QUEENSLAND top-ager Annabelle Foat is a name to remember for the upcoming 2025 season, with the sporty talent a strong inside midfielder with nice footy IQ at stoppages. Speaking to Rookie Me Central at the recent Queensland Preseason Testing Day, she outlined her football journey, gamestyle and goals for the year ahead.

Q: Annabelle, Can you tell me about your early footballing memories and when you started to fall in love with the game?

AF: “My first actual game was at Metricon Stadium when it was called that, when I was really young and that was when I first realised I really liked it. Playing club was just fun and I got to make heaps of friends and then being able to play in the age group above really set the scene for me and let me go to where I am today.”

Q: Did you play any other sports growing up?

AF: “I was a very sporty kid, I did Nippers and Touch and Oztag. I liked playing heaps.”

Q: Was there any reason you leant towards football in the end?

AF: “I think it was the one sport that I really enjoyed and I wanted to go to training for so once it started getting serious, that’s when I realised I didn’t want to pursue the others and I’d prefer to put all my effort into footy.”

Q: How would you describe yourself as a player?

AF: “I feel like I’m a very team-first player. I want to make everyone feel welcomed but also make myself better.”

Q: What are some of the strengths in your game and maybe some of the things you’re looking to improve on?

AF: “I’d say my strength is probably my footy IQ and then contested work around stoppages, and then something to work on is just lowering my eyes and hitting a target at speed and under pressure.”

Q: Are there any players you look up to or try and play like?

AF: “I wouldn’t say I say I have specific players I look up to, but just players that play my position I like seeing how they play the game a lot. Then what I can learn from that.”

Q: How’s your preseason been?

AF: “Preseason has been good. I was away for the first little bit of preseason, but coming back really ripped in and tried to get the best out of it which was really good.”

Q: Where were you?

AF: “I went to Bali and then Dubai, so it was very nice.”

Q: Finally, what are your goals for the season?

AF: “My overall goal for the end of the year is to try and get drafted. I think that’s the big one, and then other than that just make Queensland and just have a good series through that and just have fun and not stress too much.”