ONE OF a number of talked about father-daughter prospects for 2026, Polly Turner has ties to both Adelaide and Carlton through her dad Peter, but the North Adelaide tall is set on forging her own path regardless of outcome. Turner has spent time up both ends of the ground, and after really focusing on football last season – having been a talented basketballer – the South Australian is ready to make every post a winner in her top-age year.
We spoke to Turner at the recent South Australian Preseason Testing event about her football journey, inspirations, game and goals for the 2026 season.
Q: Polly tell us a bit about your footy journey?
PT: “I grew up with two brothers, so played footy since I was born. I was out there training one night and one of the girls coaches came up to me one night and there were like ‘why don’t you join in?’ and ever since then I’ve been playing. I was at Heckies (Hectorville) up until I was about 15 or 16, and then went into the Under 16s state program with (Under 16s coach) Bek (McMahon) and then from there the year after I went to North. Last year was my first year at North, and I’ve been playing with North and Under 18s State so it’s been good.”
Q: You’ve got the ties to Adelaide and Carlton through your dad and you’re part of the Crows Academy, have you had much contact with Carlton or is it just Adelaide?
PT: “We’ve had a bit from Carlton but not too much in terms of training. It’s been really good to get involved with the clubs. Obviously with Carlton being in Melbourne it’s a bit tricky to get over there, but we’ve had some communication so it’s been good.”
Q: You’ve played at both ends of the ground, which is your preferred position?
PT: “I would say running centre half-back, I feel like I can just read the game better from there. But I also love playing high-forward and I can impact the contest a lot more rather than a full-forward role.”
Q: What are some of the strengths you see in your game?
PT: “I would say my aerial, just being able to mark it wherever on the field and be able to impact that contest, and also just my explosiveness out of a pack. I feel like if I can get it out, I’m really good at giving the hands to someone, I’m really quick. I think my footy IQ’s just there, and I think that’s really helped by basketball, which I did growing up.”
Q: What are you looking to improve on?
PT: “I would just say my endurance. Being able to get to each contest, because when I’m there, I feel like I can impact it, it’s just being able to get there in the first place.”
Q: Which AFLW club do you support?
PT: “Crows.”
Q: Is there a player that you look up to and model you game on?
PT: “Anne Hatchard. I was just a fan girl of her from the start. Her power, aggressiveness, competitiveness, I’ve just based my game around that.”
Q: How does it feel coming into the season with the club ties?
PT: “I feel like I think of it like not having that at all. It is an advantage in a way, but I don’t want that to be my only way into an AFLW club. It’s obviously great having the Crows support around me, but I just take it as I can.”
Q: Who’s had the most influence on your career?
PT: “Probably Bek McMahon. Because in 2024 I was playing NBL1 and I was not going to play state in my first year in 16s, but then she Facetimed me and she was like ‘we want you to come out to state’ and ever since then I’ve committed to football. Like I’ve quit basketball, so I’ve put all my energy into footy which has been really good.”
Q: Last year you got to play U17 Futures, what was that like?
PT: “It was so much fun. Just to meet everyone from across Australia, it was so amazing. The game was such a high standard, it was just so different. But yeah, it was so much fun to meet everyone, and I’m still friends with a lot of the girls now, so it’s good.”
Q: What goals do you set for yourself this year?
PT: “Obviously getting drafted is the big one, but just focusing on the little things, getting better overall which will hopefully get me drafted but if it doesn’t, then I know that I’ve put in the work to try and get there.”
