{"id":204417,"date":"2025-10-09T08:39:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T22:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=204417"},"modified":"2025-10-09T08:39:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T22:39:04","slug":"2025-aflw-draft-qa-bree-horne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/10\/09\/2025-aflw-draft-qa-bree-horne\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 AFLW Draft Q&A: Bree Horne"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

EASTERN Ranges athletic tall defender Bree Horne<\/a> has come on in leaps and bounds throughout 2025, earning a call-up to Vic Metro off the back of being a lockdown back last season. Her athleticism has been on show throughout her top-age season and after missing the Coates Talent League Girls Preliminary Final due to illness, was able to return to win a premiership a fortnight later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Horne at the AFLW State Draft Combine where she detailed her football journey, how she found her top-age year, and some of the keys to her game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Bree, tell us a little bit about your football journey?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BH:<\/strong> “I started very young doing athletics up until 2023. I went to nationals for that, so that kind of helped with footy overall. I started footy in 2017 I was Grade 4, at Rowville Hawks. Then that team folded so I moved to SBL (South Belgrave Lysterfield) Wolves and later that changed to Lysterfield and I took pathways like interleague and then the Futures Eastern and moving up to top-age this year which we just completed.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: How did you find 2025 got included in Metro squad?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BH:<\/strong> “It was really good. Especially being able to adapt in such a short amount of time compared to the other girls around you that you’ve never met and adapting to their playing styles, their routine before footy. It was really good, a great experience.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Missed the prelim through illness but were able to come back for the grand final, what was that like for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BH:<\/strong> “It wasn’t great obviously. But just being able to keep back getting onto training as soon as I could and just staying up to my health really helped me getting back into the game and staying on top of my fitness in trainings.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Have you always played as a tall defender, or other roles as well?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BH:<\/strong> “All through local footy I was just like thrown everywhere but backline I’ve always liked. Then last year I was more of a deeper defender and then this year I got brought up to a key defender, so moving all around the backline, playing up at half-back, deeper. Playing up anywhere really, just playing on their best forwards.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What do you see as some of the strengths in your game?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BH:<\/strong> “Definitely my speed and using my height to my advantage, and my closing speed.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What about some of the improvements you’re looking to make?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BH:<\/strong>\u00a0“Contested aerial marking definitely, and I’m continually working on my ground balls, being clean below and the knees and I’m seeing improvements in that.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

BH:<\/strong> “Definitely my mum and dad, always supporting me no matter what, through everything. Driving me places, just always been there for me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Which AFL\/W club do you support?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BH:<\/strong> “Essendon.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Is there a reason, or just family?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BH:<\/strong> “Family. My whole family goes for them, so always been Essendon.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

BH:<\/strong>\u00a0“At the moment Matilda Scholz<\/strong> because we’ve both got the height on our side. I just really like the way she plays her game, really strong, agile for her height, fast as well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: In terms of the goals you’re setting for yourself this year, what are they?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BH:<\/strong> “Obviously AFLW would be the dream, if not then VFLW.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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