{"id":223947,"date":"2026-10-19T09:07:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T23:07:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=223947"},"modified":"2026-10-19T09:07:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T23:07:20","slug":"connection-key-to-moore-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/10\/19\/connection-key-to-moore-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Connection key to Moore success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AFTER losing last year’s SANFLW Grand Final and finishing runners-up in the AFLW Under 18 Championships, Woodville-West Torrens’ Lucy Moore<\/a> was hungrier than ever to go one better. Much like her teammates across both competitions, she knew the pain of defeat, and instead turned it into the sweet taste of victory this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Coming into this year I knew it was going to be a big year,” Moore said. “I’ve just had a lot of fun, it’s probably my best year of footy. Just the connections I’ve made have been stronger and I’ve also been pretty successful in all my footy teams this year which has been fun so I’ve really enjoyed it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference in Moore’s eyes was the connection amongst the teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our state team was really connected and strong this year,” Moore said. “I think having that bond off the field, it drives people so much when you’re just all trying to play footy, it doesn’t really relate off-field. “But when you get that connection and you all have a genuinely have a shared goal, I think you just start to relate on-field because you’re so connected.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moore has not been without her setbacks. Last year the talented South Australian won an MVP for her side in the Under 17 Futures match. Normally that kind of performance guarantees you a place in the National Academy, but Moore was left without the invite. While initially disappointing, she was able to focus on what she could control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I really wanted to focus on it just not letting it define me,” Moore said. “I came into the champs and into my SANFL season I just need to do me, and if that’s not enough then I’ve done everything I can. “I didn’t let the distractions deter me from what I wanted.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That focus worked, as Moore came away from the season with two titles – the SANFLW flag and AFLW Under 18 Championships – as well as All-Australian honours in the national carnival. At the end of the year, Moore earned a National Draft Combine invitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I was honoured really when I got the email,” she said. “Just being recognised and having this experience.” Even just being here for this opportunity, not everyone gets it, I’m grateful that I’m here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SANFLW flag was the highlight of Moore’s on-field year, describing the premiership feeling as “unreal” and even months later was still “on a high” from the result. Staying fit and durable throughout 2026, Moore was pleased with how she had developed her composure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m able to create stuff now instead whilst I am still a bit of that clearance player not always to a target, I think I’ve been a lot better at finding those targets and creating things for our forwards,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One element that the Eagles youngster really focused on late in the year was her repeat contest work and not only extracting the ball at the source, but also pushing forward to be a marking target inside 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I was talking to my coaches and being that midfielder who can get inside 50 is great,” Moore said. “That’s not the job done and I think sometimes as midfielders, ‘oh that’s my job, that’s it’ but we got told ‘you’re allowed to go in there, you’re allowed to get goals, you’re allowed to create stuff in the forwardline’, it’s not one kick and your job’s over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I just tried to get involved more, there’s no harm in getting involved more and getting on the scoreboard every now and again is good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In saying that, I want to be able to take the grass in front of me. “I think sometimes whilst I have a bit more composure, I have more time and I think i can probably take the game on a bit more. “Being a bit more of that run and carry player rather than that dump kick out, that’s what I want to work on.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moore expects a role up forward is where she will land should she hear her name called out in December’s draft given the rarity with starting on-ball to begin an AFLW career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I started my footy journey as a forward, so that’s where I’m needing to start at this level I’m more than happy to,” she said. “I’m happy to play anywhere they see me fit, like anywhere I can fit into a team I’ll be happy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relocation doesn’t scare the top-ager either, with Moore declaring she’d be “happy to go anywhere for sure” and enjoy the experience that went along with the move. Being “open to everything” is exacly what Moore will focus on first should she land at an AFLW club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I really want to work on just making those connections because if you do, even in an elite level club, just meeting new people who are in that same experience and creating bonds with those people would be so cool to do,” Moore said.<\/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>, Ashleigh Barlow<\/a>
Queensland: <\/strong>Zoe Petrides<\/a>, Summer Browning<\/a>, Aiyana Pritchard<\/a>
South Australia:<\/strong> Emily Mableson<\/a>, Emma Charlton<\/a>, Ruby Lynch<\/a>, Layla Vizgaudis<\/a>
Vic Country: <\/strong>Greea McKeegan<\/a>, Lily Milner<\/a>, Eliza Roche<\/a>, Lacey Nihill<\/a>
Vic Metro: <\/strong>Bailee Martin<\/a>, Tayla Olivieri<\/a>, Maddison Meagher<\/a>, Brylee Anderson<\/a>, Grace McIntyre<\/a>, Alli Allen<\/a>, Kiara Boyd<\/a>, Isabella Mazzei<\/a>
Western Australia:<\/strong> Lexi Strachan<\/a>, Mia Carlshausen<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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