AT 158cm, it would be easy for Northern Knights forward Rylie Wilcox to let others contribute the hard yards in contested situations. While damaging in space with speed to burn and perpetual motion akin to the Energizer Bunny, the soccer convert defies her size to thrive on the contested side of football.

“I love the contest – the tackling, getting tackled,” Wilcox said. “I started my footy journey in 2018 for Parkside Junior Football Club… I stopped soccer and decided to move into footy.

“Going into Knights, to be honest I was a bit nervous but the girls made me feel comfortable. It felt like a family just a couple of weeks into (last) preseason and it was such a great experience. A good culture, great coaching staff and the girls are lovely.

“I love playing such a great sport.”

The 17-year-old’s desire to compete is somewhat inspired by a certain Knights teammate, and she has had a couple more to lean on as she begins to translate her traits from a small forward role, to one with plenty more midfield minutes.

“I like to play alongside Ava Jordan. I look up to her because we’re a similar height and she’s just outstanding,” Wilcox said. “Even the people on the wing, Brooke Plummer (and) Maykaylah Appleby, I love working with them.

“I like my forward position, but I’m very keen to play within the midfield or even outside on the wing to show off my skills.”

Compared to Carlton’s Georgia Gee by Northern talent operations lead Nat Grindal, Wilcox is the stuff of nightmares for defenders. Her strengths are clear and even for a player whose footballing journey only began in 2018, she is also in the know on where she can improve.

“My strengths would be my speed in getting the ball and to tackle,” she said. “Also, my clean hands when the ball’s coming out for the crumbs, and again using my speed to kick it into the forward 50 or getting a goal.

“I would like to improve on my left-foot kicking, the distance as well as accuracy. Also, tackling in general because I’m such a small figure. I want to really get that up.”

Wilcox and her Knights are 0-2 to start the 2022 NAB League Girls season, but have shown signs of competitiveness despite the final scorelines. Individually, the electric prospect has averaged 20.5 disposals, six marks, four tackles, and six inside 50s as her region’s standout top-ager thus far. She’s convinced the Knights can turn things around.

“We’ve got a bunch of new girls coming through. The intensity and standards are pretty high, there’s still some stuff we need to work on but I’m confident we’ll get that stuff perfect,” she said.