WESTERN Jets tall Alex McBride-Loane is the sole top-age Jets player in the Vic Metro hub and has become a key feature in her side’s defence. Having also rolled through the ruck in previous seasons, McBride-Loane has an enormous vertical jump and is able to read the play well from defence.
We spoke to McBride-Loane at the Coates Talent League Girls Preseason Testing Day.
Q: Alex, tell us a little about your footy journey?
AML: “My parents ran the local Auskick down the hill so I started just going down there and started to love it. But I wasn’t really 100 per cent set on playing. Then I was in primary school around Year 3 to 4 and I had two friends who played at the local footy club and I was like ‘oh yeah might as well try and have a shot’. Played that year, it was in the boys team and I just love it.
“But going up into the next age group they didn’t have a girls team at that club so I moved to Maribyrnong Park Football Club where I’ve been ever since. Played in the first ever girls team there, won the first ever premiership there, and then played up until Under 16s, got asked to play in seniors and played there. Then got asked to debut for Jets, played the rest of that season and ever since then I’ve basically been playing for Jets, a little bit of Metro.”
Q: Who’s had the mos indidividual influence on your career?
AML: “Probably just mum and dad. Not just with taking me to training, but especially dad when it comes to my training outside of club footy. He’s always been pushing me to get better with my kicking, work on my left foot, work on my marking, my fitness particularly. Just to set myself up to play the best that I can.”
Q: In terms of the role you’ll play this year, where do you see yourself?
AML: “I’m thinking across the half-back. Previous years I’ve rotated into the ruck, but I mean for my height it’s probably not where I will get drafted so I’m thinking more across half-back but we’ll see how it goes.”
Q: What do you see as some of your strengths in your game
AML: “Definitely my aerial marking and just contest, so even if I can’t get there, getting that spoil in. My kicking, so looking for that inside 45-kick and then I guess just reading the play overall.”
Q: What are you looking to improve on?
AML: “Mainly my explosiveness, so get the ball and those initial steps to chase someone down, mainly that.”
Q: Which AFL/W club you support?
AML: “Hawthorn.”
Q: Is there a reason for that?
AML: “I’ve gone for them since I was like five. It was the year they lost the premiership and then the next three years they won and then ever since then I just stuck by them.”
Q: Who’s a player you look up to at the top level or mould your game on?
AML: “Probably someone like Jeremy Howe, the intercept defender role.”
Q: In terms of your goals for this season, what do you set for yourself?
AML: “I think just trying to maintain consistency. Last year it was about halfway through when I peaked, and I just want to keep it going from there and then try and maintain that for the whole season.”
Q: Finally, been a part of the Vic Metro hub over the summer what was that like?
AML: “I found it really good, it was really enjoyable getting to know all the girls who I will be in the draft class with as well as just having those coaches there and so I can just talk their ear off, just ask questions so I found that really good.”
