SYDNEY Swans Academy member Olivia Morris has enjoyed quite the rise in her football journey over the last few years. Heading into her draft year, Morris is looking forward to adding plenty more experiences, after getting a taste for what it takes to compete with the best.

The top-age AFL Women’s draft prospect represented the red and white against the GWS GIANTS at the Under 16s Championships, and was picked to partake in the Under 17s Futures match at GMHBA Stadium for the most talented young players.

“That was incredible, one of the best games I’ve played,” Morris said of the Futures match. “Just the experience, the intensity and the skill of the girls brings up the game and just teaches you a whole new way of playing.”

Though playing as an over-ager in the Under 16s championships, Morris said she was able to build momentum through a couple of strong performances.

“That was awesome, our team came together, played a really good few games and we ended up coming out on top in those games,” she said. I feel like I played some of my best games of footy in there and was able to lead a team as well.”

From there, she earned AFLW Academy honours and was among the 30 players to be selected and train at The Hangar. She also made the trip to Geelong to experience AFL-standard facilities and enjoyed every moment.

“It’s awesome, we had our first camp and just training with girls from all around the country and seeing their new ways of training just taught me so much just from a couple of days of being with them,” Morris said. “I can’t wait to play the games with them, have a few more camps and learn a lot more skills alongside them.”

The natural midfielder prefers playing on-ball, but is not against having a rest up forward and trying to hit the scoreboard. Among her strengths are her kicking and decision making, while athletically she is able to utilise her speed and endurance mix. In terms of her improvements, the Pennant Hills talent is hoping to enhance her defensive pressure and tackling.

Entering her top-age year can be a daunting task, and for a player who has already ticked a lot of boxes as an under-ager it might be easy to just look at the long-term goal. For Morris, she has steps along the way to reaching that goal of reaching the elite level.

“To work towards the draft in December which I’m eligible for and keep playing my best footy in the AFLW Academy and another goal is to work for the Allies games which are later in the year after Academy,” Morris said.

Morris will be among those Sydney Swans Academy players taking part in the Coates Talent League this year. The Northern Academy side takes on Dandenong Stingrays at Kilsyth Recreation Reserve from 12pm on Saturday, March 18.