GEELONG Falcons top-age talent Stella Huxtable comes from a footballing family and the Torquay AFLW Draft prospect is looking towards a big 2025 season. Already she has stepped out for Geelong in the first fortnight of the Coates Talent League Girls competition before being called up to represent the All Stars against the National Academy last weekend.

We spoke to Huxtable about her football journey, her game and what she hopes to accomplish throughout the year.

Q: Tell us a bit about your footy journey?

SH: “My brother’s originally both of them of them I have two older brothers they originally playing football. I was doing dancing hip hop at the time and my friends joined football and I kind of always hung around the football with my brothers and my family and I really wanted to play obviously and be like them. I asked my parents and my mum said ‘no, no, you’ll get hit, you’ll injured’ all that sort of stuff and my dad was like ‘nah just give her a try’ so joined up to Torquay Football Netball Club and I was probably around nine or 10 at that time.”

Q: Have you had any key mentors along the way who have helped your footy?

SH: “Probably my dad has always wanted, he’s played footy from a young age as well and all my brothers have too. He’s always encouraged me, he’s known that I want to play AFL and go further with footy so he’s always pushed me to be my best and always encouraging me.”

Q: How’s your preseason been this year?

SH: “My preseason has been well. Knowing it could possibly be my last preseason with Geelong Falcons being really trying to be present with everyone, but also really working hard because obviously it’s a big year and trying to have a good setup for the season.”

Q: How would you describe yourself as a player?

SH: “I would describe myself as quite confident and I’m able to help anyone or confident in the game.”

Q: What are some of your strengths?

SH: “My strengths would be winning one-v-one contests, marking and endurance.”

Q: What kind of role are you going to play this year?

SH: “I’m inside mid or high-forward.”

Q: What are you still working on?

SH: “Probably my speed. I know speed is a big attribute as an AFLW player. People look at Sara Howley and all those kind of players and are like ‘she’s speedy, she can get out of contests’ so working on my speed, driving the legs and my kicking.”

Q: Which AFL/W club do you support?

SH: “I don’t currently support anyone. I used to go strongly for the Cats but whoever’s good at the time I kind of just go for them. I just follow players.”

Q: Do you have anyone you look up to and try and mould your game on?

SH: “Probably for men’s i would say Christian Petracca. I know you see on social media a lot of his insight into his normal life. He cooks, he focuses on recovery, but you also see how hard he works and I love that. I would also say for women’s, Nina Morrison. She seems like just someone who would really not focuses her life around AFL but she obviously works really hard.”

Q: Do you have any goals for the year you want to tick off?

SH: “My goals would be have a successful season, enjoy every moment of it.”