Geelong Falcons Mekah Morrissy on her 40-touch game against Gippsland and the people who have shaped on road to AFLW draft dream

In terrible conditions, and without one of her team top midfielders, a stats-filled performance from Falcons skipper Mekah Morrissy would set the scene for a strong draft year.

Mekah Morrissy in action during the Victorian AFLW state draft combine in October. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Geelong Falcons captain Mekah Morrissy may slightly downplay the 40 touches and 11 tackles she racked up in one of her Coates Talent League appearances this year.

But it was that effort against Gippsland Power in the wet which offers a strong glimpse into the versatility Morrissy hopes could see her onto an AFLW list on Monday night.

A competitive beast who has been described as the “heartbeat” of the Falcons’ program, the winger took her opportunity inside the contest with star onballer Sara Howley sidelined, the skipper’s focus set solely on one thing.

“The conditions were pretty bad … the goal for Falcons was we just wanted to get territory so I think that, just quickly trying to put it on the boot helped with the look on the stats but ultimately at the end of the day we just wanted to get it forward,” Morrissy recalled of her performance in the 14-point win.

Diligently working away on her wing craft and scoreboard impact, her 5’1” stature lending to her outside run — a 7:55 in the state combine 2km time trial placed Morrissy inside the top 10 nationally — she has put equal emphasis on improving her contest work, with her magnet thrown around on several occasions at different levels.

Mekah Morrissy celebrates kicking a goal for Vic Country during this year’s national U18 championships. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

Given an inside midfield role in her VFLW debut for Geelong earlier this year, she also played one of her three Vic Country games — where she was co-captain alongside Gippsland ball-winner and likely number one pick Ash Centra — off half back.

“The whole learning curve of this year was versatility and working on my fundamentals and just trying to grow that profile,” 18-year-old Morrissy said.

Rising the ranks at local Geelong club Newtown & Chilwell, it was at Elderslie Reserve Morrissy’s early years in the game was moulded by junior coaches, including three-time premiership Cat and 200-gamer David Wojcinski, as well as Richard Dyer and Morrissy’s dad Craig, the club’s record games-holder and current coach of the Eagles’ women’s team.

A lifelong Essendon fan, who turned her AFLW allegiances to Geelong once they entered the competition, it was once in the Falcons’ system, coach Mel Hickey — a former Cats captain — and midfield mentor Tash Heffernan became an integral part in Morrissy’s development as a player and leader.

“A lot of the achievements I get now are really devoted to them, they’ve put a lot of time and effort into me and I wouldn’t I be the person and player I am today without them,” Morrissy said of the quintet of coaches.

Mekah Morrissy has long been a leader at Geelong Falcons, first as a vice-captain in 2023 before taking over the captaincy in 2024. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

With Morrissy priding herself on her commitment to improving her own game and showing up for her teammates, the idea and excitement of stepping into an elite AFLW environment is of little surprise.

“Talking with AFLW players, it’s pretty cool to see footy is their life and the training and games, and even the nutrition and recovery, it’s all a part of trying to make yourself better as a person, as a player,” she said.

“I’m quite intrigued by that and probably what I’m most excited about.”

With plenty of uncertainty surrounding where players could fall outside the first round, the Sacred Heart College graduate is set for a gap year in 2024 no matter what happens with the draft, resolved to “get the most out of the year with her footy”, with VFLW the next route “if Monday doesn’t go to plan A”.

But there is no doubt of Morrissy’s desire to find herself on an AFLW list though, a potential move interstate, in what will be the first fully national draft, coming with the territory of that sort of commitment to excellence.

“It’s kind of that sacrifice you’ve got to make if you want to make it to the elite level,” she said.

“I would do whatever it takes to get to that point.”

Originally published as Geelong Falcons Mekah Morrissy on her 40-touch game against Gippsland and the people who have shaped on road to AFLW draft dream