From Auskick to AFLW: Margaret River’s Ella Roberts reflects on “crazy” debut season with West Coast Eagles

From being the only girl playing Auskick to being named the West Coast Eagles’ Best First Year Player, Margaret River’s Ella Roberts has certainly come a long way. The 17-year-old has been ticking off the achievements following a whirlwind debut AFLW season since being drafted to the club at pick 14 back in June. Several months of hard work on and off the field culminated with Roberts taking home the Eagles’ Best First Year Player award during their awards night last Wednesday. Along with being named the Eagles’ Best First Year Player, Roberts polled well in the overall Club Champion award, finishing in fifth place with 31 votes behind back-to-back winner Emma Swanson. Speaking to the South Western Times, Roberts admitted she was quite nervous when it was time for the Best First Year Player award winner to be announced. “I was hoping it was going to be me but I was also very excited that we had a lot of debutants this season so it could have been anyone,” she said. “I was very proud of myself to have won and I think I polled better in the Club Champion award than I thought I would. “It was just a reward for effort I guess so I was quite happy.” The achievement capped off a strong debut season with the West Coast Eagles, which saw Roberts make her debut in round one and going on to feature in all 10 matches for the regular season. Roberts said debuting in round one against Port Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park was “crazy” and she was quite shocked when coach Michael Prior surprised her with the news while she was at school. “It was unbelievable,” she said. “I was a bit shocked but it had also been something I had been working towards so I was very, very excited and quite proud of myself. “To feature in all of the games, I think I am just very lucky and I am very thankful to the club. “I think over the course of the year, I felt a bit more comfortable and I felt that I was developing a lot. “During the first game I felt like I was just a kid playing with the adults but by the end of season I definitely felt like I was meant to be there.” Growing up in the South West town of Margaret River and keen to follow in the footsteps of her brother, Roberts got started playing footy as soon as she could, starting out playing Auskick before going on to play for the Busselton Magpies in the South West Junior Football League and then making the move to play for Peel Thunder in the WAFLW. “(Playing Auskick) was honestly the best decision I’ve ever made because I have not looked back since,” she said. “I was the only girl playing but I really enjoyed it.” While a lot of travel time was required to continue following her football dream, Roberts said she was grateful to her friends and family for their undying support. “It was definitely pretty tough sometimes but I had a very good support network of my family and friends that were always very supportive of me playing footy,” she said. “My mum would drive me up nearly every week. “Without her and all of my friends and family, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to have the opportunities I did. “Luckily for me balancing footy with school was quite manageable so I would just be doing school work in the car and I would also have a free period every once in a while as well.” Despite West Coast falling short of making the AFLW finals this season, Roberts said she was already excited for what was in store for 2023 and beyond. “I think we really developed a lot as a team this year,” she said. “We were pretty unlucky at times losing by less than a goal a couple of times, but I’m very excited for everyone to have a big off-season, a big pre-season and get straight back into things. “We’re all bonding very, very well and I think in the next couple of years we’re going to be a very exciting team.” Instead of getting in on the Leavers action after finishing high school, Roberts will be heading to the east coast to attend the AFLW’s W Awards later this month, where she is nominated for the Rising Star award following her outstanding round six performance against Hawthorn. Upon receiving the nomination, Roberts said it was “a very special feeling” to have been recognised for her efforts. “It felt good being able to see that I was being recognised for all the effort I was putting in and I felt like I was starting to put some consistent games together,” she said. “I was quite proud of myself that I played a half-decent game that day and I managed to kick a goal so I was pretty stoked.” When asked what advice she had for young girls wanting to get started in footy, Roberts said anyone interested shouldn’t be afraid to try new things. “You won’t make a wrong decision and footy is so much fun,” she said. “To be playing good footy, you also have to be having fun, so make sure you’re always having fun.”