{"id":196063,"date":"2025-07-23T09:34:30","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T23:34:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=196063"},"modified":"2025-07-23T09:34:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T23:34:31","slug":"2025-aflw-draft-qa-stephie-wilkins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/07\/23\/2025-aflw-draft-qa-stephie-wilkins\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 AFLW Draft Q&A: Stephie Wilkins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SYDNEY Swans Academy member Stephie Wilkins<\/a> is a speedy outside talent who loves to run and take grass whenever possible. A late year born top-ager (December), Wilkins has grown up following the Swans even prior to her Academy ties and has aspirations of representing the red and white in the the future as a wing\/half-back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Wilkins during the Coates Talent League Girls season to find out about her journey, game and inspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Stephie, tell us a bit about your footy journey?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SW: <\/strong>“From the very start my brothers played, so I got into it at a very young age. It was like Under 9s I played with the boys. My dad was upset that there wasn’t any girls footy at St Ives, so he got girls footy started so I started playing in Under 12s. Then first year 2016 I think when Swans girls academy started, I tried out and got in which was really good, and I’ve been with them ever since.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: How have you found the step up in quality from local leagues up to Swans Academy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SW: <\/strong>“Really good, there’s a massive difference when it comes to skills, like cleaness and also just speed. It’s very fast footy in Academy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: How would you describe yourself as a player?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SW: <\/strong>“I’d probably describe myself as fast. Most times clean. I would say I’m a fast, quick player.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What are some other strengths that standout in your game?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SW: <\/strong>“I would say I have a pretty good eye to open players, like handing off, and also clean disposals into forward 50.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What are you looking to improve on at the moment?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SW:<\/strong>\u00a0“Body on, probably contact and tackling, contested marking.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Who’s had the most individual influence on your career?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SW: <\/strong>“My dad.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: In terms of AFL\/W club who did you support, is it Sydney?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SW: <\/strong>“Yeah Swans all the way.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What do you want to get out of this season?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SW:<\/strong> “I want to play a really good wing role and I’ve played a couple of minutes back this game so I hopefully I can strengthen my half-back as well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Is there a player you look up to or model your game on at the elite level?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SW:<\/strong> “I’ve got quite a few. Probably Mon (Montana Ham<\/strong>) in Swans, and Jodie Hicks<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mentions<\/span><\/span><\/div>