MOVING clubs over the off-season to land at Swan Districts to join her sister Summer, Shaya Yarran has started 2026 in fine form playing off a wing and most recently spending time inside 50. We spoke to the West Australian top-ager at the Preseason Testing Day about her footy journey, game, inspirations and goals for the year ahead.
Q: Shaya, just give us a bit of a rundown into your footy journey?
SY: “I started playing footy when I was 13 and I started at my school Cecil Andrews. I was playing with the boys so it was pretty tough, grew up tough. Then I played footy at Kelmscott then got picked up by the Rogers girls at South. Played two years there, then ended it and moved over to Swans this year. I’ve also played state 16s for two years and then I moved into 18s as a 16-year-old and now continuing with with 18s squad going into my draft year.”
Q: What’s it been like since moving to Swans?
SY: “At Swans, it’s a very good environment. The girls are very intense with training, definitely a very good club.”
Q: What position are you hoping to play this year?
SY: “Hopefully play small forward again pretty much.”
Q: What strengths do you see in your game?
SY: “In my game I’m pretty agile, pretty quick, pretty smart with my footy.”
Q: What improvements are you looking to make?
SY: “Probably just my power, with even more strength. Knowing that I’m quick with a bit more power on me can definitely make me a lot better.”
Q: Who’s had the most individual influence on your career?
SY: “Probably my dad. He’s definitely a very footy bloke, he got me into footy and he’s definitely someone who pushes me very hard.”
Q: Which AFLW club do you support?
SY: “Freo.”
Q: Any reason for Fremantle over West Coast?
SY: “Just always went for Freo in the girls, and I’m in the NGA squad so just being around the girls is definitely a good environment.”
Q: Do you have any family ties to the AFL Yarrans?
SY: “Shane Yarran, he did pass away, but he was my uncle.”
Q: What goals do you set for yourself this year?
SY: “Hopefully to get picked up in the winter squad, go into the National Combine and get drafted at the end of the year.”
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Shaya Yarran
MOVING clubs over the off-season to land at Swan Districts to join her sister Summer, Shaya Yarran has started 2026 in fine form playing off a wing and most recently spending time inside 50. We spoke to the West Australian top-ager at the Preseason Testing Day about her footy journey, game, inspirations and goals for […]
2026 AFL/W National Championships schedule confirmed
THE LONG-awaited release of the 2026 AFL Under 18 and Under 16, and AFLW Under 18 Championships is over after the AFL confirmed the fixtures for the three national carnivals. While a number of contests are yet to confirm exact venues and/or times, the matchdays have been locked in for fans to make note in […]
PREVIEW | 2026 SANFLW: Round 4
ROUND 4 of the SANFLW season brings a double-header to X Convenience Oval on Saturday before the competition heads to Magain Stadium on Sunday, and the ladder is beginning to take real shape. Woodville-West Torrens and Sturt remain the only undefeated sides, South Adelaide are desperate to respond after last week’s shock loss to North […]
State(s) in Focus: Hypothetical Allies Girls squad
A CONTINUED growth in New South Wales female footballing pathways over the last few seasons and particularly looking to the future has plenty of exciting prospects set to line up for the Allies at this year’s AFLW Under 18 Championships. While the squad itself is yet to be decided, as we did for the boys’, […]
State Academy notes: 2026 SANFLW – Round 3
ROUND 3 of the SANFLW produced another competitive weekend of action, with the unpredictability on show as last beat first on the ladder, and the wet weather wreaking havoc in the first of the Energised Rounds with all four games back-to-back at The Parade. We took note of how each of the State Academy members […]
2026 Talent League Girls R5 notes: Tasmania Devils vs. Suns Academy
A WET Windsor Park made for tricky conditions between the Tasmania Devils and Gold Coast Suns Academy as the latter continued to bring in a host of Under 16s stars for the clash after a dominant national carnival. They proved to be amongst the best on the ground as the Suns saluted, 8.7 (55) to […]
State Academy notes: 2026 WAFLW – Round 6
ROUND 6 of the WAFL Women’s brought some classic contests on the positive, and unfortunately one significant injury concern, with Lunay Van Den Heever going down with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury early in West Perth’s clash against Peel Thunder. We took note of how the remaining academy members fared across the four games. […]
2026 Talent League Girls R5 notes: Western Jets vs. Calder Cannons
A DOMINANT second-half display carried Western Jets to a 9.3 (57) to 1.6 (12) victory over Calder Cannons in Round 5 of the Talent League Girls, with the Cannons leading 9-0 after the first term before the Jets booted nine unanswered goals across the final three quarters in difficult wet conditions. We took note of […]
2026 Talent League Girls Player Focus: Molly Ferguson (Brisbane Lions Academy)
MOLLY Ferguson entered 2026 as arguably the most unlucky player to miss the National Academy – a slick inside midfielder who is a ‘plug-and-play stoppage expert’ with the work rate and fight of her idol Belle Dawes. Against Sandringham Dragons in Round 5, she produced her most complete performance of the season to-date, collecting 31 […]
