AFTER an injury setback earlier this year that kept Mylee Leitch out of the opening AFLW Under 18 Championships match, the East Fremantle forward is back and thriving. After a solid game one back in the Sharks’ lineup, Leitch was back to her best on the weekend, kicking two goals from 16 disposals and eight marks in a win against Peel Thunder.

Leitch has always been known for her forward craft, and that was on display again in Round 16, but it was also her work outside the 50 and ability to space that caught the eye. Named best on ground and earning the captaincy in our WAFLW Team of the Week, Leitch finished off her regular season strongly.

Her performance came under the microscope in our latest Player Focus.

2023 WAFL Women’s Round 14
Subiaco 5.11 (41) defeated Peel Thunder 0.0 (0)

STATS: 16 disposals (14 kicks, 2 handballs), 8 marks, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

FIRST QUARTER

Kicking off the game, Leitch was quick to assert herself via a lead inside 50, but was unfortunate when the delivery just went over her head. Midway through the quarter, she took the first of her eight marks on the wing, and pierced a low ball into a teammate at half-forward.

Though she got worked under the ball in a marking contest at the 14-minute mark, she won the next contest just outside the arc and kicked to a one-on-one inside 50.

SECOND QUARTER

Leitch began to get cooking in the second quarter as she won the ball in the third minute, and recovered well after an initial fumble to use her speed to break clear of her opponent. She put the ball to teammate Chloe Reilly‘s advantage.

Her first opportunity on goal came in the sixth minute of the term, running back towards the big sticks, picking it up cleanly but due to the tight angle and being corralled by her opponent, had to kick with the outside of her boot. That proved too narrow and went through for one behind.

Winning a quick handball a few minutes later and being unlucky not to win a free kick for being held, she was able to finish the term with a couple more touches. She had a clean gather further afield and hit up a short target by foot, then in the final two minutes, got boot to ball under pressure and had to quickly kick it forward.

THIRD QUARTER

Working up the ground in the third term, Leitch won the majority of her touches, starting off with a free kick on the attacking side of the centre square in the seventh minute. She gave off an effective handball, then a minute later, marked at half-forward in front of her opponent. She nailed a pinpoint pass inside 50 before going back deep, making a lead and being honoured with a pass.

She marked about 35m out but her set shot just beyond that fell marginally short. She took another couple of marks in the term,, and though her couple of kicks were slightly short of the target, put them into dangerous positions for her forwards to run onto and create some magic.

FOURTH QUARTER

The fourth term finally marked some reward for effort. After an earlier short kick that turned over going inside 50, she used her strengths off a pack, reading the fall brilliantly to get out the back on the right side, snap across her body and kick her first majors of the contest. It bent around the left goal post to perfection.

Just 90 seconds later, Leitch would run down fellow State Academy member Dakota Sexton to win a free kick. Lining up from 40m out straight in front, her set shot never looked in doubt as the umpire did not move and she finished off her performance with a couple of big goals.

CLOSING THOUGHTS ….

Mylee Leitch is one of two over-age players in the West Australian AFLW Under 18 Championship squad. Having come through the West Australian pathway as an inconsistent, yet clearly talent forward, Leitch is beginning to build that consistency and is now just waiting for an opportunity to showcase that on the big stage.

Hoping to be included in Western Australia’s final campaign matches in August, Leitch adds that extra experience to the side, and has the capacity to work up the ground as well. She is a player who has improved over the past 18 months, and has the strings to her bow to impress an AFLW club.