{"id":218408,"date":"2026-07-07T07:02:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T21:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=218408"},"modified":"2026-07-07T07:02:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T21:02:54","slug":"2026-aflw-draft-qa-skylah-mcpherson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/07\/07\/2026-aflw-draft-qa-skylah-mcpherson\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Skylah McPherson"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MURRAY Bushrangers and Vic Country forward-midfielder Skylah McPherson<\/a> has come a long way with her game since starting as the only girl in an otherwise all-boys team at Myrtleford. Following on from a breakout bottom-age campaign in 2025, McPherson has been steadily growing in 2026 and playing through Vic Country’s national campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to McPherson ahead of the year about her football journey, game and inspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: Skylah, give us a bit of a rundown into your footy journey, how you got started and the pathways you took to where you are now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM:<\/strong> “I started playing Under 14s at Myrtleford with the boys, and then I got the opportunity to go try out for the Murray Bushrangers two years ago. From then on I’ve just been at the Murray Bushrangers.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What was it like stepping up from that local league up to the Talent League with the Bushrangers?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM:<\/strong> “There was a big difference – being, you know, the only girl with the boys. But the (Talent League) girls are a big step up from the boys.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: In terms of your game and the position you want to play this year \u2014 obviously you’ve mostly played forward but a bit up the ground as well. Where do you see yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM: <\/strong>“I still see myself playing forward, but up the ground would be, you know, definitely what I’d like to do – being in midfield and a rotation forward.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

SM:<\/strong> “My strengths are probably my speed and my damage inside forward 50.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: In terms of the improvements in your game, what are you looking to work on at the moment?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM: <\/strong>“Definitely my kicking and getting into more contests.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

SM:<\/strong> “Definitely my mum and dad – since day one they’ve supported me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

SM:<\/strong> “Geelong Cats.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Who’s a player you look up to at the top level?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM:<\/strong> “Definitely Dana East<\/em><\/strong>. She’s moved clubs now to Richmond, but yeah, since day one I’ve been watching her.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: That’s a real unique choice, you might be the first person to say her. What was it that drew you to her?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM: <\/strong>“Well, a bit of everything. Her brother plays down where I am, and ever since he started playing down there, I’ve just watched her game and she’s just someone to look up to.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: You’re a left-footer. What’s that like for you playing, having that difference compared to a lot of others?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM:<\/strong> “Oh, it’s good. A couple of us in the (Murray) forwards – actually half of us are lefties – so yeah, it’s a bit different to being a righty.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: I guess coming through, you’ve got a lot of players at Murray that you’ve played together a long time because you started quite young. What’s it been like now you’re at this top-age level with a lot of the same girls you’re playing with?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM: <\/strong>“Yeah, it’s good. I came into the club knowing no one because I was the only girl from Myrtleford, but getting to know everyone – it’s been a great journey.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: You’ve got quite a few good players in the front half as well – Majella (Day) is going to be one that cops a lot of attention. Does that help you a fair bit, knowing they’re going to focus a lot on her and you can benefit from it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM: <\/strong>“Yes, definitely.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What do you take away from going to Vic Country hubs and things like that, to bring back to the Bushrangers?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM: <\/strong>“We have line coaches at Murray and at Vic Country, but there’s a difference between the coaching staff and what they teach us. So whatever I get from Vic Country, I try to take back to my local and pass it on to everyone else.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Just going forward from a 2026 perspective, what goals do you set for yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SM:<\/strong> “Definitely to improve my game, my running and everything \u2014 and the capacity to run out a full game.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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