AFTER being unlucky to miss out on being selected in this year’s AFL Women’s Draft, Norwood youngster Lana Schwerdt has set about improving herself to “get some looks” from elite level clubs. The midfielder spent time through the midfield and up forward across her campaigns with the Redlegs in the SANFL Women’s, then predominantly forward for South Australia at the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. In 2023, Schwerdt is hoping to hone in on an on-ball role to play to her strengths.

Her goals are simple, secure that role, and hopefully play in a flag with Norwood, following the Redlegs being absent from the finals for the first time in the women’s club history.

“Personally I want to consistently stay in the top-end of the side, get a go on-ball,” Schwerdt said. “I was more in the forwardline last year. Hopefully get some looks in from an AFLW club and I guess for Norwood, we’re really hoping first and foremost – we didn’t make finals last year – so to make finals and ultimately a premiership.”

The hard-running midfielder has grown up in a footballing household, with father Stephen playing 25 games and booting four goals for the Crows. He would also play more than 200 games in the SANFL running out for Central Districts, where son – and Lana’s brother – Ethan has now moved over the off-season.

“I think he’s enjoying it, to have a fresh start,” Schwerdt said of her brother’s move to Elizabeth. “Sometimes you get a bit boxed in at a club so I think it’s a good, fresh start. New faces and I think he’s really enjoying it.”

Twelve months ago, Rookie Me Central spoke to Schwerdt about her pathway through to football, where she spent time in Queensland and played a variety of other sports.

“I started footy in Year 8 when the school introduced it as a sport and then after that I really loved that,” she said. “So the next year I went out and did some club footy out at Glenunga Rams and I did some of the Under 15s stuff with Norwood. “Then last year I joined the women’s squad and got into that.

“I did a triathlon growing up because I was in the Gold Coast for a few years and that’s been quite big up there. “Netball a big one, and they were the main sports that I did growing up.”

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Her brother and father have had the greatest influences on her personally, while Crow Ebony Marinoff is unsurprisingly one the contested ball-winning midfielder looks up to.

“I really like Ebony Marinoff’s style, her defensive pressure and just her contest and she always has amazing tackle counts,” Schwerdt said.

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Schwerdt is looking to improve her outside run to add to her inside prowess, and improve her kicking efficiency, particularly when under pressure. After missing out on the finals in 2022, Schwerdt said she is liking what she has seen across the club and is hoping the Redlegs can go all the way in 2023.

“I think we’ve just set up a really good culture this year for preseason and I think we’re focusing on the things that we’ve lacked in the past and I think we are really ready to go for this year,” she said.