TigermanM2
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- Mar 7, 2013
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Molan aims to learn from Richmond's stars in bid for midfield spot
By Anthony Colangelo
December 7, 2019 — 11.12am
Richmond's first AFLW draftee, 18-year-old Sophie Molan, will try to crack into the Tigers star-studded midfield in her first season.
The Tigers recruited Monique Conti and Katie Brennan from the Western Bulldogs to headline their engine room so Molan's goal might not be so easy to achieve, but she's had first-hand experience of what's required in the midfield.
Molan played VFLW for the Western Bulldogs this season and lined up against Brennan and Conti, who played for Richmond's VFLW team in 2019.
“It's pretty awesome being on their team now having played against them," Molan told The Age. "When we played them in the first VFLW final having to play on Katie and having to see her midfield craft compared to mine and just learning off that. But now with her and Monique on my team I will learn a lot too.
“It was an interesting task [playing on Brennan] I had never played on someone in that way but I had to find a different way to beat her because she was a lot stronger than me physically but It was a good tussle.”The Ballarat-born-and-bred former basketballer also remembers her first experience of playing against Richmond's formidable recruit from the Brisbane Lions, Sabrina Frederick.
"The first time we [VFLW Bulldogs] played them [VFLW Tigers] during the year I went to pick up the ball and she was bee-lining straight at me, she bumped me but barely touched me and I was knocked over anyways. I am looking forward to playing with her," Molan said.
So what does Molan, primarily a midfielder who can also play forward, hope to learn from Richmond's stars and their coaching group then?
“Over the next few weeks before round one I want to get a lot stronger in the gym and improve my aerobic fitness so I can hopefully run out games in the midfield as well as just develop the craft with the awesome midfield group and the staff around that," she said.
"So hopefully cement a spot in there for round one but we will just have to see what happens.
“I have always been described as quite a versatile player having backline experience and lately as a forward so I would be happy to play wherever the coaches want me. I just want to be out on the field with the girls."
Molan completed her VCE this year and is waiting on her results. She will take a gap year to focus on footy and part-time work but hopes to one day study exercise science and maybe become a teacher or a coach.
She coached her school's junior footy team for the last three years with one of her best friends and has moved from Ballarat to Richmond for the AFLW season.
“It’s pretty incredible being here," she said. "Moving down to Richmond recently the night before the first official training session. My host family live in Richmond, it’s crazy like everyone is a mad Richmond supporter around here, including them, their door is painted like a Richmond jumper and nearby there’s a mural of Cotch [Trent Cotchin] and Damien Hardwick holding the premiership cup on the back of their garage.
December 7, 2019 — 11.12am
Richmond's first AFLW draftee, 18-year-old Sophie Molan, will try to crack into the Tigers star-studded midfield in her first season.
The Tigers recruited Monique Conti and Katie Brennan from the Western Bulldogs to headline their engine room so Molan's goal might not be so easy to achieve, but she's had first-hand experience of what's required in the midfield.
Molan played VFLW for the Western Bulldogs this season and lined up against Brennan and Conti, who played for Richmond's VFLW team in 2019.
“It's pretty awesome being on their team now having played against them," Molan told The Age. "When we played them in the first VFLW final having to play on Katie and having to see her midfield craft compared to mine and just learning off that. But now with her and Monique on my team I will learn a lot too.
“It was an interesting task [playing on Brennan] I had never played on someone in that way but I had to find a different way to beat her because she was a lot stronger than me physically but It was a good tussle.”The Ballarat-born-and-bred former basketballer also remembers her first experience of playing against Richmond's formidable recruit from the Brisbane Lions, Sabrina Frederick.
"The first time we [VFLW Bulldogs] played them [VFLW Tigers] during the year I went to pick up the ball and she was bee-lining straight at me, she bumped me but barely touched me and I was knocked over anyways. I am looking forward to playing with her," Molan said.
So what does Molan, primarily a midfielder who can also play forward, hope to learn from Richmond's stars and their coaching group then?
“Over the next few weeks before round one I want to get a lot stronger in the gym and improve my aerobic fitness so I can hopefully run out games in the midfield as well as just develop the craft with the awesome midfield group and the staff around that," she said.
"So hopefully cement a spot in there for round one but we will just have to see what happens.
“I have always been described as quite a versatile player having backline experience and lately as a forward so I would be happy to play wherever the coaches want me. I just want to be out on the field with the girls."
Molan completed her VCE this year and is waiting on her results. She will take a gap year to focus on footy and part-time work but hopes to one day study exercise science and maybe become a teacher or a coach.
She coached her school's junior footy team for the last three years with one of her best friends and has moved from Ballarat to Richmond for the AFLW season.
“It’s pretty incredible being here," she said. "Moving down to Richmond recently the night before the first official training session. My host family live in Richmond, it’s crazy like everyone is a mad Richmond supporter around here, including them, their door is painted like a Richmond jumper and nearby there’s a mural of Cotch [Trent Cotchin] and Damien Hardwick holding the premiership cup on the back of their garage.
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