ROO BELIEVER
SHE is a Kingborough Tiger at heart, but soon Hobart footballer Loveth Ochayi hopes to join North Melbourne’s new AFLW team, the Tasmanian Kangaroos. When asked who she wanted to play for at the AFL Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium yesterday, Ochayi said: “Kangaroos all the way.”
ATHLETIC key position prospect Loveth Ochayi might be auditioning for the biggest job of her sporting career, but the AFLW hopeful refuses to let any stress take hold.
Ochayi, alongside fellow Tasmanians Daria Bannister, Georgia Hill and Courtney Webb, has spent the past two days at the first women’s Draft Combine in Melbourne being put through her paces under the watchful eye of all eight AFLW coaches.
You could forgive the girls for feeling the heat as they went all out to enhance their chances of being selected in the draft, but rather than let the occasion get to her, Ochayi relished the experience.
“It’s been really good and uplifting to be in this type of environment where all the girls are trying to succeed,” the Kingborough Tigers player said. “I thought all the girls would be stressed or serious and it wouldn’t be a fun environment, but it is totally the opposite.
“Everyone is really lovely and everyone is encouraging each person because we all want to see each other succeed, we all have the same goals and aspirations. “It’s been a very enjoyable environment.” All four Tassie girls impressed with personal bests in the variety of tests, with the Combine also providing clubs the opportunity to meet the potential draft prospects.
While playing at the highest level is the ultimate goal for Ochayi, the level-headed 18-year-old is also aware more chances await when two new clubs — Geelong and the North Melbourne-Tasmania joint venture — join the AFLW competition in 2019.
“I’m still really young, so if I don’t make it this year there is next year as well, I haven’t really put a lot of stress on myself,” she said.
“I’m just enjoying the experience and learning as much as I can.”
AFL Tasmania football development manager Leigh Elder said the state’s quartet would have all enhanced their reputations at Etihad Stadium.
“They certainly have, obviously a few PBs, which is exceptional for our girls,” Elder said.
“We have four out of the 46 who are here nationwide, and our girls certainly don’t look out of place.
“With the expansion happening the year after, this will be the smallest draft we have in AFLW for a long period of time. It’s fair to say the testing is more of an opportunity to do a final ranking but what they [clubs] do here is see how they handle the pressure, and they get the opportunity to meet the girls.”