{"id":209641,"date":"2026-03-12T08:48:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T22:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=209641"},"modified":"2026-03-12T08:48:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T22:48:45","slug":"2026-aflw-draft-qa-gabrielle-mehrmann","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/03\/12\/2026-aflw-draft-qa-gabrielle-mehrmann\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Gabrielle Mehrmann"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DANDENONG Stingrays defender Gabrielle Mehrmann<\/a> put her name on the radar in last year’s Talent League Girls finals series, capping off a consistent year by becoming the first person to keep Bailee Martin<\/strong> to under three goals in a match (just one). Mehrmann earned a spot in the Vic Country hub, and has the ability to also swing forward, with some rock solid traits one-on-one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Mehrmann at the recent Talent League Girls Preseason Testing Day about her footy journey, game, influences and goals for the year ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

GM:\u00a0<\/strong>“I used to be a soccer player actually and then my brothers and dad saw how aggressive I was on the field so they forced me to a footy training, Under 11s with the boys. Then I did that and loved it ever since.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: How’s the rise from local footy into Stingrays been?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GM:\u00a0<\/strong>“It’s been good. When I started I obviously didn’t really know what Stingrays was, so I was just playing for the love of it. I then made V\/Line and realised how far I could get, so have been working towards that the whole time.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Are you going to play in defence again this year or a different role forward?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GM: <\/strong>“Looks like I’m going to be a key defender. Hoping I can get a bit up the ground or play forward in some of those games, but looking like a key defender at the moment.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: You had a pretty big finals series last year including quelling Bailee Martin in the preliminary final. What was that experience like for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GM: <\/strong>“Experience wise it was really good, playing on such an amazing player. I think that just brought a whole new confidence to my game and going into the grand final, it was really fun.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

GM: <\/strong>“Definitely my contest work, using my strength, and my aerial work, marking.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

GM: <\/strong>“Just my consistency. Hoping to go into the year super consistent.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

GM: <\/strong>“Definitely my Balnarring junior coach Cam Price<\/em><\/strong>. He’s just helped me with everything. When I’ve been low on confidence, he’s just been there and really helped me through.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

GM: <\/strong>“Hawthorn.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Is that just family?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GM: <\/strong>“Yeah family. My older brother and my dad support them so I’ve just grown up supporting them.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

GM: <\/strong>“Tahlia Gillard<\/strong>. Love the way she defends, really good lockdown defender.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What’s the Vic Country hub been like?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GM: <\/strong>“Really good. Seeing how professional the system gets, it’s been really fun. Meeting a whole different bunch of girls, it’s been really good.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Finally, what goals have you set for yourself this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GM: <\/strong>“I’ve said it already, but just being super consistent and then just playing the highest level of footy I can and then at the end of the year, hopefully getting drafted.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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