{"id":209503,"date":"2026-03-06T06:52:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T20:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=209503"},"modified":"2026-03-06T06:52:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T20:52:18","slug":"2026-aflw-draft-qa-milly-shortal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/03\/06\/2026-aflw-draft-qa-milly-shortal\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Milly Shortal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GREATER Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels midfielder Milly Shortal<\/a> earned a late call-up to Vic Country last year, playing in the final game before earning a spot with the side in the summer hub. Also a talented basketballer, Shortal thrives on the football culture and is ready to make every post a winner in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Shortal at the recent Talent League Girls Preseason Testing Day about her football journey, game and goals.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

MS:<\/strong> “I started playing when I was 12 because my friend’s dad was coaching the local girl’s team so that’s when I got involved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Were you playing any other sport growing up?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MS:<\/strong> “I was big on basketball.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: At a high level or just locally?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MS:<\/strong> “I played locally and then I joined the Ballarat Miners for the rest of my junior career.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Was there any reason you started to side with football now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MS:<\/strong> “I just really love the environment and the community, everyone gets around each other.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

MS:<\/strong> “I watch a lot of the Brisbane Lions games.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Any reason? Just family?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MS:<\/strong> “They’re who I support, so I get around them.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Any reason you support them in particularly?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MS:<\/strong> “Well my dad’s dad went for Fitzroy so when Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy collided we just all jumped on board.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Are there any players you look up to or model your game on?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MS:<\/strong> “Probably Eilish Sheerin<\/strong>, she doesn’t play for Brisbane, but I really feel like a lot of her traits I see in myself so I look up to her a lot.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What are some of your strengths and improvements?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MS:<\/strong> “Probably explosiveness and competitiveness, and then a thing I’m still working on are my aerial craft.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What role or position do you think you’ll play?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MS:<\/strong> “I’ll probably fall in the midfield a lot of the time, and I might go back a bit.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What goals have you set up for the year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MS:<\/strong> “My goals would be to hopefully make the Vic Country squad and play all four games. That would be really good.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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