ADELAIDE ruck Montana McKinnon has worked hard during the off season to become a first 21 player at the Crows this year, and it is paying off. 

Taken with pick No.14 in the 2020 NAB AFLW Draft, McKinnon played just two games in her debut season for two losses. 2021 was even tougher. In line behind both Rhiannon Metcalfe and Caitlin Gould for that number one ruck position, McKinnon failed to get the call up despite strong form in the SANFLW competition. 

"I knew I needed to just make myself better coming into this season," McKinnon said. 

"Through my off season I didn't really take a break. I was in the gym three, four days a week, completing two to three running sessions a week so I was really on top of my fitness and strength and just trying to get myself in the best shape possible leading into the season." 

That hard work has seen McKinnon play all four games for the Crows so far, averaging two marks, 2.8 intercepts and 10.5 hitouts playing in tandem with Gould. 

The pair complement one another in the way they play, which has given the Crows a leg up across the field. Gould transitions into attack out of the ruck, while McKinnon sees herself as more of a defensive tall. 

"There's actually nothing really that's put in place, but I guess I feel really good helping out down back, and [Gould] is pretty good at kicking some goals, so we both help out down the whole field," McKinnon said. 

It's in the air where McKinnon is most confident, and where she feels she can contribute the most for the team. 

"I'd probably say, the strongest part of what I can bring to the team is my aerial contest. I just try to put up a contest whether I can take it in the air or get it to ground," she said.

"I trust that if I don't get the first effort that my teammates will be there for the second." 

Despite this confidence, improving that aerial presence even further has been McKinnon's specific focus coming into 2022.  

"My aerial was already good, and I was really happy with it, but if I can make that even better and stand out even more, then that's even better," McKinnon said. 

2022 FIXTURE Every match, every round

Always one to relish a challenge, the 20 year old has spent time up against some of the best rucks in the competition already this year, including North Melbourne's Emma King and Melbourne's Lauren Pearce. It doesn't get any easier this week, staring down the barrel of last year's All Australian ruck Breann Moody. 

"This weekend, playing against Moody will be really good. I really enjoy tough contests," McKinnon said.

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