TOP-AGE talent Lily Paterson is a star on the rise having started the 2024 WAFL Women’s season in ripping form for Swan Districts. Though outside the State Academy coming into the year, the 17-year-old is turning heads with her aerial ability, foot skills and hurt factor in games. We spoke to Paterson at the Preseason Testing Event about her football journey, game, and goals she sets herself.

Q: Lily, tell us about your footy journey?

LP: “Started playing footy two or three years ago. Played like soccer, netball before that. Never really got into it. Got into it two three years ago, got asked to come down to Swans and from there, loved the sport.”

Q: How have you found the experience playing at WAFLW level?

LP: “Definitely the coaching team has helped a lot as I didn’t really understand much to do with structure and all that, so they sat me down, talked me through it. Helped me develop as a player. Skill sessions, out at training as well.”

Q: What do you see as some of the strengths in your game?

LP: “I’ve got a good kick, just maybe not on goal sometimes. My mark’s pretty good, body-on-body contest as well.”

Q: What are you looking to improve on?

LP: “Just like speed and agility. I’ve just been working a lot on that this year trying to get quicker.”

Q: Going forward, what goals do you set for yourself?

LP: “I definitely set goals in a game, then I set goals out of a game. Like in-game it’s more like disposals or decision making. Looking back making sure I made the right decisions, and then in training, putting the full 100 per cent into it.”

Q: Who do you look up to at the elite level?

LP: “Got to go for Nick Daicos. I just think he’s an elite player, I want to play like him when I’m older.”

Q: Which AFL/W club do you support?

LP: “I go for Eagles.”

Q: What do you want to achieve by the end of the year?

LP: “Get a couple of best on grounds, just good stats, have fun this year.”