OAKLEIGH Chargers midfielder Maggie Mahony has had a red-hot start to the 2024 Coates Talent League Girls season, racking up the ball at will and stepping up in her top-age season. Having been around the club for a couple of years now, Mahony has learnt plenty from her predecessors, and will look to take that throughout 2024.
So far in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, Mahony is averaging 29.8 disposals, 2.8 marks. 8.0 tackles and 5.6 inside 50s, whilst also kicking six goals from her five games. Four of those came in Round 6 against the Murray Bushrangers, as Mahony won our Rookie Me Central Coates Talent League Girls Player of the Week for 37 disposals, four marks, 14 tackles, 10 inside 50s, two rebounds and those four majors.
We spoke to the tough inside midfielder during the Coates Talent League Girls Preseason Testing Day.
Q: Maggie, tell us a bit about your football journey?
MM: “I first played when I was in Under 8s, couple of my friends from primary school were playing so I decided to go down to the club. I actually ended up in an all boys team, so I was the only girl which was a bit of fun. From then on I just kept playing at the club was Glen Iris Gladiators up until about Under 16s and then Oakleigh started so I’ve just been playing at Oakleigh, this is my third year now and I’ve loved it.”
How’s that set you up being in 18s for a while?
MM: “The experience has just been amazing, being able to play as that bottom-age in my first year with like Jas Fleming, Caitlin Matthews and those girls. It was just unreal, you learn so much off players like those girls, and even just some other girls last year like the top-age 19-year-olds, it’s just been unreal to play around them, so they’ve definitely set me up.”
Q: Do you keep in contact with the girls who have been drafted?
MM: “Yeah definitely, sometimes I reach out to Jas (Fleming), we have a good chat. I went and watched her play a couple of games so that was good. Then just some of the girls who played VFLW I’m still in touch with them which is so good.”
Q: Which AFL club do you support?
MM: “I go for Collingwood, so last year was a good year. Loved that.”
Q Did you get to go to the grand final?
MM: “I did, it was so amazing. It was just unreal.”
Q: Players you look up to at the elite level?
MM: “I think Liv Vesely from St Kilda, I think I play a lot like her, and probably Jas Fleming as well just her in the midfield, her drive and everything is just amazing.”
Q: What goals are you hoping to tick off for this year?
MM: “Definitely just being more physical in the contest, and just driving my legs using my run and everything like that.”
Q: You touched on a few there, but what strengths and improvements what have you outlined in your game?
MM: “I think my strength is definitely getting to ground, so groundballs, and running. But then I’d like to say that I’m working on being more physical and getting into contests a bit more.”
