AFTER an interrupted start to what had hoped to be a promising year for Brisbane Lions Academy over-ager Isabella Levine, the Morningside Panther is finally back playing footy again in 2026. Having missed the first half of the season, Levine got back on-field for Mount Gravatt in Division 1 a fortnight ago, before returning to the Panthers over the weekend.

We spoke to Levine at the Queensland Preseason Testing Day about her football journey, game and inspirations.

Q: Isabella, tell us a little bit about your footy journey?

IL: “I started playing juniors at Wilston Grange and then moved over to Morningside, it just felt right. Played senior footy last year and really enjoyed it. Then the Academy invited me in as an over-ager which was really nice.”

Q: How has that experience been for you? What’s the difference between the programs?

IL: “Very professional. Everything’s done with purpose, and it’s really opened my vision up to all areas of the game I need to work on and hopefully it helps me become an all-rounded player.”

Q: What position or role do you reckon you’ll fit in?

IL: “Hopefully in the midfield. I have been playing a bit of forward so when Zilks (Emma Zielke) needs a switch up, I’m willing to go wherever she needs me, but hopefully midfield would be great.”

Q: Have you had any other mentors along the way?

IL: “At Grange I had a few coaches who really helped me develop but Damien Richards was my Morningside coach. He’s really instilled a lot of belief in me and I don’t think I would have gone out and given last year a crack like I did without him.”

Q: Do you watch a lot of footy? Are you a Lions supporter?

IL: “Yeah I do, and yeah, Brisbane Lions.”

Q: Do you look up to any players to mold your game on?

IL: “I love the way Belle Dawes plays. She just goes hard at every contest and that’s probably who I look up to, and then from the AFL probably Scott Pendlebury. He always has time and so much composure.”

Q: Can you talk about a few of your strengths and also improvements?

IL: “I’d say my contested game and winning the contested ball is my strength. I love tackling and obviously all the grunt work, but I think also I can be creative with handball. I think I do want to work on hitting a short target under pressure, and then also my contested marking and just be a bit more confident in the air.”

Q: Have you set up any goals this year to achieve?

IL: “I just want to continue working on my strength which is contested footy and be really dominant in that area because it could separate me. Obviously everyone whose in the Academy, they all have talent, but everyone has different strengths and weaknesses so I think that, and then also getting involved in second phase handballs and handball chains with my teammates.”