SANDRINGHAM Dragons midfielder Macy Watkins has enjoyed a promising start to her top-age season, becoming more offensively damaging to match her natural defensive instincts. A team-first player who thrives at the contest, Watkins also tasted success with Melbourne Grammar in the Herald Sun Shield last year.

We spoke to Watkins at the Coates Talent League Girls Preseason Testing Day about her journey, how she balances her commitments, and the inspirations along the way.

Q: Macy, tell us a bit about your footy journey?

MW: “I started playing for St Kilda City in Year 4. That was the first opportunity for a girls team at the club. Then I continued doing that and did a few Next-Gen pathways. I missed the cut for the Sandy 16s team, but worked hard that year and then the next year got invited to train, so last year was my first season which was great, and top-age this year.”

Q: In terms of your preseason, how was it?

MW: “Yeah it’s very good, hard but good. Few hot training sessions, but it will be nice when we start playing games, keen for that.”

Q: What role do you see yourself playing this year?

MW: “I see mainly inside mid and then also having a bit of licence to sneak into the forwardline as more of an attacking mid, and then also might do a little bit of time in defence for a rest.”

Q: You’ve balanced between your school footy and Dragons, what’s that been like for you?

MW: “It’s been good, I just love playing footy so I’m happy to do as much as possible, but yeah the school’s been really good as well so I’ve just been balancing that. Last year I mainly did Sandy and then joined Melbourne for the finals campaign which was great.”

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

MW: “I would say my strengths are mainly my clean hands and my quick hands, and also my physicality so tackle pressure and contest work.”

Q: What are you looking to improve on?

MW: “Probably just a bit of kicking on the run maybe and just always stoppage work, trying to perfect that and get better at that.”

Q: AFL/W club you support?

MW: “I go for the Bombers and I have a dog named ‘Tippa’ after Tipungwuti (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti), so a keen supporter.”

Q: Is that just a family thing

MW: “Yeah my whole family goes for Essendon except for my mum who goes for Collingwood and she’s the one who picked ‘Tippa’ for the name for the dog, which is a bit weird but yep.”

Q: Is there a player you look up to or model your game on?

MW: “I’d probably say Jas Garner just because she;’s so clean and stands out when you watch her play, and then she also has that versatility as a goalkicking mid which I want to do.”

Q: Who’s someone whose had the most individual influence on your career?

MW: “Probably my dad, just because he would always take me to the footy park and have a kick of the footy with the dogs and it was always fun.”

Q: Just finally, what goals do you set for yourself this year?

MW: “Just the consistency, especially not being too hard on myself and kind of just taking it a day at a time and trying to get better each day.”