NATIONAL Academy member Claudia Wright has had more than her fair share of setbacks over the last couple of years, missing the entire 2023 WAFLW season, and only playing one AFLW Under 18 Championships match out of a possible six. But through it all, the versatile top-ager has remained a player of interest for AFLW clubs and should find a home inside the top 30 picks on Monday night.

Speaking to Rookie Me Central at the AFLW National Draft Combine, Wright said her entry into football had been similar to many of her peers.

“I started playing Auskick down at Subiaco Junior Football Club when I was about four or five, and then went up through the ranks with the boys,” she said. “Then I had a bit of a break for a couple of months. “The boys kind of grew up and I got sick of them a little bit so had a break and then one of the teachers from school pulled me over to play girls footy.”

From there, Wright found the pathway into the Claremont Junior Football Club, followed by the Rogers Cup and eventually the Tigers’ senior side in her double bottom-age season. She had been preparing for that 2022 debut after making the state under 16s side the year before. However despite playing through 2022 without any issues, her first hurdle would come nearing the end.

Wright broke her wrist and missed the back half of 2022, and then all of the 2023 WAFL Women’s season, before receiving some good news.

“Came back through all of that and was fortunate enough to get back for one national champs game last year just to introduce me back to footy no pressure on playing well or anything, and then was very, very lucky to get a call to say I made the National Academy which was a great privilege so that was amazing,” Wright said.

More obstacles were to come less than 12 months later.

“This year got straight back into things, played a full WAFLW season, got to play National Academy which was incredible, trained on with the Summer program for state and all that, and then won a premiership with Claremont in the WAFLW,” Wright said. “Then unfortunately just before national champs I broke my leg and did my syndesmosis. Didn’t have much of a national champs, but had a good year before that.”

In a cruel twist, that broken leg came in a practice game against her premiership-winning Claremont teammates. However Wright was pleased she could experience the “special” feeling of winning the WAFLW flag.

“Probably the achievement of my life, just to get that done with those girls, they’re a real genuine family to me, they’ve basically “mummed” me and brought me up through my teenage years and being able to achieve this success with those girls was really, really special,” she said.

Along with her state level experience, Wright got the opportunity alongside fellow top-agers Zippy Fish and Molly O’Hehir to represent the WAFLW against the SANFLW at Optus Oval.

“That was great fun, being able to play that WAFLW state game was an awesome experience to get to know girls from other clubs, to be able to have a bit of a chat after the game through mutual friends and what not, but it was a really, really good chance to get to know other players and other coaches as well,” Wright said.

In terms of her personal game, Wright described her versatility as a strength, as well as her footy IQ and being able to read the play. Having slotted into roles at half-back, wing, up forward and on-ball, the top-ager said the first two were her preferred positions at this stage.

“I’d say purely just because I’ve played a little bit more time at that half-back/wing role, it’s probably where my strengths suit, but I’ve played across every position this year alone,” Wright said.

As for her improvements, Wright said she was working on her contested ball-winning and building confidence having come back from injury this year.

“Before my injury I was probably a little bit more fragile, but building that strength and confidence in my body over the injuries and through the gym, it’s just about not being afraid to take a hit, put my head over the ball, taking whatever is coming my way,” she said. “That has been really big this year, as well as just consistency and just getting a game.”

While Western Australia is a two-club state, Wright was considered the black sheep of the family when it came to her preferred club.

“I support Freo,” Wright said trailing off before clarifying why. “Whole family is Eagles, I jumped over during the grand final during 2013 and haven’t been allowed to go back since, so have learnt to love them.”

As for the fact that Wright has a high chance of relocating east, the Claremont utility said moving away from home held no fears for her.

“I think even before it was announced as national, we always knew it was probably going to go there,” she said. “If not, I was going to nominate national anyway, I was pretty comfortable with moving away if the opportunity presented itself, just to give myself the best chance of playing AFLW.”