Molan aims to learn from Richmond's stars in bid for midfield spotAnthony Colangelo
The Age
7 December 2019“It was an interesting task [playing on Brennan] I had never played on someone in that way but I had to find a different way to beat her because she was a lot stronger than me physically but It was a good tussle.”
The Ballarat-born-and-bred former basketballer also remembers her first experience of playing against Richmond's formidable recruit from the Brisbane Lions, Sabrina Frederick.
"The first time we [VFLW Bulldogs] played them [VFLW Tigers] during the year I went to pick up the ball and she was bee-lining straight at me, she bumped me but barely touched me and I was knocked over anyways. I am looking forward to playing with her," Molan said.
So what does Molan, primarily a midfielder who can also play forward, hope to learn from Richmond's stars and their coaching group then?
“Over the next few weeks before round one I want to get a lot stronger in the gym and improve my aerobic fitness so I can hopefully run out games in the midfield as well as just develop the craft with the awesome midfield group and the staff around that," she said.
"So hopefully cement a spot in there for round one but we will just have to see what happens.
“I have always been described as quite a versatile player having backline experience and lately as a forward so I would be happy to play wherever the coaches want me. I just want to be out on the field with the girls."
Molan completed her VCE this year and is waiting on her results. She will take a gap year to focus on footy and part-time work but hopes to one day study exercise science and maybe become a teacher or a coach.
She coached her school's junior footy team for the last three years with one of her best friends and has moved from Ballarat to Richmond for the AFLW season.
“It’s pretty incredible being here," she said. "Moving down to Richmond recently the night before the first official training session. My host family live in Richmond, it’s crazy like everyone is a mad Richmond supporter around here, including them, their door is painted like a Richmond jumper and nearby there’s a mural of Cotch [Trent Cotchin] and Damien Hardwick holding the premiership cup on the back of their garage.
“It was hard leaving [her family in Ballarat for the first time] but I’ll go back on weekends and whenever I get a chance and see my three younger brothers.
“There were a few tears. I got a hug from my brothers which usually doesn’t happen."
She became a midfielder at the Greater Western Victoria Rebels when coach Rhys Cair asked her to move out of the backline. Ballarat's influence will remain close for her first season at the top level with her former under-12s basketball coach Laura Bailey also playing at Richmond.
“She has checked up on me the whole way through and kept seeing how I was during the draft and speaking to me to see how I was which was really great," Molan said.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/molan-aims-to-learn-from-richmond-s-stars-in-bid-for-midfield-spot-20191206-p53hnx.html
