Tara Murray
Sunbury’s Reese Sutton is keen to make the most of the opportunities that have been given to her on the football field.
Having started playing football for fun, Sutton quickly became one of the top players in the state with the Calder Cannons.
Now with the possibility of being drafted in late June, Sutton is excited by what might come.
“I only started playing [seriously] two years ago,” she said. “For me it was just fun, but my dad and brother really got into it.
“So when I was given all these opportunities, I thought maybe I could start something and really enjoyed it.
“I’m really excited [by the draft] as I just want to know what is going on with my life. Also extremely nervous, as I have to think of a plan b if nothing goes right.”
After deciding she wanted to focus on football, Sutton worked really hard in the off season to have an impact in her top age year at the Cannons.
It worked as she was named as Cannons co-captain and she finished fifth in the league best and fairest award and third in the club best and fairest.
“I feel like I have improved so much from last season,” she said.
“I think for me having a whole midfield of girls being drafted that I really had to step up. That was something that I wanted to do, I love football and to play I had to put the effort in during the pre-season and did really well.”
Sutton would also be named in the Vic Metro early in the season. She was told that she would have to play a NAB League game before officially being named in the team.
“I felt like I played one of my best games in the season, to show I’m worthy of being in that team.”
Sutton said her biggest asset in her game was her tackling and defensive pressure. She tries to model her game on that of Richmond star Monique Conti.
“My tackling has improved so much for me,” she said.
“I’m a really good defender and I can read the play really well and use my quick hands to get out of those tough situations.
“I really like Monique Conti, as she’s really quick with the ball and good hands and kicking.”
Sutton was among those last week to test at the AFLW draft combine. This year they only had to complete a two-kilometre time trial.
Sutton, who was happy with her time, said after the trial that it was her first time running a time trial like that.
Heading into the draft, one of the people Sutton is regularly speaking to is her brother, Jake Sutton.
Jake played with the Cannons and is currently on Essendon’s Victorian Football League list.
“I speak to him a lot and he always asks me to watch the videos of games and highlights as he wants me to help me improve as well,” Sutton said.
“He knows how big of an opportunity I’ve been given and so does my dad.”
While the draft is Sutton’s focus, she also has her eye on making her debut for the Bombers, in their VFLW program in the coming weeks.
“It would be really good and it would be a really good experience, just to lift my game up even more and see what is is like to play against the bigger bodies.”
