{"id":223821,"date":"2026-10-13T05:49:36","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T19:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=223821"},"modified":"2026-10-13T05:49:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T19:49:38","slug":"draft-combine-invite-meant-the-world-to-nihill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/10\/13\/draft-combine-invite-meant-the-world-to-nihill\/","title":{"rendered":"Draft Combine invite “meant the world” to Nihill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ON-FIELD results wise it was a tough year for top-age AFLW Draft hope Lacey Nihill<\/a> who between club and state managed just the one win each. However, scoreboard aside, the Bendigo Pioneers and Vic Country talent could not be happier with her 2026 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s been a pretty good season overall,” Nihill said. “I think obviously a bit unlucky with some of the scoreboard results, but we’ve got such a great group of girls at Pios so coming back every week after a loss makes it quite manageable.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of, if not the, most versatile players in the draft crop, Nihill spent time on-ball, off a wing, down forward or coming off half-back to prove to clubs that she can be deployed in just about any position on the field. As for her favourite role though, it was hard to look past around the coalface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I love being around the ball and using my strengths there, but I think as a winger I’m probably able to show my strengths a bit more, my running and my carrying, able to break lines a bit more,” she said. “Hopefully if I’m lucky enough to be drafted, I’m on the wing or around half-back.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After working so incredibly hard off the back of a surprising omission from the Under 17 Futures squad 12 months ago, Nihill earned her recognition by being invited to the National Draft Combine. There, she scored a 5:50 1.6km time-trial. Like her versatility, Nihill is an all-rounder athletically, with her speed-endurance mix a major strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Receiving that Draft Combine invite was justification for all the hard yards over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It meant the world to me. It’s something that I’ve been aiming for such a long time,” Nihill said. “Got the email and I was so happy, very, very relieved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admitting she was “very nervous” with her first few AFLW club interviews, the country kid realised all the possibilities that await her, as she looks to relocate regardless of who selects her in December’s AFLW Draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I think I was quite jittery at first. But they’re all such really amazing people all of them, and I think such a great opportunity for them to get to know me and for me to get to know more about the club,” Nihill said. “I’ve loved the meetings, it’s probably been one of the most fun parts of the camp.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main knock on Nihill’s game over the journey has been her kicking, which the top-ager took on board and went to work to get it to a point where it is much improved, but is still focused on honing it even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s something that I’ve definitely been told to work on, especially my kicking on the run,” Nihill said. “I hired a kicking coach to really get me all straight when I kick and not kicking around my body or anything. “Really honing in on the technical aspect of my kicking.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside that aspect, Nihill said she was just looking to improve on being “really clean” particularly when looking to break lines off winning groundballs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m a very fast player so I think just taking the extra second or so just to pick up the ball or take the ball overhead and then going from there instead of running over it,” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should Nihill earn a spot on an AFLW list in December’s draft, the Bendigo Pioneers prospect said she would get to work straight away to show off her endurance nad speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I think I’d definitely love to show my running. I love running,” she said. “I love the adrenaline I get from running so if my teammates were able to see I can run and run fast, that would hopefully set me up really well if I was lucky enough to play a game.”<\/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>, Sienna Clinch<\/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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