Fremantle ruck Mim Strom credits massive AFLW pre-season for new-found hit-outs domination

Known for her mobility in her first four seasons, Strom’s ruck craft has finally caught up. The 21-year-old has matched and exceeded her own hit-outs record three times in the first four games, posting a career-high 33 in round one. Strom is also ranked fourth in the competition for hit-outs with an average of 24.8. Across her first four seasons, she averaged 14.5.

Part of the reason has been a reunion with under 18s coach and premiership Brisbane ruckman Beau McDonald, who now works at the Dockers. But McDonald has also resurfaced a favourite drill, arranging four rubbish bins in a cross formation and getting Fremantle’s rucks to stand in the centre and guide simulation ball ups into the bottom of the bins.

“Beau is big on the bins,” Strom said. “He’s super consistent and fussy with all of our tap work. It’s about being strong in the legs, strong in the arms and then soft with the tap.

“The more we practice the better we’ll be at getting it to our midfield and hopefully winning that battle. It’s not a new one but it’s really good practice for us.

“All of the talls have been working with Beau which has been great for our body positioning and tap work. It’s always fun when you get it in the bin.”

Strom’s ruck presence has been a work in progress. Drafted to Fremantle with pick 21 in 2019, Strom has never been nominated for the AFLW Rising Star award despite being one of the best young rucks in the competition.

Her ball-winning ability and impact around the ground have vastly improved but Strom says her biggest development has come in the gym, finally adding the size to compete against the AFLW’s more mature rucks.

“I’ve been developing it the past few years and I’m continuing to develop it but I’m feeling a lot stronger and fitter,” she said. “Strength is a big thing for a ruck and it takes a few years to consistently improve that.

“I remember in my first season, I could barely bench the bar. It takes a lot of time.

“This is the best I’ve felt after a pre-season, being stronger and fitter. It takes years to build and it really does help with your body positioning and the ability to tap it to your midfield.

“I feel like I can now half the hitout battle because I have felt undersized at times against some of the big, strong rucks in the competition.

“I love coming up against the best of the best. They can only push you to be better. I don’t underestimate any of my competition but I’m more focused on myself and what I can do and bring to the game.”

While her sole focus is delivering the ball on a platter, Strom is also eager to retain her mobility, gradually developing chemistry with her star-studded midfield.

“I’m very fortunate with all of my teammates but especially getting to work with the likes of Hayley Miller and Kiara Bowers consistently,” Strom said. “Young gun Easty (Dana East) continues to improve and when she drives her legs, there’s not much stopping her. And with the addition of Megan Kauffman, she’s such a hard, in-and-under player.

“Once the tap goes down, I like to be as much of a midfielder as I can so I’m very lucky to be working with such a talented group of midfielders.”

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Fremantle is spending the week in Melbourne ahead of Friday’s clash with Carlton at Ikon Park. Strom said the extended road trip provides a great opportunity for the Dockers to regroup and bounce back from a 20-point loss to Essendon.

“We’re all disappointed in our performance on the weekend,” she said. “We were happy with some of our earlier games and the new game plan but we haven’t been executing it. It hasn’t clicked yet.

“We need to have a bit more want for this game. We’ve got a short break so we can hopefully shake off this loss.”