GAINING great experience as a winger last season, Brisbane Lions Academy prospect Freya Ross is looking forward to what 2026 holds. A soccer convert from a rugby household, Ross has always enjoyed the physicality of the code, and is now preparing for her top-age season to be her best yet.
We spoke to Ross at the recent Queensland Preseason Testing Day about her footy journey, game, inspirations and goals for 2026.
Q: Freya, tell us a little bit about your footy journey?
FR: “I played soccer until Grade 7 and then at the start of Grade 8 I switched and picked up AFL. I’ve just been playing at club and Academy since Grade 8.”
Q: Was there any reason you made the switch?
FR: “I have a twin brother and he was into the footy, and I watched a bit also on TV. The tackling aspect and the physicality is a little bit more than soccer.”
Q: How’s your preseason been so far?
FR: “Pretty good. Running’s going good, I got a PB for my 2km.”
Q: Have you had much opportunity to link up with the other senior girls at the Lions?
FR: “Yeah I’m one of the older girls as well, so last year was when I really bonded with the older girls and learnt a lot off them. Then this year its just that repetition and bonding with those younger girls, all Level 2s as well.”
Q: Have you had any particular mentors that have helped you throughout the journey?
FR: “I want to shoutout to Emma Zielke, our coach. She’s just really good at coaching and helping us through. My dad as well, just pushing me.”
Q: Can you talk about some of your strengths and things you’re looking to work on at the moment?
FR: “Last year’s ‘Zilks’ put me on the wing and I think that my driving and running endurance on the wing was really good and my tackling. I could get a bit better at my kicking on the run and my groundballs and contested marks.”
Q: Are you still looking to play that wing role or move around the field a bit?
FR: “I want to try new positions. Zilks said maybe a half-back and I’m keen to try that out, but I do really like the wing, just the running part.”
Q: Do you watch a lot of football?
FR: “Yeah, I go for the Lions and also I’m big on NRL.”
Q: Who do you look up to or mould your game on?
FR: “I really like Payne Haas, he plays for Broncos. He’s just really family oriented and you’d ask my mum I wouldn’t show it to her or my dad, but I just want to make my family proud and I really look up to them because I have three siblings.”
Q: What are some of the goals you’re looking to achieve this year?
FR: “Obviously everyone’s goal, I want to get drafted, but I also just want to learn as much as I can and improve as much as I can, and just have fun as well. You never know what’s going to happen so I just want to enjoy the journey and really try and push myself in my last year here.”
Q: Is there a teammate we should look out for to have a big year?
FR: “Probably Lily Quigley or Kya Willis. Kya’s an underager, Lily’s an overager, and us three in the preseason have just got really tight. We’re all wingers, big runners, big drivers of our legs, and have a bit of a rugby background.”
