, Hipwell was able to play multiple positions in 2021, and is looking to lockdown that half-forward role in 2022.

“I’d love to really get a position down as I was kind of thrown everywhere,” she said. “But I would love to play a bit of half-forward. “Really have a good go because I think that really highlights my strengths as a player.”

As a player, Hipwell regards her explosive power as her greatest strength. That being both in the air and at ground level, able to burst away from opponents. Despite her marking being a strength, she is still looking to build that part of her game even more.

“I definitely want to improve my aerial contests and marking. It’s a strength but I want to get it even better,” Hipwell said. “Definitely ground balls and stoppages and that kind of contested work.”

Now entering 2022, Hipwell is just hoping for an uninterrupted season and eventually do enough to prove herself to an AFLW club that she deserves to play at the top level.

“Short-term (goal), just play Round 1 and have a really good game and just get confident for the rest of the season,” Hipwell said. “Long-term I want to get drafted, that’s been a goal for a while. “Just get through the whole season. Injury-free and COVID-free.”