TOP-AGE State Academy member Mykaela Walker is determined to crack into Glenelg’s South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s senior side in 2023. The young forward has caught the eye of the State Academy recruiters with her performances at Development League level, where he strong hands and accurate kicking stood out.

Though knowing she comes into the Academy as one of the older players – yet less experienced given she missed the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships – she knows just holding her spot in the tri-colours will be difficult.

“I was really nervous because obviously a lot of the girls that I play with were in it last year and being now top-age going into that it’s really nervous that a bottom-ager could come in and take that, but it’s been also one of my goals is being State and then senior football and then hopefully AFLW,” Walker said.

The progressional goals the Glenelg talent has set herself seem an upward trajectory, but it was not that long ago that she was performing strongly for South Australia Country at basketball, and also playing netball. The physical contract drew her to Australian rules football, admitting she was fouled out “too many times” at basketball, so being able to embrace her physicality out on the field was a blessing.

“I’m from a small town called Naracoorte down in the south east,” Walker said. “I’ve grown up playing footy with my brother, Auskick when I was around eight or nine. I didn’t start playing until three, four years ago in the junior girls footy team with the boys.

“Then I got selected to play Under 15s for Glenelg in 2017. Ended up catching the eye of the local team down there which only started up a couple of years ago in the Limestone Coast Regional women’s team so played seniors for them and then played 16s last year (2021) for Glenelg then have gone with the program.”

Upon entering the Glenelg program, Walker learnt a lot from experienced, crafty forwards such as Chelsea Packer and Caitlyn Swanson, and hopes she can provide a marking target inside 50 for the Bays if selected in the League side.

“I played Development last year, I didn’t kick many (goals) as I was on and off with playing games but you could say I kicked a few,” Walker said. “I’ve played ruck a couple of times in junior base footy. My first year at Glenelg in the under 15s I was ruck then forward rotation with Matilda (Scholz). I’ve played a bit of backline, it’s not the favourite position, but I’m willing to go anywhere if they need me to.”

Walker looks up to Melbourne’s Tayla Harris as a forward who can also roll through the ruck, while her family has had the greatest influence on her individual career.

“I live up here with a host family, so being away from them makes me want to push to have the dream of me being in football more and get it done,” she said.

Having to travel three and a half hours from Adelaide to get back home, Walker said she aspired to reach the top level and reward all the faith others had in her. For now, she is focused on improving her endurance in order to impact for longer periods throughout the game, and increase her explosiveness on the lead.

“I think just being 100 per cent in the game and making sure that I’m finishing off the game to what I can do it to, as well as knowing that I’ve done my best and also kick a few goals,” Walker said.