CENTRAL District defender Mikaylah Antony was never expecting to receive a Draft Combine invite after a frustrating, injury-interrupted top-age season. However despite separate hip and ankle issues that reduced her year to half a dozen games, the talented South Australian did indeed get the chance to test at the State Draft Combine.

“I felt really happy and very grateful for this opportunity but I didn’t expect it really because I didn’t feel like I didn’t do as much as I would have liked this year because of the injuries,” Antony said speaking at the Draft Combine on Saturday.

“But I was just very happy, very thankful that I was obviously seen and probably from my underage year last year in the Under 18s having an alright year, then to be able to get invited back out to the combine, I was just very happy.”

Antony was coming off a breakout bottom-age season with the Dogs in the SANFLW, and having cracked through for state representation. Unfortunately a tear in her hip joint around two weeks before the start of her top-age campaign, put the first half of her season on ice.

Lucky enough to return for the All-Stars game in Melbourne, Antony had a block of four SANFLW games before heading off to don the tri-colours again. Unfortunately injury would strike again when Antony tore “lots of ligaments” in her ankle, which meant she missed the rest of the SANFLW season and the start of South Australia’s national championships.

Fortunately, Antony did get to run out for the Croweaters in their final match against Vic Country, and said the body felt “full recovered” and was ready for a big preseason. She tested in all Draft Combine tests on Saturday to further emphasise that the injuries were in the rear view mirror.

Naturally after missing so much on-field this season, Antony cannot wait to get cracking and is already planning her next move, which could well be a positional change.

“Speaking to some of the Central coaches I really want to look for a new role,” Antony said. “I think being a defender I have the traits and roles to have a good defender but I also see myself being a really good small forward.

“I feel like lots of my skills and my kicking like the snaps and checksides and to be crafty around goals, I feel like being just up there even as a key forward with my overhead marking, and then even rotating into the midfield for a little bit.

“That’s where I grew up playing, in those positions but then worst comes to worst I’m fine to roll back into that defence, but I think looking into the future, looking for more opportunity in different positions.”

Antony was candid in not getting her hopes up for the draft given how much time she has missed, but was determined in not missing a beat to give 2026 a chance to be the best year yet for the teenager.

“Not finished (school) just yet, I’ve got about two, three more weeks, tick that off, graduate school then hit the track,” Antony said. “Preseason starts in about a month, so not long at all. “Get straight back into it and keep pushing through and hopefully bigger and better next year.”

Focusing on key areas such as her fitness, speed and power, Antony said she was hungry for an opportunity at the elite level, and was willing to travel anywhere in the country to get it with relocation to another state not a problem.

“Yeah I have (thought about relocation) a bit and I’m honestly fine for any opportunity I get interstate,” she said. “Doesn’t matter what state, any state, I’ll take it for sure and I’m happy just to make the move and get going for a new life.”