A SPEEDY half-back with plenty of upside, Central District‘s Mikaylah Antony had an eye-catching first season at SANFL Women’s last year and earned a call-up to the Under 18s side for the National Championships. Heading into 2025, she hopes she can have a proper “breakout” year after finding her feet at the level in 2024.
We spoke to Antony at the recent South Australian Preseason Testing Day.
Q: Mikaylah, tell us a bit about your footy journey?
MA: “I started playing footy in Under 11s at Mallala in Plains league. Went from playing with the boys to out to the country in the girls in the Barossa. Then last year from playing at Willaston I got moved up to the women’s in Centrals, came through and debuted and then stayed in the League team since then. Had a good season, won best first year player. From that I’ve been doing states since 2023, went from 16s to 18s and now I’m back out here again and it’s just been really good, loving it.”
Q: You were a late inclusion for the Under 18s state side last year, what was it like you found out you were going to be included?
MA: “It made me feel better about myself because I came back from my knee injuries in the Under 17s. I did my MCL and that put me back about 12 weeks, so didn’t have the best runs in the Under 17s that didn’t get me first step to be nominated for the Under 18s. But I’m also glad that I got the opportunity in League to play better footy and get noticed from there. Having that good support staff and coaches noticing that the hard work is really paying off and I was really glad to get noticed and picked up from there.”
Q: Have you always played half-back role?
MA: “No I’ve actually never played half-back (prior to last year). Coming to Centrals I’ve always played on-ball or I got forward, very versatile, like I’ve played really anywhere. Then I tried playing up forward and I didn’t really work with it. I’ve always played netball in defence so I said I’ll just try there and I think it just stuck there. My intercept and my read of the play, I think that’s where I set my position and that’s where I like to play about. I do like defence when I can use my speed. It was my first year playing defence, but I love it now.”
Q: What do you see as some of the strengths in your game?
MA: “I would say a bit of my speed, when I can get it right I definitely want to utilise that a bit more this year. My intercept, the read of the game and probably my aerial.”
Q: What about some improvements you’re looking to make?
MA: “Definitely some power and decision making. I feel like sometimes I would do the wrong kick or take it on sometimes here or there. So my decision making, and power and explosiveness.”
Q: Who do you look up to at top level?
MA: “I love Chelsea Randall, I love how she crazy goes for everything. I love how she’s such a hard ball-getter and I love how her aerial work always goes for the specky and crashes into the pack. That’s definitely something I want to do as well, and I just love Chloe Molloy, she’s so good and so agile, and such a good player so definitely there.”
Q: Are you a Crows fan?
MA: “I go for in the AFL I go for Collingwood, always been a fan of them. In the AFLW, probably for Crows.”
Q: What’s the story behind why you go for Collingwood?
MA: “I don’t know, it’s pretty weird. I changed up. I went for Port growing up, I think this is my seventh year going for Collingwood, I love to switch it up. I love a few of the players, but I don’t even know why, I just started going for them and they’re good now.”
Q: Who is your favourite men’s player?
MA: “Isaac Quaynor, I love him, and number three, that’s my favourite number, same as me.”
Q: Who has had the most individual influence on your career?
MA: “Definitely Erin Phillips. She was the main reason I started playing footy, looked up to her so much. Always went out to the Crows games, always got a photo with her. Called up on a radio show, won her footy boots. Always looked up to her, even for book week I’d dress up as her. She was definitely a big impact on my life, and the way she went about it, even playing another sport like basketball. Because I’ve always wanted to play another sport and take that seriously, so definitely her, love Erin.”
Q: What goals do you set for yourself?
MA: “I just want to have more of a breakout season. I feel like last season first year out into the women’s program I was getting the hang of it. This year I just want to really show what I have. I hold in a lot and I really want to have a breakout season and hopefully looking to get drafted that would be the main goal for the end of the season.”
