AFLW 2023: West Coast prodigy Ella Roberts earns Rising Star nomination after starring in Round 1
Ella Roberts’ derby dominance has underlined her status among the AFLW’s best young guns. ELIZA REILLY reveals the turning point that has the 18-year-old on the precipice of elite status.
Ella Roberts is far more concerned with being consistently good than sometimes great.
And it’s that outlook that has the young Eagle on the precipice of the AFLW’s elite.
Roberts, 18, has been named the round one Rising Star nominee alongside Sydney ruck Ally Morphett. It’s the second accolade in the space of 24 hours for Roberts, who on Sunday became the first West Coast player to win the derby medal despite an eight-point loss to Fremantle.
It’s also the second time the Peel Thunder prodigy has been nominated for the Rising Star. Roberts was recognised in round six last year and finished fourth in the overall season seven count.
But Roberts wasn’t satisfied with her debut season. Instead, a career-high 24 disposals, five clearances, 339 metres gained and four tackles against the Dockers is just a taste of what’s to come.
“Last year I maybe set some unrealistic goals,” Roberts told CODE Sports. “At the junior level, I felt like I could not so much do everything but I had the power to be a game changer.
“It’s a lot harder to do that stuff in AFLW. I have to remember that I’m only 18 years old and things aren’t going to happen for me straight away and I need to give it some time.
“This year I’ve been a bit more realistic about what I hope will happen during this season but also not put too much pressure on myself.”
A second AFLW pre-season has also helped.
“That’s probably one of the biggest things that has changed for me, being able to get that full 14-week block training against the likes of Emma Swanson and Bella Lewis,” she said. “They prepared me for essentially the best level of player I’ll be playing against.
“Not only did my fitness increase but also my confidence at AFLW level.”
Bursting onto Western Australia’s female football scene with two goals in Peel Thunder’s 2020 premiership as a 15-year-old, Roberts’ talents up forward are well known. But the budding star has also proven a powerful midfield option for West Coast coach Michael Prior.
Where does Roberts see herself playing in the future?
“At the moment with where our midfield is at, I’m very happy to be a forward and a back-up midfielder,” she said. “In the long-term, I’d love to spend a bit longer in the midfield. I just need to develop a bit more of a tank.
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“I do love being involved up forward and kicking goals. But it’s been great for me to learn another position and practice all the things that come with being a midfielder like all the structures we run in there. I’m really enjoying being able to play both.”
There’s still one area of life as an AFLW star Roberts is still yet to experience – being recognised in public.
“I don’t think that’s actually ever happened,” Roberts laughed. “I’ve only ever been asked for photos after games. I’ve never actually been recognised out and about on the streets.”
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