{"id":212967,"date":"2026-04-27T10:35:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T00:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=212967"},"modified":"2026-04-27T10:35:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T00:35:15","slug":"2026-aflw-draft-qa-maeve-gill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/04\/27\/2026-aflw-draft-qa-maeve-gill\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Maeve Gill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

EASTERN Ranges tall defender Maeve Gill<\/a> is taking a holistic approach to her football in 2026 as the top-ager looks to build on a promising bottom-age campaign as part of the Vic Metro summer hub. Gill was part of the wildly successful Eastern setup last season, enjoying premiership success and wanting more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Q: Maeve can you give us a rundown into your footy journey to where you are now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MG:<\/strong> “I started at Auskick and then played most of my junior footy at Mitcham Football Club through to under 14s before transitioning to Norwood. I was in the interleague program for two years and then was lucky enough to be part of the under 16s Eastern setup. From there I trained with the under 18s in 2024, moved to Blackburn for the 2025 season, and have been in the under 18s for the past two years now. This year I made the summer hub for Vic Metro, which was really exciting – my first talent pathway with Metro.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What’s it been like stepping up from local to Eastern, especially being around a club that’s had a lot of success?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MG:<\/strong> “When I first came to Eastern I didn’t really have a specific role, but coming into the club I really honed in on being a key defender – what that looks like and the professionalism and accountability that comes with it. Understanding my role and what I bring to the team has been really important. I’ve had so much support around me with Soph<\/em><\/strong> (Ikosidekas<\/em><\/strong>), the backline coach, and obviously (former head coach) Jarrad<\/em><\/strong> (Donders<\/em><\/strong>). They’ve educated me not just around my growth but around what actions I can take to improve on the field. We do IDP drills that you wouldn’t find at local level, so especially in that year where I was still playing local, I could take things back from Eastern and implement them, which developed how I think and how I can teach others what I’m learning.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Do you expect to play in that key defensive role again, or are you looking to do something slightly different?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MG:<\/strong> “Team defence is definitely where I have the most knowledge, but this season I’m looking to push up the ground a little more, really enhancing that rebound 50 role. We always talk about turning the ball over as close to our goals as possible, and I want to be that person with an intercept-first mindset. If I take an intercept in the middle of the ground, I want to trust myself to go forward and know I can have an impact. One-on-one defending and developing my physical game will also be important this year.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

MG:<\/strong> “Reading the play is probably one of my best strengths – knowing when to come off my player – and that allows me to have that aerial ability, which I’d rate alongside my kicking as things I think I’m best at. I was pretty consistent last year with my decision-making, knowing when to go fast and when we need control, and I really want to carry that into this season. At Eastern Ranges we’re going to have a lot of big games and big intensity-pushing moments, and composure – knowing where to kick and being that settled key defender who can take intercepts – is one of my strengths.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: And what are you looking to improve on? What’s your key focus?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MG:<\/strong> “My key focus is just being a more agile defender. I can play on tall forwards and short forwards, and I’ve got a sporty background which has given me that speed, but ground balls are something I need to improve on. Being able to defend early but also match that to the ground level. I think doing that consistently would really enhance my game.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

MG:<\/strong> “Starting out, it was my brother and my dad, they were my motivators. My dad played footy, my brother played footy, and I just wanted to be like them. Moving into junior footy it became really focused on girls footy, and there were a lot of my friends involved. I wanted to motivate everyone to get into it and help grow the game. Seeing the impact of what girls footy has become really drives me. Then at Eastern, coaches like Jarrad have been huge, and my teammates there are now probably the biggest factor in my career. I want them to be able to rely on me in my position to perform and that’s what keeps me going and what makes me feel best about my footy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

MG:<\/strong> “I support Collingwood, always a family thing. I always wanted to watch them, and then a few girls from Ranges have been drafted to Collingwood, so it’s been really cool to follow them too.”<\/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

MG:<\/strong> “Definitely Maddie Hendrie<\/strong> from Carlton. She’s a really composed key defender who sets the structure for Carlton’s backline. I want to be like that – setting that standard and always making the right decisions. Carlton really value her, and I want to be that person for Ranges. She inspires me a lot.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

MG:<\/strong> “I’ve taken a holistic approach. I’ve got footy goals, school goals, everything. On the footy side, I want to make Vic Metro squad. But overall, my biggest goal is just to have no regrets. There are going to be a lot of opportunities this year and I’m going to make mistakes, I’m going to wish I’d done things differently, but that’s growth. Whether it’s putting my hand up in a classroom or going up and playing that contested defence instead of holding back, I’d rather have a go. I’m really grateful for the opportunities I got last year and I’m just hoping they continue to develop.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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