POWERFUL West Perth top-ager, Mia Russo is one of the top prospects in this year’s AFLW Draft. With a strong determination and motivation to be drafted, Russo has quite the CV over her junior career with an Under 16s MVP and All-Australian, multiple Rogers Cup league best and fairest wins and captaining the AFLW Academy last month.
We spoke to Russo at the West Australian Preseason Testing event about her experience with the State squad and National Academy, amongst coming back from an injury and dealing with arthritis, all whilst having the chance to get drafted into the AFLW, a lifelong dream and aspiration of hers.
Q: How have you found the last 12 months in developing at West Perth and the State squad?
MR: “Through the last year I’ve been rising up level by level within footy, so going to League and then getting into State 18s and National Academy. It’s just constantly evolving and for me, it’s about learning more and more and having an open mindset as I go into it. It’s the skill set and the mindset, and the resources that they’re giving us are getting better and better as we move up a level. Just extremely grateful for it.”
Q: How did you deal through your injury and then coming back for trainings?
MR: “It was a bit hard because we didn’t really know what the injury was due to all the possibilities. Due to my arthritis we didn’t really know until I got scans and it was still a bit unclear to us. We didn’t really know how to manage it very well, but I did really well for myself and made sure I rested properly and did everything I could to my best ability to get it better and to be able to play at least one game in the National Champs but I’m really grateful I got back that quick.”
Q: How are you travelling now with your injuries and the start of the preseason?
MR: “Now I am fully fit without injuries and completely good to go. Sorted everything out. It’s just managing myself and making sure I don’t overload myself like I usually do. I’m very disciplined this year, very growth mindset and very mature which is going really well.”
Q: What was it like playing in senior level at West Perth last year after moving up from Rogers Cup?
MR: “It was incredible. Probably the best team I’ve ever played in, connection wise. We had so many resources for us, so many people reaching out for us mentally and I’ve never felt so bonded with a team before. Playing in forwardline is a bit tricky for me, since I usually played in the midfield but when I went to it I felt right at home. I can’t wait for this year, it’s going to be 10 times better.”
Q: What are your goals for this year?
MR: “I’d like to be really consistent this year. I’ve made a pact with the state coach that I’ll train every session, try and control my sickness and try and control what I can control. Just be the best I can be, challenge myself… I wanna win. I want the premiership this year, that’s all I want.”
Q: What do you have to do to manage your arthritis while playing?
MR: “I get quite sore a lot and I’m on quite a bit of medication that does have a few side effects sometimes but usually I’m okay. Just a bit stiff. I’ve had it since I was 15, which was probably one of my biggest years of footy. But I’ve gotten used to it, but it’s hard when you are young. You’re still growing. Possibly with medication I’m on I can grow out of it, but as of right now it’s not going anywhere.”
Q: What have you felt you’ve improved on within your game in the past 12 months?
MR: “I’ve improved on my mental resilience and my ability to control what I can control. My mental side of the game has affected how I play immensely but now I’m able to make a mistake and move on from it, where before I had the mindset that ‘good players don’t make mistakes’. But, everyone makes mistakes. So it’s just the ability to move on and get better and learn. My mentality of the game has affected the way I play so much.”
Q: What AFL/W Club do you support?
MR: “Carlton. My dad is a Carlton supporter and my mum’s grown up with them too. I love every club, I just love footy but Carlton through and through. “
Q: Have you come to terms with the fact you might be travelling interstate post draft?
MR: “Yeah, I have. I’m completely fine with it. I’d like to be home, but I just want to go and play.”
Q: What would it mean to get drafted and make it into the AFLW?
MR: “It would mean absolutely everything to me. Footy has been my family culture growing up, all through my life. I’ve dedicated so much towards it and trained so hard for it. It would mean everything to me, but now it’s all the journey to get there to be honest.”
