{"id":223978,"date":"2026-10-20T10:01:46","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T00:01:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=223978"},"modified":"2026-10-20T10:02:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T00:02:42","slug":"mcilwain-keen-to-get-out-of-comfort-zone-at-next-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/10\/20\/mcilwain-keen-to-get-out-of-comfort-zone-at-next-level\/","title":{"rendered":"McIlwain keen to get out of “comfort zone” at next level"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TALENTED Queenslander Harlee McIlwain<\/a> has had her fair share of ups and downs this season, missing some games due to injury, but impressing when on the park and further cementing her place as a first round prospect. The Brisbane Lions Academy member is one of a number of draft prospects from her region, and while nothing is certain, the tall forward is doing whatever she can to build an AFLW career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the National Draft Combine, McIlwain understood the nature of the draft, and while the Lions were a second home to her, she is just hungy to grab any opportunity that presents itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’ve been talking to the Lions and it’s been a bit of hard work however I’m happy to give myself the best opportunity with other AFLW clubs in order to have the best career success rate for myself,” McIlwain said of the prospect of another club swooping on her in December’s draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’ve really enjoyed [the interviews]. “Some have been a bit more chilled and others have looked at vision so it’s a good mixture of both but I’ve really enjoyed all of them.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McIlwain described her 2026 season as a “pretty good year” able to tick off all the goals that she set at the beginning, making the Queensland side again with a National Academy representation and National Draft Combine invitation. While foot surgery a few months prior to the combine meant she missed Morningside’s QAFLW campaign, she still provided plenty of highlights on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It was awesome,” McIlwain said. “It was definitely cool to get a different experience with different girls and I really enjoyed the National Academy specifically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“[The ankle] has just been an ongoing injury for the whole year, but we just didn’t know what it was. “Finally decided to get surgery on it so it was fine now.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McIwain said her move from deep forward to high-forward – which subsequently happened after teammate Aiyana Pritchard rolled from half-forward to a wing – was a new one and she enjoyed the challenges that were associated with the role change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s definitely more of an endurance game because you do have to move more up the ground which I actually quite like it and it’s good because I’m quite selfless on the field so I get to set up other girls which I enjoy,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m focusing on short-45s at the moment. I’ve moved up into a centre half-forward role so definitely working up the field to hit short-45s then working back to the forwardline. More so been working on my strength in the gym which is another big one.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McIlwain cited her forward craft – such as her marking and goalkicking as areas she has improved on this season, as well as her resilience in the face of challenges. While unable to test due to recovering from foot surgery, she did have a return to play timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When I can run, I can’t run yet, but I can run when I can do 20 calf raises on my right foot,” she said. “When I can do that, I can start back running so maybe four to six weeks from here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For McIlwain, it’s not just about being drafted and putting the feet up. Instead, she wants to make the most out of an opportunity that she knows not everyone gets, and for the Lions prospect, she was not going to waste it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I want to make a name for myself and want to go out with a bang,” she said. “I want to make my debut when I get drafted to a team, so just those little things will make it enjoyable for me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for off the field, the “goofy” tall was still keen on being herself and getting around her teammates to build that connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I definitely just want to get out of my comfort zone a little bit and make them know who I am and get to know my goofy side,” McIlwain said. “I think that’s really important and also my training standards really high, so train really hard and show them what I’ve got.”<\/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>, Grace Tracey<\/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>, Lucy Moore<\/a>
Vic Country: <\/strong>Greea McKeegan<\/a>, Lily Milner<\/a>, Eliza Roche<\/a>, Lacey Nihill<\/a>, Sophie White<\/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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