VERSATILE Shark Sienna Lilly has already ticked off one of her goals for the year of making the West Australian winter squad. With that in hand, the former Queenslander now East Fremantle talent is eyeing off a League debut at Shark Park with her versatility, size and balance of endurance and speed all combining to make her an intriguing draft prospect.

We spoke to Lilly at the West Australian Preseason Testing event about her football journey, gamestyle, inspirations and goals for the year ahead.

Q: Sienna, give us a bit of a rundown into your football journey – how you got started to where you are now.

SL: “I started around Year 9, Year 10 – a bit of a late start. We didn’t have a team at my local footy club yet, so I started playing around the girls in Bull Creek. That’s where I began, and then eventually got into East Freo. Started there a couple of years ago in the Rogers team, and that was all good. Then just this year I got selected in the state summer squad, so I’ve been training with them recently.”

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

SL: “My height, but also my endurance and speed. I’m able to whip around the contest but also get involved in it, so I can play a bit of ruck, but also inside or centre half forward.”

Q: What about in terms of areas for improvement?

SL: “I want to get better at just hardcore tackling and around the contest – taking on the tackles. Normally I like to run away with it, but you always can improve your kicking, marking, groundballs, all of that.”

Q: What’s your favourite position?

SL: “I do love a bit of centre half-forward, but I also love a bit of midfield. I can go everywhere and get involved.”

Q: Which AFLW club do you support?

SL: “I support Gold Coast, because that’s my hometown, where I’m from.”

Q: What was the reason for moving across the country?

SL: “Just family, really. My mum’s side is in Gold Coast, but my dad’s side is here, so we thought we’d move for a bit of a change.”

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

SL: “Probably Zippy (Fish), she’s pretty good. Especially knowing her through East Freo, I like modelling myself to be like her.”

Q: Who has had the most individual influence on your career?

SL: “My dad. He got me involved in it because he’d played footy his whole life. Getting me into the game was just so good, and he’s always there to support me — gives me great encouragement and feedback on my games, he’s always there.”

Q: What goals have you set for yourself this year?

SL: “I want to make my League debut, hopefully early in the season, and have a good year at East. I also want to play some good games in the summer squad, hopefully get into the winter squad and play some games for state – and then at the end of the year, the aim is obviously to get drafted. That would be bloody epic.”