WESTERN Jets big improver Charlie O’Connor Moreira was a late call-up to the State Draft Combine and the hard-running winger got her opportunity to flex some of her biggest strengths. After having a delayed start to the season. O’Connor Moreira moved though the pathway from local football to the Jets, and had a blistering end to the year which resulted in her earning the Draft Combine invitation.

We spoke to O’Connor Moreira at the Combine about her journey, game and goals for the future.

Q: Charlie, tell us a little bit about your football journey?

COM: “Basically I started footy in 2018. I didn’t really have any interest at all, my dad just signed me up one day because my friend used to play. So we went and watched her play and then I got signed up and ever since then I’ve loved the game. I started at Point Cook Bulldogs in 2018 and then 2020 I moved to Altona Vikings for about two years, and then back to Point Cook Bulldogs and then we got in two grand finals, lost them both, but then I moved to Williamstown CYMS this year, so I’ve been in footy for about six years now.”

Q: What change do you think to improve on this year to go from local to state combine invite?

COM: “I think not only doing training during training sessions, but working outside of training, like running and on your fitness. I think that really helped me improve. Just even going down to the footy oval with your friends on non-training days and just having a kick. I think that just helped me improve on my strengths of the game and just overall how I want the game to be played.”

Q: You play on a wing, is that your preferred position?

COM: “I never used to play wing up until I started playing Jets, I was a forward. But I think after playing wing it’s really made me a stronger player as its taught me how to hold my width better and it just helps me. I think my ability to play wing now is stronger and I would say its my preferred position for me now that I’ve learnt how to play it so much better than forward.”

Q: When you got the call up as a later invite to the combine, what was that like?

COM: “I was very in shock. After my injury at the start of the year, I really thought I would never get the opportunity to do this. When getting the call-up I was in shock and just very grateful for this opportunity.”

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

COM: “Probably my speed and my physicality. Just on the ground, tackling and my speed using the ball for run and carry.”

Q: What about the improvements you’re looking to make at the moment?

COM: “My disposing of my skills on the run. Just to get more effective. I find that sometimes when I’,m kicking it’s not very where I want it to go, so I think just improving on that would help me a lot.”

Q: AFL/W club you support?

COM: “I support Collingwood.”

Q: Is there a reason behind that? Or just family?

COM: “Just family, my whole family goes for them.”

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

COM: “Both AFL and AFLW I would say Josh Daicos is a bit of a winger and all-rounder. I just like the way he goes about it, his speed as well, and his use of the ball is something that I look up to, and Sophie Conway from Brisbane Lions. Being a wing as well, her speed and the way she uses her physicality on the ground, I think that’s something I look up to and how I want to model my game.”

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

COM: “Probably my mum and dad, they’re my biggest supporters throughout my whole AFL journey. They’ve just supported me through ups, downs, injuries and they just want me to do my best and do whatever I want.”

Q: Going forward, what goals do you set for yourself?

COM: “Look I would love to be drafted. But if not, I’m just happy playing footy, no matter what level, its just something that makes me happy.”