EASTERN Ranges top-ager Lara Williams has played across all three lines along her journey, but the predominant forward-turned-defender at the Ranges is ready to make 2026 her year. Having plenty of ups and downs along the way, Williams is fully focused on making every post a winner entering her top-age campaign.
We spoke to Williams at the Talent League Girls Preseason Testing Day about her footy journey, game, inspirations and goals for the year ahead.
Q: Lara, tell us a little bit about your footy journey?
LW: “I started playing at Lysterfield and that started just because a couple of school girls were starting and I went to Lysterfield Primary. I’d been begging to play footy for ages, but there were no teams around. Then my parents signed me up and surprised me with that so that was cool. We ended up being a merged club with South Belgrave for that year and that stayed like that for five years, starting when I was nine. Then worked my way up, my whole game was how long my kick was, so I just worked on that and made it a good kick not just a long kick.
“I tried out for interleague in my first year and I didn’t end up doing too well so I was pretty cut that I didn’t make it. Then worked really hard and next year ended up making it and won a best on and then Eastern tryouts came from both those years and I didn’t make it when I was bottom-age Futures even though I kicked six in the tryout but that’s alright. Then I made Futures, made Metro, played a game for Metro then debut and now I’m here.”
Q: You’ve done some extras as well such as the Rookie Me Academy and moving schools, how’s that been?
LW: “Yeah, I moved to SEDA Term 2 last year. I went to move (from Rowville) a couple of times but footy ultimately kept me there. Then I ended up moving to SEDA and that’s changed my life and I wouldn’t be playing footy now if it wasn’t for the change of schools and a lot of help for Georgia Knight who plays for Collingwood. I wouldn’t be playing without those two factors.”
Q: You’ve had a lot of teammates move onto the next level, how’s that been for you?
LW: “It has been so cool and I’m so proud of them all and so happy for them. It’s such an exciting experience for everybody and Eastern were really big on living the life of our dreams, and they’re living the lives of their dreams and now Jarrad (Donders) going and coaching at Richmond. He’s the one who’s really pushed us for us to live our the life of our dreams, so it’s so cool and rewarding for them and I’m so happy I can say I’ve played with these people and been coached by him.
Q: Do you tend to watch a lot of football when you’re not playing?
LW: “Yeah I do, I watch, especially men’s I watch every game, and then women’s I really got into it this year just gone.”
Q: Who do you go for?
LW: “In the men’s I go for St Kilda. In the women’s kind of bias but Freo and Collingwood especially, but basically any team that has an Eastern girl in it I’ll go for them.”
Q: Are there any players you look up to and model your game on?
LW: “Zippy Fish would be my favourite. But I’ve done a whole lot of work of watching vision of Jordy Allen who’s just been drafted to Melbourne, so really modelling my game around hers and trying to fill those shoes which are pretty big shoes to fill. It’s cool to watch my teammates and someone I went to school with and try and model my game off her.”
Q: What role are you looking to fit into this year?
LW: “The high-back, attacking back role. We call it the hunter role at Eastern and just running off half-back, getting the ball inside 50 and really showing my run and carry and my kick.”
Q: What do you see as some of your strengths and some improvements?
LW: “So my kicking penetration and efficiency on both my feet would probably be my number one strength, but I really worked on my aerial work and that’s become a strength of mine I think, especially coming off the half-back. My run and carry is up there in my strengths. I love a bit of space and when there’s grass in front of me I will take it. Something I’m working on is really using my power and showing it because I’m quite a powerful player but it’s actually using it and driving out so that’s something I’m really working on to try and show this year.”
Q: What kind of goals have you set up for the year?
LW: “I’m just blocking it into sections this year. My first goal will be to play good Round 1, 2, 3, leading up into Metro tryouts in May. The goal is to make Metro. Another goal I have is to play for All-Stars as well, but that’s a bit of a far-fetched goal, but then ultimately it’s to get drafted. I had a goal at the start of the year to make it into the leadership group, which I did with a couple of other girls so that’s really cool one of those goals are already ticked off.”
Q: Eastern is still a pretty stacked team, so are you hoping to go back-to-back?
LW: “Oh yeah of course. That’s really driving us this year, we’re not going to rest. This year’s going to be so exciting, we have an extremely strong list of girls. Our last year’s list was insane and so exciting but I reckon this year we can go beyond what we did last year and hopefully smash it in the grand final if we make it.”
