TALENTED athlete and GWS Giants Academy member Morgan Stevens became a more rounded player in 2026, expanding not only her positional capabilities but her role as well. Boasting an outstanding vertical leap as well as nice speed and agility for her size, Stevens came into the year known for her attacking prowess out of defence, but gained plenty of experience on the other side of the coin.

“I think I played a lot more of a defensive role this year,” Stevens told Rookie Me Central at the National Draft Combine. “Obviously usually I play a lot of a running defender so I think this year I really honed in on that one-on-one defensive side of things. “But it was a really good year, National Academy, Allies and the Giants girls, they were all such good groups of girls so it was really good to spend time with them.”

Not only did Stevens hone in on a greater accountability aspect, but she also rolled throguh a variety of positions including the ruck and on the wing at times, an element she really enjoyed.

“I think it was really good playing on the wing and in the ruck a little bit. It shows my diversity and how I can play in different positions as well,” Stevens said.

“I think they were a bit of a trial, bit of an example to see what I can do, but I didn’t mind the wing it was a lot of fun and I even didn’t mind the ruck for a bit of chop out so I can see I might find myself in positions like that next year but I guess we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

While her on-field game has vastly developed, Stevens cited her off-field work as the biggest improvement in her overall profile.

“Definitely the mental side of the game, like all the things off the field,” Stevens said. “The well-being and confidence off the field means just as much all the work you put in the gym and all the running. “Definitely the off-field work is something I’ve improved this year.”

There is little doubt Stevens rests on her laurels despite a strong year. The top-ager said she was “disappointed” with her 1.6km time-trial result at the Draft Combine, but was ready to make it a focus going forward.

“I think my running is one of the big ones that I am still looking for,” she said. “I was pretty disappointed with my time-trial result but I was very nervous and at the end of the day that’s just how it is. “Looking for a big off-season to really hone in and work on that to get it more up to that AFLW standard.”

While endurance is a key improvement area, it is quite the opposite for most of her athletic elements, with Stevens scoring jumps of 59 and 74 centimetres in the standing and running vertical jump respectively, placing her equal second and second in those physical tests. She also clocked a speedy 3.202-second 20m sprint, one of only two players above 175cm to finish in the top 10.

Stevens is one of a number of players tied to an AFLW club, with the Giants tall having to relocate regardless as a Canberra native. As for whether her future involves an orange and charcoal/white jumper or other colours is yet to be seen.

“t’s just seeing how things go, the season’s not completely done yet,” she said. “It’s just fiddling around, seeing how I’m going, where I can pitch myself next year and all that kind of stuff. “I’m definitely looking forward to next year, it’s pretty cool to visualise myself in an AFLW team so I’m really looking forward to it.”

As for when her name is called out and she arrives first day of preseason, Stevens wanted to be a sponge and learn as much as she could from her teammates.

“I think I really just want to use my teammates as a resource,” she said. “They’ve been in the system so many times before, for years. They’ve done the preseason, used the resources, so I really want to just use them as a guideline where I should be driving myself and base myself on what they are doing and how I can do better than them.”

Stevens has a big few months coming up and plenty of goals to tick off, especially if, as expected, she is selected in December’s AFLW Draft.

“Obviously the big goal is the draft,” Stevens said. “That’s the pinnacle point of everything. After that getting myself sorted in an AFLW team and I’m really looking forward to the next few months. “It will be really exciting, obviously moving and I’m just really looking forward to it all.”