BENDIGO Pioneers bottom-ager Lila Keck has plenty of sources of inspiration as a bottom-ager in the NAB League, with the potential to see to cohorts worth of teammates step up to the AFL Women’s before getting the opportunity herself. As a debutant in 2021, the 16-year-old played six games and earned Vic Country Under 17 selection, before also being selected in this year’s Under 18 talent hub.

The midfielder-forward says representative experience has done a world of good for her development, and seeing her peers make the step-up is a visual marker for where she wants to end up.

“Pioneers has been really good, obviously just to develop as a player, but then you go to that next level with Vic Country,” Keck said. “You’re developing as a player and person, meeting some new friends, getting different things off coaches.

“It’s an inspiration (seeing older teammates get drafted). Girls footy is getting much better, obviously there’s more to come in the next couple of years but I’m just trying to get to where they are.

“The ultimate goal is to get picked up and drafted, but whatever happens I want to take it as far as I can.”

Having cut her teeth in a range of roles between the NAB League and National Championships, Keck has put a wealth of work into her running and is quite set on what she needs to improve on in order to make the cut as a full-time midfielder. Expect her to impact in the engine room this season.

“I’m (looking to play) inside mid and also half-forward,” she said. “I’d like a few snags here and there. I’ve been doing some extra running, so I’ve been pushing really hard to get through the midfield and up to scratch for that.

“That’s really all I’ve been practising, my running and speed… Ultimately my speed needs to improve to be able to play as a midfielder.”

After a quick turnaround from preseason into season proper, Keck hit the ground running in Round 1 with 12 disposals and three marks in Bendigo’s high-scoring bout with the Murray Bushrangers, and she was again one of her side’s best against Greater Western Victoria on Saturday.

As she foreshadowed in preseason, the shorter break and warmer weather has not been too much of an “issue” for Keck and her Pioneers given the work they’ve put in.