ONE OF the top prospects in this year’s AFLW Draft is smooth-moving South Australian midfielder-forward Monique Bessen. A Sturt talent who has followed in the footsteps of recently drafted India Rasheed, Bessen is an equally talented utility who oozes class and smarts across the ground.
We spoke to the National Academy member at the recent South Australian Preseason Testing day about her football journey, experiences, game and what she hopes to accomplish this year.
Q: Monique, tell us a bit about your footy journey?
MB: “As a kid I just loved sport, played everything from athletics, tennis and was a big soccer player and came into footy a little bit later around 10/11. Dad is just a big Geelong supporter and he just loved football so that’s how I got it into it. I’m from the Adelaide Hills and back then there was no girls teams so it was either play with the boys or go down to the city and play in the SANFL Juniors league so I did that and then migrated back to the Hills once the 17s and Women’s competition came into play.”
Q: You’ve had a lot of cool experiences between SA pathway, Futures and National Academy, what’s that been like for you?
MB: “It’s been so good, I think my group’s pretty lucky that we’ve got to experience them all throughout the game where some older generations haven’t been able to do that. But I’ve been involved in a lot of cool programs, obviously being involved in the state Under 18s as a double bottom-ager and got to play in the 16s first year as well and winning that national championship with the 16s as well was pretty cool and then being in the Academy this year is an incredible achievement. I remember when I got the news, it was just amazing. Just going over and having our first camp with all the girls and get to meet so many new people and train at such an elite standard is just like the experience is second to none.”
Q: At Sturt you’ve been able to follow the same pathway as India Rasheed, what’s that been like and now having see her achieve her goal of making the AFLW?
MB: “Indi’s been such a great rolemodel to me. Me and her have played such a lot of footy together and seeing her go through the pathways, she’s helped me a lot, given me a lot of good advice. So seeing that person going through before you, it’s really ‘you can do this’ it gives you the belief in yourself that anything is possible and just gives you that confidence knowing that she’s gone through that and now she’s obviously with the Crows and it’s great just seeing her coming back to Sturt trainings and just learning from her, it’s amazing.”
Q: What role do you expect to play this year, more midfield now that Indi has gone or still mid/fwd?
MB: “I think there’s a lot more opportunity, there’s a lot more midfield room with Indi going to the AFLW, and Bubba (Kate Harris) retiring. There’s a lot more space in the midfield now and I was pretty fortunate last year that Michael O’Connor our head coach gave me the opportunity to run out through the midfield a lot but still playing that mid/forward role. This year I’m expecting a bit more time in the midfield while resting up forward still, maybe something similar to what me and Indi did last year, but I think we’ll see a lot of the younger girls step up into the midfield. Maybe like Sophie Thredgold, people like that.”
Q: What do you see as some of the strengths in your game?
MB: “I think my decision making and skills are quite good. I back myself in a lot of the time. I feel like I can hit a target consistently, I love getting the short 45 kicks, leads and getting lots of marks and generally my engine’s pretty good, I cover the ground pretty well. I’m a defensive weapon as well and can kick a couple of goals if that’s what’s required of me.”
Q: What are you looking to improve on?
MB: “A lot of my strength. I’ve definitely been getting in the gym a lot more and trying to improve my overall strength around the contest because I feel like last year just playing against those bigger bodies, a lot of the times I would just get outbodied around the contest. Clearances I just want it there as much, so along with that also my high speed running. I feel like just watching a lot of my vision I’m a bit one paced around, and although I can run, it’s very one-paced, stop-start so I really want to get some high speed running, some sprinting efforts up and bursting out of the contests this year.”
Q: Who’s had the most individual influence on your career?
MB: “I would say a lot of the coaches at Sturt. Michael O’Connor I’ve had him since my first year at Sturt and now in my third season there, he’s just been so good, really respect him as a coach. Me and him we work quite closely and thankful for all he’s done.”
Q: Are you a Geelong supporter like your dad?
MB: “Yeah big Geelong supporter, which is pretty uncommon here for South Australia, but family used to be over there, so the whole family is just mad Geelong. It would be a dream to go over there and play but I’d go anywhere if the opportunity is there.”
Q: You got to play on GMHBA for the Futures match, what was that like?
“It was so cool getting to play on GMHBA Stadium, it was almost like pinch-me moment, it was so cool. I remember going out in the warmups and looking around in the stadium and it was just a dream come true just being out there.”
Q: Who are some players that you look up to or model your game on?
MB: “Definitely from the Geelong AFLW you’ve got Georgie Prespakis, Nina Morrison, they’re absolute midfield guns who can go up forward and be an offensive threat. They’re just so strong over the contest and decision making and skills are second to none, so definitely those two.”
Q: Finally, what goals you set for yourself this year?
MB: “Obviously the goal at the end of the year is to get drafted, wherever that be. It is yet to be decided, I’ll go anywhere. This year I just want to have a lot more consistent season in the SANFL. Last year I had some great games, but I had some pretty poor ones as well so I just want to find that consistency as well and play some overall consistent football and perform well at the national championships because I feel in previous years and state, I just haven’t really found that form again. I’ve had a couple of good games but I haven’t really made my impact yet so I think that this is my year.”
