By Tara Murray
It might be her draft year, but for Calder Cannons Chloe Baker-West she just wants to go out and have fun.
Long been seen as a draft prospect since winning the best player award at the under-16 national championships. becoming an AFLW player has long been the dream.
“I have a countdown to the draft night,” she said. ”I’m so excited to see what the outcome is and where I will go, if I’m picked up.
“It has been a dream since I was seven.”
It’s been an up and down few years for the midfielder from Strathmore.
After her strong under-16 season, she made the Vic Metro team last season as a bottomager.
Injury meant she didn’t play and was limited to just two games for the Cannons
It meant a little bit of unknown coming into her draft year.
“I didn’t know how I would come back,” Baker-West said. “Would I play well or come back and build into it.
“I have built that confidence back up. Going into each game is helped now that I have some good games under my belt.
“I want to have fun.”
Baker-West started the season with 38 possessions and has now more than 20 disposals in all one game.
In round six, Baker-West had 41 possessions and kicked one goal.
The AFL Academy member has again been named in the Vic Metro squad for the national championships which started on the weekend.
She was part of the squad last year as a bottom age player, but didn’t play due to injury.
Baker-West missed the opening game on the weekend.
‘I had a collision, knee on quad three weeks ago,” she said. “It was a grade three contusion with swelling and bruising and with it so close to the knee joint, we’re being careful.”
Baker-West said having been injured last year she had built up a lot of resilience and knows this is just a bump in the road.
She said having been part of the Vic Metro program the past three years had been special.
“Being that top ager and getting around them has been special in my draft year,” she said.
“Now that I’m training as last year I didn’t train a lot with them, I’m finding my voice is a big thing and being as big a leader as I can.
“I’m getting around the bottom agers and trying to get them out of their shells a bit. I want to gain as many friendships as I can.
“We’ve travelling for a few games so I’m learning about that AFLW environment. I want to get as much out of it as I can.”
Baker-West said having completed year 12 last year had been a big bonus so she could spend more time working on the one percenters this year.
The teenager said she just wanted to continue learning as her draft journey goes along.
“I just to be me,” she said. “I want to keep learning and now with the captaincy role at the Cannons with Jade out take that on as well.
“We’re not winning many games but we’re picking the positives out of it.”
