BOTTOM-AGE tall Hannah Seaborn looms as a key prospect to watch in next year’s AFLW Draft. The West Australian talent has been blossoming at Under 16s level in the past couple of seasons, and make her mark in the WAFLW as a double bottom-ager in 2025.

Now in her penultimate year of junior football, Seaborn continues to go from strength to strength and is ticking off her goals slowly but surely as she continues to develop.

Q: Hannah, give us a bit of a rundown into your footy journey, how you got started to where you are now?

HS: “I’ve been playing footy since pre-primary, so I started off with Auskick and playing with the boys until Year 7 and then I switched towards the girls league. I reckon playing with the boys really helped me get that toughness and to be able to play at the high level that I am now, I think that’s how it’s helped me. I was lucky enough last year to play most WAFLW games for Claremont and that was just an experience because knowing that they’re a premiership winning team, that was insane and I was really lucky to play. Also last year, State 16s, that was good, I got to captain that team which was awesome, those girls were so good. This year I’m with the State Academy program, so that’s going to be exciting.”

Q: In your second WAFLW game last year you kicked three goals, what was that like for you?

HS: “I surprised myself that day. Jack (Schwarze, coach) really helped me develop as a forward and he’d always pull me aside and after training he’d do some extra kicking. Forward is where I really like to be.”

Q: At the Under 16s obviously you got to play everywhere, you were able to get heaps of ball in the midfield as well. Where do you see yourself developing going forward?

HS: “Well I’ve played across all lines and I think it’s really good to be versatile and that’s what the State program has been telling me. But I personally think a forward position, like key forward, but also developing into a midfielder, that’s what State like to see me be one day.”

Q: In terms of a player you look up to at the top level, who would it be?

HS: “I reckon Emma O’Driscoll. Her mongrel and just her tackling is elite for her body size, she’s not the biggest. And also Charlie Thomas at Eagles.”

Q: Is there a player you model your game on?

HS: “Ella Roberts.”

Q: Do you go for the Eagles or Dockers?

HS: “Well I’m originally Dockers for the boys, but since I’m with the Eagles Academy I’m leaning towards Eagles with the girls.”

Q: When you do kick a goal you seem to get pretty excited about it, you like a good celebration?

HS: “Yeah, big cellies here and there.”

Q: Do you pre-plan anything or does it just come out in the moment?

HS: “Sometimes we pre-plan it, but other times I don’t.”

Q: Where do you see yourself playing this year for Claremont, forward again?

HS: “Yeah, I reckon forward.”

Q: What about for the state team?

HS: “Well last year I played a bit of mid, I think they want to do that again but more switching between mid and forward.”

Q: What do you see as some of your strengths in your game?

HS: “I reckon my strengths are my aerial contests and getting up for the mark. I reckon my physicality, that could always be better but I reckon that’s still good. And my goal kicking, really working on my set shot routine and getting that more consistent.”

Q: What about your improvements going forward?

HS: “Probably just to develop as a player, just confidence to take on the game and just dominate even more.”

Q: In terms of the summer squad, how’s that been training with them?

HS: “It’s been elite, yeah. It’s been good, but just after the WAFLW season I got a stress fracture on my foot and so the summer program has just been like rehabbing through that. But still the training, I’m so excited to get back. But it was really good to be with the older girls, learning new things. The coach (Kate Orme) is cool, she’s insane.”

Q: Who’s had the most individual influence on your career?

HS: “I reckon Kate Orme from Claremont. She was a state 16 coach last year and she’s the 18s coach this year and 16s. She’s just such a leader and she’s so good to be around. She just understands me because she’s been with me through my Claremont journey from the very beginning. She’s just got so much wisdom. I really look up to her.”

Q: Just finally, what goals you’ve set for yourself this year?

HS: “Probably to make the winter states team as well, and I really want to try and get into the All-Australian team this year.”