HAVING developed through her junior career as a small forward, South Australian Laitiah Huynh found a “fresh start” on the wing was just what the doctor ordered. The then 19-year-old was moved onto a wing by incoming Central District coach Ben Hunt, and the leadership group member flourished, averaging 17.5 disposals, 1.9 marks, 2.3 tackles, 2.0 clearances and 2.4 inside 50s.

The talented speedster came into her own, and doubled her production numbers up from 8.8 disposals, 1.1 marks and 1.6 inside 50s in 2021. Though she started the previous year promisingly booting three goals in the first two rebounds of the season and averaging 11.3 disposals per game in the first three, her numbers did waiver in the second half of the year. Fast forward to 2022, and Huynh had no such drop off with her 2021 season-high 12 disposals becoming her 2022 season-low.

“I’ve found my position on the wing and I’m starting to really enjoy it,” Huynh said of her role last year. “Last season I thought I had a great season out of my shell into a position a fresh start, something I’ve never done before. I just had really good mentor around me showing me how to play and strive in that position and I think I helped a lot for our team success as well.”

Not only did Huynh look comfortable on the wing, she showed signs that she could find the ball a lot easier, having three 20-plus disposal games, and impressive, five 19-plus disposal games. In each of those matches, Central District won, while in each of her 18 or less disposal games, they lost. In 2023, Huynh hopes to have more of the former and less of the latter.

“I just think we’ve all gained so much knowledge from last season and we’ve learnt so much and we’re moving in the right direction to strive to be the toughest and hardest team to play against,” Huynh said. “We’ve all improved from the first season, the OGs who started back when we all started the team.

“I think we’ve improved so much, and our skills have gone up scales and scales and just our knowledge about the structure and working together and match sim. We just see positive signs for this season so hopefully we can carry it out on the track.”

Unfortunately one of the sparks of the Bulldogs’ season will not be there in 2023, with young gun forward Georgia McKee out with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Huynh described it as a “bit unfortunate” but backed others to step up in McKee’s absence.

“We do have another wave of young ones coming in though, so they’ll try and fill her shoes and step up to the level we need to win some SANFL games,” Huynh said. “We’re all aware of how important Georgia was for the team, but I do think we have the capacity now to build on that and explore other players.”

On a personal level, Huynh has not only improved on the field, but off it, with her voice and leadership becoming crucial in what remains a young Central District side. She credits captain Shelby Smith with helping her become one of the more vocal players on the team.

“When I first started in the inaugural women’s side for Central, I would not talk, I was so shy and in my shell,” Huynh said. “Ever since then I’ve been around, Shelby who’s been our captain for the past few years and I’ve really grown from her and found my way into the leadership group and now I’m more confident and I try and mentor the young girls now because I know what it was like when I was in that position as well.”

The AFL Women’s dream still burns brightly for Huynh, who is determined to reach the top level, and has been working hard off the field to “put on a bit of muscle” and compete strongly on the field for longer. While she concedes she cannot grow beyond her 157cm height, she is doing everything else in order to chase that dream. Though she understands it might not happen, Huynh is pleased to be within an environment that helps support those dreams.

“I am happy where I am but obviously I have that bigger goal which is to be drafted, hopefully one day,” Huynh said. “I am working towards that, I’m doing extras to get to that level and I’ve got people around me who are really happy to see players succeed, so it’s a very positive environment. Everyone in our team want those who want to get drafted, to get drafted.”