DESPITE only picking up a footy a few years back, Gippsland Power‘s Alisha Molesworth has certainly filled up her CV. Since first bursting onto the scene, Molesworth has already tasted individual success at local level, winning a league and club best and fairest in 2021, to go with her Vic Country Under 17s representation.

“I started footy in 2019 which was V/Line for Gippsland Power,” Molesworth said. “I’ve gone leading goalkicker a few times for local footy. “I’ve got league best and fairest and club best and fairest this year, and that’s about it.”

Molesworth quickly established herself as a leading goalkicker. She won her club’s top goalkicking award in both 2018 and 2019, years where her Newborough side won back-to-back flags. Though COVID-19 put a halt in her development for a year – she was named on the Power’s list but did not get in one of the few available games in 2020 – she established herself in the 2021 side. She has also been able to play alongside twin sister Elise Molesworth.

Averaging 7.8 disposals, 1.1 marks and 4.8 tackles for the Power, Molesworth was picked by Vic Country to run around in the Under 17s Championships. There she donned the ‘Big V’ against Vic Metro twice, picking up 12.5 disposals, 1.5 marks and laying a massive six tackles per game. Molesworth said she loved the atmosphere and getting to play alongside the likes of Kara Stacey, Keeley Skepper and Madison Gray.

“It was pretty good, it was a good experience,” she said. “I met a few good people and got some challenges.”

Having developed nicely in her short time, the pressure player is looking to spend more time in the inside midfield role while rotating forward. It helps that some of her best strengths rely around pressure and aerial advantage, keys to success in the respective roles.

“My strengths would be tackling and marking,” she said. “(My improvements are) probably my ground balls and to focus more on my kicking.”

As for her future goals, Molesworth is keen to step up to the AFL Women’s and prove she belongs at the top level. In her first game against the GWV Rebels, the 17-year-old thrived in that inside role, picking up 15 disposals and seven tackles to be a fierce player at the coalface, something fans can expect from her each and every week in the NAB League Girls season.