Interstate players show their X-factor with AFLW stars out of action

EMILY McGuire is a natural footballer and rising star of the AFLW, and the Docker is one of several unfamiliar names who have been catching the eye this season with many stars out of action.

Emily McGuire, 19, is a rising star of the AFLW. Picture: Getty Images

IT comes naturally to Emily McGuire.

The Docker scrawled her name on the AFLW season with a blistering performance in the upset victory against Melbourne last Sunday, a showing that was recognised by a Rising Star nomination 36 hours later.

Her unique skill didn’t take long to show.

Two and a half minutes into the second quarter at Fremantle Oval, the Sherrin dropped to the deck a metre or two in front of McGuire and she saw her opportunity.

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Without breaking stride, the West Australian scooped up the ball with her right hand, turned and snapped a goal on her right boot.

The 19-year-old doesn’t know where the move originated, but she said it was too good to refuse.

“I’m not too sure (where I learned it) — one thing that we focus on at training is ground balls,” McGuire said.

“It sounds weird, but I’m more comfortable with one hand than two for some reason.

“Coming in, I saw my opportunity so I just thought I’d try it, and it worked.”

Emily McGuire is has caught the eye this season. Picture: Getty Images

She said she hasn’t had any requests from her teammates to teach them how to pull off the move — yet. They could be on the way.

“It’s one of the areas that I want to improve,” she said.

The young gun narrowly missed out on playing last season — too young to nominate for the draft by just 11 days.

She had to wait, then wait again until last weekend to make her debut as she worked to show she was worthy of selection.

“It was just breathtaking,” she said of her debut.

“I really can’t explain it. It was more like a dream come true, really.”

It may never have been.

McGuire played football in Northam, northeast of Perth, with the boys in the under-11s and under-13s. And like so many female footballers, was then told she could no longer continue in the boys’ competition.

GWS’ Courtney Gum starred against the Magpies. Picture: AAP

She gave it away — turning her hand to netball and basketball instead — before a persistent friend got her along to WAWFL outfit Swan Districts.

“I moved down to Perth and a family friend recommended to come down to Swans, and I’m a very shy person so I was kind of like ‘oh, maybe’,” McGuire said.

“It took me a while, but I went down and I have never looked back.”

It was a fruitful move, bearing two WAWFL premierships before representing WA in the state Under 18s competition.

McGuire wasn’t the only interstate player last weekend to show glimpses of X-factor last weekend.

With many star players out of action, it’s been time for others to shine.

For the Giants, Courtney Gum’s gutsy showing against the Pies caught the eye.

She’s 36, a mum to Buz, 3, and runs a physio clinic.

There’s a bit on. She was overlooked, too, having nominated to potentially be picked up by the Crows in AFLW01.

But that hasn’t stopped her, starring in last Sunday’s win over Collingwood with 15 disposals, five marks and five tackles.

“We come from everywhere and we’ve got a whole lot of girls who were told they were no good in other places and we’ve got a lot of girls in our team that come out of New South Wales and battle with the notion that football’s not the same in NSW as it is in the rest of the country,” he coach Alan McConnell said.

“For them to get some reward for their effort is just absolutely fabulous.”

Leah Kaslar has taken her game to another level. Picture: Getty Images

In Brisbane, there’s vice-captain Leah Kaslar.

Named the Lions’ most competitive player last season, she’s taken that mantle to a new level this season, shutting out the likes of Crows premiership forward Sarah Perkins and Blues recruit Tayla Harris.

Kaslar, 32, knows how to get to her opponents and can be counted on week-in, week-out, according to teammate Kaitlyn Ashmore.

Then there’s Sarah Allan in Adelaide.

A premiership player, Allan has had a standout fortnight — a cool head as the Crows navigated their first win of the season.

“There were some crunch moments where she saved some goals,” teammate Ebony Marinoff said this week.

“With Chelsea Randall down back (alongside her) the past few weeks, she’s been able to play her role and is gaining some confidence.

“When girls get confident they play good games.”