GWS GIANTS Academy talent Darcie Prosser-Shaw is looking to make the most of her opportunities in her top-age season as she embarks on the first year through the Academy without her older sister Amelie. Prosser-Shaw is known for her run off half-back but is equally capable of playing on a wing or through the middle, such are her wide array of weapons.
We spoke to Prosser-Shaw at the recent Giants Academy Preseason Testing Day about her football journey, inspirations, working alongside her sister and goals for the year.
Q: Darcie, tell us a little bit about your footy journey?
DPS: “I started with my sister when she was about 14 and I was about 12 and I did an accelerated program up into her age group with a couple of other girls my age. We’ve really just gone through the Giants pathway together and development pathway together. She aged out last year, so starting with the older girls was really amazing to excel our skill really early which made it a lot easier to transition into senior Academy. Also having older girls as mentors from a very young age has really helped us grow and develop as players and people and our skills. Now I’m in my draft year, I’m 18.”
Q: What was it like winning the flag with East Coast?
DPS: “That was amazing. We had a really, really strong side and had a lot of girls who are now drafted into AFLW or in the VFL or doing other sports at high levels. Being around that kind of environment where those girls had amazing qualities as players really pushed us to become better as individual players, and then coming together to win that grand final was really amazing, and especially it being a three-peat, a lot of the girls had been there all the years before, so it was a big deal to the club and a big deal to all the girls, so it was amazing.”
Q: Following in the footsteps of your sister, what has it been like able to work alongside her?
DPS: “It’s been really great going through the process with her, we’ve been really close throughout this whole thing because I have done everything with her growing up. She’s been a mentor and a great person to look up to in regards to the draft process and how she got her scores and she got amazing scores going into the draft, so she’s definitely someone I look up to on my football journey and she’s a person I go to when it comes to advice when it comes to football and things like that. She’s been a great support system and mentor going through this Giants journey and going into the draft.”
Q: What position are you hoping to play? And what’s your favourite position?
DPS: “Well I played a lot of centre half-back growing up that’s been my main position. This year I know they’re looking to put me more in midfield which I’m happy to as that’s my second choice position so roaming around the midfield and centre half-back is probably where I’m looking at this year.”
Q: What do you see as some of the strengths in your game?
DPS: “My strength’s probably my speed and my ball carry through contact because I do play rugby 7s as well, so my driving through contract is definitely a big part of my game, but I definitely look to excel those parts of my game even more.”
Q: What improvements are you jhoping to make?
DPS: “Definitely my coming forward in defence, that’s a big thing I want to work on. I’m more of a spacious player, I like to see what’s around me but coming forward, taking the game on, no fear on the field, just go for it.”
Q: Who’s had the most influence on your career?
DPS: “I’d say other than my sister who’s gone through the whole process as well, I’ve really looked up to her throughout this whole thing. If I was to talk about an AFLW player or a player who’s working with us at the moment at training, Alyce Parker. She’s playing the position I’m going into now, so I’m definitely looking up to her for advice and some tips how to make the most out of that position this year.”
Q: Are you a Giants supporter?
DPS: “Yes, absolutely.”
Q: Going forward, what goals do you set yourself for this year?
DPS: “I’d definitely like to test as good as I can this year. Develop as a player, get to my best as well as I can do. Obviously going into the draft I’d love to get picked up, however it is very competitive. Everyone would like to get drafted. So just develop as much as I can as a player, show what I’ve got, get as much gametime as possible and do my best really throughout the year.”
