KYA Wills-Rawlings was a constant presence on the wing for the Brisbane Lions Academy in their 10.9 (69) to 5.7 (37) victory over the Eastern Ranges in Round 7. The talented prospect showcased her elite athletic traits, combining speed and endurance to rack up 29 disposals and provide relentless run and carry. Winning 24 of her possessions uncontested, Wills-Rawlings was the ultimate link player, using her skills to set up scoring targets forward of centre

Kya Wills-Rawlings

Club: Brisbane Lions Academy
Position: Wing
Height: 164cm
DOB: 04/01/2010

STRENGTHS:

+ Athleticism
+ Speed-endurance mix
+ Work rate
+ Overhead marking
+ Positioning
+ Kicking
+ Upside

IMPROVEMENTS:

– Inside game
– Strength
– One-on-ones

SEASON SO FAR

Round 7 Statistics: 29 disposals, 13 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s, 1 behind | 75% kicking efficiency | 72.4% disposal efficiency

FIRST QUARTER

Starting on the wing, Wills-Rawlings immediately showcased her work rate by sneaking forward to mark in the forward pocket. She took a set shot from 35 metres out but missed to the right for a behind in the second minute. Shortly after, she displayed good recovery skills; despite a slight fumble after a handball missed her at half-forward, she regathered, dished off, and followed up with pressure to force a turnover.

At the eight-and-a-half-minute mark, she kicked the ball in front of herself, gathered, but was tackled. Her ability to create scoring opportunities was highlighted in the 12th minute when she received a handball inside 50 under pressure and executed a great dish-off that resulted in a Lions goal. She capped off the quarter with a crucial defensive action, producing a great spoil inside 50 just before quarter-time to bring the ball to ground.

SECOND QUARTER

Wills-Rawlings continued to cover the ground exceptionally well in the second term. She gathered the ball at half-back, handballed away, and then pushed up to the wing to win it back and dish off again. Her defensive positioning was sound, taking a mark in defence and executing a nice pass to the wing.

She was a charging presence down the ground, providing plenty of run for her side. In the seventh minute, she delivered a clearing kick from defence to the wing. Later, she marked and dished off to a teammate on the defensive side of the middle, followed up to win it back, and sent a quick kick inside 50 that was unfortunately turned over.

She showed composure to get a handball away while being tackled inside 50 and continued to use the ball well with an effective pass after marking in defence. Her work rate was evident when she marked in the back pocket, played on, hit a target under pressure, and kept running to offer an option. She finished the quarter by marking on the wing, taking off, and going inboard to a contest.

THIRD QUARTER

Starting on the wing again, Wills-Rawlings produced some of her most explosive moments in the third term. She grabbed a loose ball on the wing, took off, shrugged a would-be tackler with her speed, and kicked to half-forward. At the three-and-a-half-minute mark, she marked in the back pocket, showing she was covering the ground well, and hit a short pass.

Her highlight of the quarter came in the 13th minute when she received the ball by hand, burst away, and delivered a brilliant lace-out kick to Summer Carriage inside 50. Two minutes later, she intercepted on the wing and burst through two opponents, showcasing nice, quick explosiveness.

She took a strong intercept mark in defensive 50 in the 17th minute and executed a great switch play across half-back. She followed this up by marking in defence, taking off, and kicking down the wing, though she fumbled the follow-up and was tackled. Her only real blemish came when she was outsized in a one-on-one contest in attack and was caught behind trying to spoil.

FOURTH QUARTER

Wills-Rawlings maintained her high work rate into the final term. In the 13th minute, she marked in defence, burst away, and kicked to half-back. She followed up to win the ball again, though her subsequent kick was smothered. She took another mark at half-back and delivered a nice kick down the wing.

Two minutes later she marked on the wing, feigned one way, looked to handball off, then went inboard, took off, and kicked to a contest at half-forward. Shortly after, she marked at half-back, handed off, won it back, dished it off, and won it back again before delivering well to a teammate, successfully getting the ball to half-forward. Even in the final 30 seconds, she executed a short pass and kept running to offer an option, capping off a tireless performance.

SUMMARY

Kya Wills-Rawlings produced a quintessential winger’s game in Round 7, using her elite speed and endurance to run her opponents ragged. Her 29 disposals and 13 marks highlighted her ability to find space and act as a crucial link player between the arcs.

While the majority of her possessions were uncontested, her work rate to get to those dangerous spots and her neat ball use (75 per cent kicking efficiency) made her a constant threat. If she can continue to build her strength in one-on-one contests, her athletic profile makes her a very exciting prospect for the future.

It is easy to forget she only just came out of the Under 16 Championships, but looks ready for to make her impact at a higher level already. She will have the next two seasons to further develop the strength, as well as a greater inside presence, no doubt teaming up with Ameleia Murray next season again as two of the brightest prospects in the next two drafts.