BY THE third year of football, most players are just starting to feel comfortable.
But Darcy Guttridge plays to a different timeline.
This year’s NAB AFLW All-Australian under-18 captain only pulled on footy boots two years ago.
The Vic Country skipper will definitely be a name to watch in this month's NAB AFL Women's Draft.
The half-back flanker loves to run, break tackles and cause havoc. Her attacking style forces the opposition to worry about defending the defender.
"My first season of football was in 2015 [and] Scott [Gowans, Vic Country under-18 coach] was the first person to coach me. I went to the youth girls' academy at Dandenong Stingrays," Guttridge said.
"I probably wasn't the best footballer, but I had a bit of athletic ability, and he saw that. I couldn't kick to save myself. I'm left-footed and right-handed, so I kept dropping the ball across my body."
Gowans grinned and nodded while listening to Guttridge's explanation.
"Her athletic ability was always fantastic, but her kicking was, ah, questionable," he said with a chuckle.
"We spent a fair bit of time trying to correct that. But to her credit, she's done the work [and] she's now actually a really good kick."
Guttridge lives in Traralgon, two-and-a-bit hours east of Melbourne. She's in year 12 at Lavalla Catholic College, and spent much of this year travelling for footy.
The 17-year-old (she turns 18 at the end of October) plays for VFLW club Cranbourne, based some 90 minutes from home.
When not training at Cranbourne, she – along with Vic Country teammate Tyla Hanks – had the opportunity to work with Gippsland Power’s boys’ TAC Cup squad.
"We got a touch of the footy with the boys. With their bigger bodies and more intense drills, it was very valuable to us."
Guttridge said she relished going up against more established players this season.
"I like the challenge and the physicality of playing VFLW. It's a big step up from youth girls," she said.
"It has really developed my football. You take the field against players you've seen on TV. It gives us a chance to see how we line up against them and where you need to go as a footballer."
Guttridge rated her strength as the best part of her game.
"I enjoy trying to push players off me and being that strong body through packs."
With Guttridge nominating for the Victorian section of the draft, she could be an ideal long-term replacement for Nicola Stevens at Collingwood.
Stevens, the Magpies' best and fairest, moved to Carlton in the off-season. Guttridge played a very similar intercepting role at under-18 level.
Gowans, who is also the head coach at VFLW club Diamond Creek and Carlton AFLW midfield coach, is one of Guttridge’s biggest supporters.
"We named Darcy captain this year for Vic Country, not so much on her football ability, even though it's very good, but more on her personality," Gowans said.
"I reckon her character is actually one of her strengths. She's the type of person who can say something to a group and engage them. It can be a funny moment or to snap them back into line, but it does help she's that type of player.
"She impacts contests, runs and carries the ball [and has] everything you want to see in a footballer," he said.
"She's not afraid to make a mistake and learn from it. Really, she's a complete package as far as AFLW potential."
The NAB AFL Women's Draft will be held in Melbourne on October 18, with a live stream on AFL.com.au/womens from 12pm.
