{"id":223778,"date":"2026-10-12T13:24:30","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T03:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=223778"},"modified":"2026-10-12T13:24:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T03:24:35","slug":"elite-level-just-the-start-of-my-dream-for-determined-clinch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/10\/12\/elite-level-just-the-start-of-my-dream-for-determined-clinch\/","title":{"rendered":"Elite level just the “start of my dream” for determined Clinch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

STARTING the year uncertain if she would make the final Gold Coast Suns Academy side, Queensland ruck Sienna Clinch<\/a> not only reached that goal, but zoomed past it at a rate of knots. By year’s end, she established herself as the top Queensland ruck, earned a National Draft Combine invite, and set herself up as one of the valuable bigs in the 2026 AFLW Draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It (2026) was really great since not being in the Academy until this year,” Clinch told Rookie Me Central <\/em>at the National Draft Combine. “I feel like getting in was just exciting, and then after the Academy, getting into Queensland and then getting the chance to get to the Draft Combine, it’s been a really exciting year and good to show off all my hard work.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My goal for the start of the year was just to get into the Suns Academy, and then I’ve gotten quite far from there. “My goal now is to obviously just get drafted, but if that happens it’s just the start of my dream. “It’s not over yet then, I just want to be in a good team, have good coaches and maybe get to a premiership, but I want to be around a good group of girls and play footy because I love it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clinch might reside in Queensland now, having played for both Broadbeach and then in 2026, Southport but she originates from Victoria, where she grew up in Melbourne supporting Geelong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m from Melbourne, I never really played though, I just followed it,” Clinch said. “Once I moved up to Queensland I started in Year 6, and I played for Broady footy club and then when I got into the Suns Academy I moved to Sharks just for more exposure and a better QAFLW system.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southport reached a third straight grand final, and while the Sharks fell short of a three-peat in the decider against Bond University, Clinch likened the professionalism of the club to that of an AFLW program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Playing for Sharks it was such a great environment,” she said. “All the older girls and the captains were so welcoming and so nice. “I loved being around the girls, it’s really professional. I feel like it’s pretty much like and AFLW club. “It was really amazing to get to play with them. “Obviously didn’t get to win the granny but it was really good to get there.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the AFLW, Clinch doesn’t necessarily support a particular team, instead engrossing herself across the entire league. However it is hard to deny she has a greater soft spot for the Suns, given how much affiliation she has with them through the Academy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturally a towering presence around the ground, Clinch has often found herself either starting in the ruck, or quickly moved into the role after initially being told she would play a different position, due to her size and ability to win the hitouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I pretty much always just end up playing ruck, like some clubs or school teams they’re going to play me forward or back, then they see my dominance in ruck and then I end up playing ruck pretty much every team I go to,” she said. “I played a bit of forward in Queensland this year but mostly ruck.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Describing her ruck craft and aggression as her two main strengths, she also cited her running as an area that has improved greatly in 2026. She is still building confidence in herself, as well as looking to be more consistent with her marking, but is pleased with how far she has come in the past 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to the Academy, she credits her dad with having the most influence on her career, always helping her with extras outside of club training or gameday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He’s always believed in me and pushed in me,” Clinch said. “Like when I wasn’t in the Academy, he’d take me for kicks, take me to personal trainers. He’s always been there and helped me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After initially receiving a State Draft Combine invitation, Clinch was upgraded to the National Draft, which was an “exciting” prospect for the teenager who has engrossed herself in the extra few days festivities that included talking to clubs and staying in Melbourne for the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The interviews have been good, all the clubs come and talk to you,” Clinch said. “Talking to the girls has been great, I’ve met a lot of new girls that I’ve never met before from Melbourne or different states so it’s been good getting to know everyone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing Clinch intends to show in preseason should she hear her named called out on draft night is her work ethic and aggression when it comes to her football. As for how she would go if a club outside Queensland selected her, the Suns Academy member said it would not be a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I mean I’d love to go to the Suns, but if I was to go anywhere else, I’d be happy to move,” Clinch said. “I’d go anywhere that wants me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DRAFT FEATURES:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New South Wales: <\/strong>Evie Bowie<\/a>, Frances Walsh<\/a>, Majella Day<\/a>, Morgan Stevens<\/a>
Queensland: <\/strong>Zoe Petrides<\/a>, Summer Browning<\/a>
South Australia:<\/strong> Emily Mableson<\/a>, Emma Charlton<\/a>
Vic Country: <\/strong>Greea McKeegan<\/a>, Lily Milner<\/a>, Eliza Roche<\/a>
Vic Metro: <\/strong>Bailee Martin<\/a>, Tayla Olivieri<\/a>, Maddison Meagher<\/a>, Brylee Anderson<\/a>, Grace McIntyre<\/a>
Western Australia:<\/strong> Lexi Strachan<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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