{"id":209135,"date":"2026-02-26T11:40:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T01:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=209135"},"modified":"2026-02-26T11:40:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T01:40:05","slug":"2026-aflw-draft-qa-freya-ross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/02\/26\/2026-aflw-draft-qa-freya-ross\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Freya Ross"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GAINING great experience as a winger last season, Brisbane Lions Academy prospect Freya Ross<\/a> is looking forward to what 2026 holds. A soccer convert from a rugby household, Ross has always enjoyed the physicality of the code, and is now preparing for her top-age season to be her best yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Ross at the recent Queensland Preseason Testing Day about her footy journey, game, inspirations and goals for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

FR:<\/strong> “I played soccer until Grade 7 and then at the start of Grade 8 I switched and picked up AFL. I’ve just been playing at club and Academy since Grade 8.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Was there any reason you made the switch?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FR:<\/strong> “I have a twin brother and he was into the footy, and I watched a bit also on TV. The tackling aspect and the physicality is a little bit more than soccer.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: How’s your preseason been so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FR:<\/strong> “Pretty good. Running’s going good, I got a PB for my 2km.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Have you had much opportunity to link up with the other senior girls at the Lions?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FR:<\/strong> “Yeah I’m one of the older girls as well, so last year was when I really bonded with the older girls and learnt a lot off them. Then this year its just that repetition and bonding with those younger girls, all Level 2s as well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Have you had any particular mentors that have helped you throughout the journey?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FR:<\/strong> “I want to shoutout to Emma Zielke<\/strong>, our coach. She’s just really good at coaching and helping us through. My dad as well, just pushing me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Can you talk about some of your strengths and things you’re looking to work on at the moment?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FR:<\/strong> “Last year’s ‘Zilks’ put me on the wing and I think that my driving and running endurance on the wing was really good and my tackling. I could get a bit better at my kicking on the run and my groundballs and contested marks.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Are you still looking to play that wing role or move around the field a bit?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FR:<\/strong> “I want to try new positions. Zilks said maybe a half-back and I’m keen to try that out, but I do really like the wing, just the running part.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Do you watch a lot of football?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FR:<\/strong> “Yeah, I go for the Lions and also I’m big on NRL.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Who do you look up to or mould your game on?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FR:<\/strong> “I really like Payne Haas<\/strong>, he plays for Broncos. He’s just really family oriented and you’d ask my mum I wouldn’t show it to her or my dad, but I just want to make my family proud and I really look up to them because I have three siblings.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What are some of the goals you’re looking to achieve this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FR:<\/strong> “Obviously everyone’s goal, I want to get drafted, but I also just want to learn as much as I can and improve as much as I can, and just have fun as well. You never know what’s going to happen so I just want to enjoy the journey and really try and push myself in my last year here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Is there a teammate we should look out for to have a big year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FR:<\/strong> “Probably Lily Quigley<\/strong> or Kya Willis<\/strong>. Kya’s an underager, Lily’s an overager, and us three in the preseason have just got really tight. We’re all wingers, big runners, big drivers of our legs, and have a bit of a rugby background.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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