LEFT-FOOTED forward Eliza Roche has been one of Murray Bushrangers’ most dangerous forward threats in her top-age season, translating her craft inside 50 into a Vic Country jumper at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. The Wodonga product’s blend of speed, agility and knack for manufacturing snags from tight spaces has made her a genuine 2026 AFLW Draft prospect.
We caught up with Roche in the preseason to talk about her football journey, her craft as a left-footer, and her goals for the year ahead.
Q: Eliza, give us a bit of a rundown into your footy journey, how you got started to where you are now.
ER: “Well, I started off playing my junior footy at Barnawatha in the boys. I was about eight years-old, and then when the boys obviously started getting a bit too big and strong I moved up and played for Wodonga Raiders, a female under 14s team. Then I’ve just made my way going into V-Line, Bushies, a bit of Country and now I’m here.”
Q: Have you always been that forward, or have you played other positions growing up? Is that what you see yourself playing again, or where do you hope to play this year?
ER: “I actually used to play in the backline, and then obviously a bit of mid, but I’ve always just been a natural forward I think. I like kicking goals, just having a few snaps and snags. Maybe I’d like to go up the ground a little bit more and just get a bit more of the ball.”
Q: What do you see as some of the strengths in your game?
ER: “My strengths are my speed and agility, because I’m a very small player. I just like to split through packs, and then I also know where the goals are so I can get a few snags.”
Q: What’s it been like being a left-footer coming through the pathways?
ER: “A lot of people say, ‘oh, it’s so easy being a lefty because you don’t know where you’re going’, and my dad was actually a left-footer too, so he taught me a lot about how to use your left foot.”
Q: Do you find you get an advantage out of that, because people are expecting you to go the other way?
ER: “At the start, yeah, when they don’t know that I’m a left-footer. But once they do know, it can be mixed – with training and that, trying to kick goals on the right side, I find that hard. But there’s some ups and downs to it. I’d definitely say good strength to have being a left-footer.”
Q: What improvements are you looking to make in your game?
ER: “Probably just getting the ball more – I missed a few last year, so hopefully I get a few more goals and stats. We’ll just see how we go, take one step at a time.”
Q: Who’s had the most influence on your individual career?
ER: “Probably my parents. They’ve supported me a lot through my injuries, driving me because I live so far away for training and games. Just growing up as well, with my dad – he’s taught me so much to help me where I am now.”
Q: What’s the average travel you do in a week at the moment?
ER: “Probably including games, maybe like five to six hours a week. It’s about an hour to training and back, and we do that two to three times a week. Then when games start up, that’s probably about four hours to Melbourne and back.”
Q: Which AFLW club do you support?
ER: “I support Melbourne, actually. In AFL I support Collingwood, but my mum goes to Melbourne and I play for (Wodonga) Raiders and they’re red and blue, so I thought Melbourne was a good club. My dad goes for Collingwood, so we split it in that scenario.”
Q: Who’s a player you look up to or model your game on?
ER: “Alice O’Loughlin, a bit of a forward. She’s got a high jump, and she can play as a small but a bit of a tall as well – a bit of a utility – and she can play up the ground a little bit too.”
Q: Finally, what are the goals you’ve set for yourself this year?
ER: “Probably just go with the flow. Obviously there’s a lot of pressure trying to get drafted, but I’d like to get into Vic Country and just play as many games as I can and have fun as well, because putting a lot of pressure on yourself can be hard. Just trying to make it easier for yourself, trying to relax and take one step at a time.”
