POWERFUL left-footer Layla Quinn-Schofield had a meteoric rise in her debut WAFL Women’s season last year, with the Subiaco talent going from trying out at Rogers Cup level, to representing her state at the national championships.
Now a top-ager, Quinn-Schofield has returned as part of the summer squad, and is intent on further improving at both state and national level for the Lions and Black Ducks respectively. We spoke to the forward at last month’s Preseason Testing Combine.
Q: Layla give us a quick summary of your footy journey?
LQS: “I started at Warwick Greenwood in the boys until Year 8 and then played with the girls there and had to move to Kingsley. Then last WAFL season was my first ever time playing so I played a couple games of Rogers, then I played three games of League in the backend and then I got selected in the 18s, so it’s sort of been a really quick journey right now.”
Q: How did you find your 2024 season?
LQS: “Good. It’s definitely something to get used to. One of my first seasons down at state, so a bit different but it’s going well.”
Q: What have you taken away from training with the state squad?
LQS: “Definitely fitness, trying to keep up with everyone. But definitely influences with a lot of people, like especially the older girls. You learn a lot more from them, their skills and all of that.”
Q: Who are some of the more influential players you’ve been around?
LQS: “Definitely Zippy (Fish) in the winter. Same as Molly O’Hehir. All of them really, same as live Liv Wolmarans and Liv Crane.”
Q: What do you think are some of your strengths?
LQS: “Probably my left foot and being creative around goals. Definitely being able to hit targets on the lead.”
Q: What are some of the things you’re looking to improve on this year?
“100 per cent my fitness. That’s definitely something I need to keep up. But even just my quick hands and ground balls and just being faster, keeping up with the game.”
Q: When it comes to your goals, do you think big picture or one day at a time?
LQS: “Sort of both really. I’m a bit like ‘I want to make AFLW in the future’, but if that takes time, it takes time. But I’m just taking one step at a time at the moment.”
Q: Who do you follow in the AFL/W?
LQS: “Definitely West Coast.”
Q: Would you like to end up there?
LQS: “Yeah it’s been my favourite team, followed them in the men’s through my life too.”
