{"id":212197,"date":"2026-04-15T09:23:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T23:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=212197"},"modified":"2026-04-15T09:23:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T23:23:41","slug":"2026-aflw-draft-qa-isabella-mazzei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/04\/15\/2026-aflw-draft-qa-isabella-mazzei\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Isabella Mazzei"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A NATURAL ball magnet and aggressive tackler, the multi-sport talented Isabella Mazzei<\/a> has set her sights on the Australian rules football pathway. A high-level rower who also predominantly played basketball through her formative years, Mazzei has become a key member of the Oakleigh Chargers’ midfield brigade with her attack on the ball and clean hands, features of her game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Mazzei at the Talent League Girls Preseason Testing Day about her sport background, gamestyle and goals for the year ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

IM:<\/strong> “I started down at Camberwell Sharks in 2023. I came from a basketball\/rowing background and started footy to stay fit in the rowing off-season so I started doing all three. Didn’t think I was going to love it, then absolutely fell in love. Had a fair season with the youth team as a 15-year-old. Then at the end of the season, the team broke up and I moved to Kew with the Under 16s. Had an amazing year, but at the end of 2023 I also got asked to tryout for Oakleigh which was pretty exciting, so it all moved pretty fast. Did Under 16s, got called up for Under 18s in 2024. Did Kew that year and also Oakleigh.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What was it like coming into such a strong program as a late starter to the sport? Did you feel you had to play a bit of catchup? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IM:<\/strong> “Yeah definitely, especially with my fundamentals, they weren’t where everyone else’s were so I reckon that off-season in 2023\/24 I was just trying to play catchup with kicking, my handballing. My physicality, my strength were all there, but definitely with fundamentals I was far behind, but I was in a great group of girls. Really supportive, great coaches and they really got me to where I needed to be.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: How far did you get with your basketball?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IM:<\/strong> “I played basketball for about eight years and I didn’t get very far, I moved from Hawthorn Magic then to Melbourne Tigers. My last season I played with the Under 16s twos. Definitely got further in rowing. I went to nationals for school in my quad boat in Year 9 which was a pretty amazing experience. I loved rowing, but I had to sacrifice because I loved footy more.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

IM:<\/strong> “I think preseason’s always hard, especially with the weather and the sheer amount of work they make us do. But it’s all worth it. I think to be honest it hasn’t been too bad this year, but I just love being a top-ager and all the new girls coming in and meeting everyone. I especially have really good bonds with the coaches and other girls, it’s really fun this season.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Where do you think you’re going to fit in this season in terms of your role or position?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IM:<\/strong> “Last season I played the majority inside mid, so looking to stay in the middle this year, but I also thought I’d roll through half-back a little bit as well. That’s probably my secondary position, so back, but mostly mid. I love being a mid.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: <\/strong>What do you see as some of your strengths and improvements?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IM:<\/strong> “I’d say my strength would definitely be my physicality, my power, my speed. I think my one percenters, I’d say I’m a ball winner, every loose ball I’m aggressive. To be honest my kicking has actually really improved. Last season my percentage went up and up and I’m starting to weave that into my strengths, but I think my weakness would still be fundamentals, still being pretty fresh. Three years, still kicking on my non-preferred footy I definitely need to work on. My running patterns around the ground especially as a midfielder, definitely have to improve those, and make the most out of my running because sometimes I can run too far and not always make an impact and I lose most of my stamina so I think just running patterns as well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: You’ve had a bit of a visual with quite a few of your teammates moving onto the next level, how important’s that been for you? And what goals do you set for yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IM:<\/strong> “I’ve got some amazing girls, Bailee<\/strong> (Martin<\/strong>), Zoe<\/strong> (Curry<\/strong>). I’ve got some really good people to look up to. I think we’ll see what this year brings me, we’ll take it week-by-week, see how it goes. I just want to have fun out of the season, I feel like I play my best footy when I’m having fun. But the main goal at the end of this year is to go for the draft, but we’ll see how we go.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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