Buffettes star Stephanie Williams’ amazing football journey in building mental toughness to go with her eye-catching natural skills before the 2020 AFLW Draft

BUFFETTES star Stephanie Williams will be thinking of her late older sister Karina whether or not she gets picked up in the 2020 AFLW Draft on Tuesday night.Williams, 18, has already built remarkable mental toughness to go with her eye-catching natural skills, which she learnt “kicking a bottle around” in her childhood years.

Buffettes star and AFLW hopeful Stephanie Williams in action for the Central Allies. Picture: AFL Photos

BUFFETTES star Stephanie Williams will be thinking of her late older sister Karina whether or not she gets picked up in the 2020 AFLW Draft on Tuesday night.

Williams, 18, already has remarkable mental toughness, particularly given she is prepared to talk about mental health and suicide prevention following her older sibling’s tragic passing.

“My sister passed away the day before the under-18 NTFL grand final last year. She came to all my games and was my No.1 supporter,” Williams told the NT News.

“She taught me a lot.

“I still got best on ground the next day, but because of that I thought it would be very hard to play again.

“My life has changed since then, but I’m now more determined to be a better person and a better player, and to do well with my studies and in life.

“This is why I can talk about suicide. Because as hard as life gets there are always good things to look forward to, and it’s important that mental health is often now talked about in mainstream Australia.”

This is just one remarkable aspect of Williams’ football journey.

She admits she still gets a lot of nerves before each game she plays.

This is despite dominating for Buffettes at under-18 girls’ NTFL level, proving she was a dangerous lead-up forward for Central Allies at last year’s NAB AFLW Under-18 Championships and representing Geelong Falcons in the NAB League.

“I’m very nervous (about the AFLW Draft) but I also get very excited before my games,” she said.

“When I run on a football field in a strong team environment I feel free, and that feeling goes all the way back to my childhood.

“Playing football gives me a break from the difficulties of life, and the stresses and pressure.

“I used to kick a footy to myself or even a bottle, and that’s how I developed my playing style.”

And it is a free-flowing natural style which has highly impressed NT Thunder Academy coach Jason Roe.

“Stephanie is an electric small forward with lots of speed, agility and power,” he said.

“She brings that X-factor and is an excellent role model for Indigenous girls.”