After a successful 2017 WAWFL season, inaugural AFLW Fremantle player Stephanie Cain has been named as Fremantle’s first pick in the NAB 2017 AFLW draft.
Delisted from the Fremantle side at the end of the 2016 AFLW season, Cain was more determined than ever to make it back into the side.
The 21-year-old was disappointed with the news but took the opportunity to work hard and improve her footy.
“It was obviously disappointing at the time, it’s not what you want as a player but there were things I needed to work on,” Cain said.
“I went away in the off-season and completed those goals and worked towards what I needed to do to become a better player and it obviously paid off.”
Cain says she has been working on her skills and game play in the off-season.
“I’ve been working all season back at the club to be in this position, so for all the hard work to pay off and to be back on Fremantle’s list for next season is very exciting,” Cain said.
The Swan Districts product said the guidance from her WAWFL teammates gave her the motivation to continue to work hard.
“Talking a lot to the Swans players like 'Juddy' (Kara Donnellan) and 'Ebs' (Ebony Antonio) who are Freo-listed players, they helped me a lot through the off-season,” Cain said.
“I had conversations with them and they would always check in with me throughout the season to see how I was going, which was fantastic.”
Cain said Fremantle women’s senior coach, Michelle Cowan was a huge support in Cain’s return to success, working closely with her in the off-season and providing feedback on what she needed to focus on.
“I took it upon myself to build that relationship in the off-season, so that meant ringing her (Cowan) after some big state league games to see how I was tracking and to see what she wanted me to improve on,” Cain said.
“Also how she thought I was personally playing, so that also helped me keep on track with goals throughout the season.
The midfielder says she is keen to get back on the track with the team and get prepared for what she hopes to be a successful season.
“I’m just really excited to get back into pre-season with the girls and really hit the ground running,” Cain said.
“I’m really excited to just keep playing good footy for the girls and hopefully get a good season behind us.”
