HARD-RUNNING winger Frances Walsh is set to explore more positions through the Sydney Swans Academy this year to ramp up her versatility in her top-age season. The Sydney University young gun, who played in the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division decider last year, came from an elite touch footy background, but is chasing a spot in the AFLW.

We spoke to Walsh at the NSW/ACT Preseason Testing event where she told of her pathway journey, inspirations, game and goals for the year ahead.

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

FW: “I started playing AFL when I was eight or nine. I played netball when I was younger, and my dad is a big footy head so as soon as AFLW came into the picture, he put me into the Greyhounds and I played there all the way till I was 17 and then I was 16 I started playing with Sydney Uni which was the feeder club. I started playing with the Swans when I was 11 or 12.”

Q: Did you get to an elite level in touch footy as well?

FW: “Yeah I played at the national level for touch which was really fun, but I’ve had to stop that now to focus on footy.”

Q: Was there any reason in particular that you wanted to give up touch in favour of footy?

FW: “It was just so I could focus more on it. I’ve got Year 12 this year so just so I could focus on footy but also have time to balance school as well.”

Q: Do you have any particular mentors who have helped you along your journey?

FW: “Both my parents have been super supportive and they’ve mentored me along the way, and I used to play touch and one of my touch coaches was really supportive and taught me lots about obviously not AFL but being in an elite environment, so that’s definitely been a big help for me.”

Q: Are you a Swans supporter? Do you watch a lot of football?

FW: “Yeah. It’s always on in the background whenever in-season, its just always on so we’re always watching it and around it.”

Q: Can you talk a little bit about your preseason with your shin splints and rehab?

FW: “I went away over the Christmas break which was really fun, but I was running primarily on concrete. Going from that straight onto grass, I think my shins were taking a bit of a toll, but been putting a lot of work in as much as I can, and rehab wise obviously a bit more hands off at the moment, can’t really do too much loading on my legs.”

Q: What role or position do you think you’ll play this year?

FW: “Maybe inside mid, wing, rotate a bit in the half-back. Probably a bit like a utility role. I was just talking our coach Lachie (Hunter) this year and I think just moving around those positions.”

Q: Are there any players you try and model your game on?

FW: “There are a few. I feel like its not just one for me. I try and take traits from a few, but definitely Zippy Fish, I love her speed and agility and run on the ball. She’s definitely someone I look up to.”

Q: What do you think are your strengths and improvements?

FW: “For me, one of my strengths is my running and my ability to break lines. So definitely want to take that into my game this year. An improvement for me, probably my contest work and my tackling. It’s definitely something I want to improve especially if I go inside mid, I want that to be something I can have, and also my aerial impact.”

Q: What goals do you set out to achieve this year?

FW: “My main goal is just to have fun and play good footy. I think I play my best footy when I’m having fun, so that’s definitely a big goal that I’m trying to achieve this year. Obviously the end goal is getting drafted, that would be very fun, but also taking in everything along the way. I’d love to make the All-Stars game, get into the National Combine, but yeah just little milestones along the way. Just get through the year.”

Q: Is there a teammate we should look out for to have a big year?

FW: “Probably Heidi de Saxe. She’s been working really hard over preseason and I’ve seen lots of her hard work. She’s great, and I think she’s in for a big year, and also Charlotte (Tidemann) and Grace Tracey. Two big names who will keep showing how good they are this year, and I’m very excited to play along with them and watch them do their thing.”