PRODUCING a breakout top-age season, Dandenong Stingrays’ Charlotte Gilmore got better and better as the season progressed. The hard-running wing earned a call-up to the Vic Country squad off the back of some terrific early Coates Talent League Girls form, and finished the year with a State Draft Combine invite.
We spoke to Gilmore about her football journey, progression through the pathway, her gamestyle and who she looks up to at the elite level.
Q: Charlotte, tell us a bit about your footy journey?
CG: “I started junior footy mostly because of my friends and my family played footy so that’s mainly how I started in Under 10s and then I did some interleague and Next-Gen and then I got picked up through Stingrays late Under 17s. Then I’ve played Futures and then played the rest for Stingrays.”
Q: You got a call-up to the Vic Country squad, how was that experience?
CG: “I think it was a really good experience. All the girls were really lovely, I think it really built my confidence a lot towards the end of the year. I was so grateful to be selected to play the last three games with them.”
Q: Dandenong Stingrays making a grand final, what was that like?
CG: “Making it through to the grand final, it was pretty surreal playing on the field. It was just a great way to finish off the end at Stingrays. Obviously we didn’t get the win, but I think it was just so good that we got to play in the grand final, I was just so happy to be there.”
Q: You’ve spent a lot of time on the wing but inside occasionally, do oyu prefer the wing?
CG: “I do like playing the wing, I’m able to get into space and use my strengths and my weapons to showcase my talent out on the wing. I do like playing inside mid, I’ve probably got to build a lot of strength to get in there a bit more, but I do like playing on the wing.
Q: What do you see as some of the strengths in your game?
CG: “My kicking is one of my strengths, and my running up and down the ground getting to both ends.”
Q: What are you looking to improve on at the moment?
CG: “Probably my strength, so like tackling and also just like keeping my feet in contests.”
Q: Receiving a State Combine invite, what was that like?
CG: “I was very happy. I think just showing my talents and in my testing, and just really putting myself forward and getting out there.”
Q: Who’s had the most individual influence on your career?
CG: “My parents. They’re just always there for me. Always driving me to training, to games, they’ve really been there for me, it’s been really good.”
Q: Which AFL/W club you support?
CG: “Geelong.”
Q: Is there a reason? Just family?
CG: “Yeah, family.”
Q: Any players you look up to or model your game on?
CG: “I don’t really know, I do love Kate Hore, I think she’s really good. Plays inside mid and also gets down forward and kicks a lot of goals, I really like that.
Q: What are goals going forward?
CG: “I’d obviously love to get drafted, that would be like a dream. Just playing to my best ability, getting as far as I can, just playing footy because that’s what I love to do.”
