REALISING her footballing potential early on in her journey, Murray Bushrangers AFL Women’s draft hopeful Emma Suckling chose to switch from her local competition in Wagga Wagga to the border. There, she teamed up with the strong Lavington Panthers outfit while sharing her time with the Bushrangers in the NAB League and developing through the GIANTS Academy.

Suckling is the cousin of former Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs defender Matt, and while he had his influences on her AFL team selection, she admitted it was a “funny story” as to who she supports.

“I’ve grown up going for Hawthorn and Bulldogs, but we go for the Brisbane Lions now because we had some other relations at Lions, so just the Lions now,” Suckling said.

The midfielder who has also plugged holes in other positions across the ground played eight games for the Bushrangers last year as a bottom-ager. In the NAB League, Suckling averaged 7.0 disposals and 1.1 tackles, booting a goal in the process.

“I started off playing in the Wagga local comp but there’s not much around Wagga with the locals so I went over to Lavington and played over in the Albury comp,” Suckling said. “I was also doing the GIANTS Development. Last year from doing Lavington, I went into the Bushrangers program so I played there.”

While her cousin has been a long-term influence on her game, he was not the only one to reach the top level, with a Lavington teammate ending up in the orange and charcoal. Top Murray Bushrangers star Zarlie Goldsworthy was a Panthers teammate, while AFLW Under 18 Championships Vic Country Most Valuable Player (MVP) Keeley Skepper also guided her through her first season at the level.

“Well Zarlie was definitely one, and I’d probably say Keeley Skepper as well,” Suckling said. “She was really good and really helpful with everything footy. She’d help me out all the time, she was just great.”

In 2023, Suckling is hoping to play through the middle, while still rotating forward as she chases her AFL Women’s dream. While composure with ball in hand is a key improvement she is focusing on, she is clean at the coalface.

“I’m hoping to play more midfield now just mainly the midfield but maybe bit of up forward too if I’m not in the midfield, just to rotate in from forward,” Suckling said. “I’d say clean hands would probably be my strength and once I get the ball exploding out of the contest.”

As for her goals for 2023, while she ultimately wants to get drafted – and would nominate the NSW/ACT pool at this stage – she is taking it one step at a time in her bid to make respective state sides at the national carnival.

“I just want to see how far I can get with the NSW one and then Allies and just see how far I can get in that pathway,” Suckling said. “I feel like I would nominate for GIANTS because that’s my area but I’d literally be happy to go anywhere, that would be so cool.”