Wantirna South superstar Tayla McMillan, raised in Boronia, is another AFLW draftee from the Outer East hoping to leave a mark on the competition in 2026 and beyond.
McMillan, taken with pick 34 by her childhood club Carlton, captained the Eastern Ranges to the premiership, co-captained the Vic Metro side and was awarded All-Australian honours and named in the Talent League Team of the Year in her draft year.
McMillan said it was very special being picked up by the club she has always supported.
“I think it’s obviously a dream of everyone’s, getting picked up by the club you’ve grown up barracking for, but my whole family are big Blues fans, so when they called out my name, it just made it 10 times more special,” she said.
“I was very stressed at the start just waiting as the picks go down, waiting to hopefully hear your name get called out so it was very stressful up until the moment,.
“Then once your name’s called out, it’s such a relief and excitement from then on, just knowing, it all starts here now, and you’ve achieved your dream.”
The tough inside midfielder averaged 20 disposals per game for Vic Metro in the national championships and was best-on-ground for the Eastern Ranges as they brought home a history-making flag.
McMillan said she started playing footy for the love of the sport and playing with her friends, but it was once she started making the Eastern Ranges side that playing professionally became real to her.
“You realise you could have a chance here, because you are in those higher sides and then after watching a couple of my friends get picked up the year before me, that probably made it a bit more real,” she said.
“I was like ‘Oh wow, this could really be me next year if I really push myself’ so I think being in Eastern made it a bit more eye-opening, and watching my friends get picked up was really that next step that pushed me to keep working harder and strive.
“Seeing them achieve their dreams, it made me think that I could achieve mine if I put in the work.”
Blues fans can look forward to McMillan’s competitive streak and desire to get in and win the contest in the years to come, showing the passion and love for the club she has had her whole life, growing up idolising the likes of Chris Judd and Patrick Cripps.
Carlton Head of AFLW Ash Naulty said the addition of McMillan was a great result for the football club.
“Welcoming Tayla to IKON Park is so exciting – we couldn’t be happier to bring her to Carlton, ever since she burst onto the scene as an All Australian at under-16 level in 2023, Tayla has shown her capacity for the big moment,” she said.
“She’s the kind of player who gives her absolute all, 100 percent of the time, we love what she can do with ball in hand, she connects the play in transition with her footy IQ and clean fundamentals.
“Having her join our emerging midfield group with the likes of Abbie McKay, Mimi Hill and Keeley Sherar is super exciting for the long-term future of our club. As someone who’s loved the Club for a long time, this a dream come true for her – we can’t wait to see what she can provide for us in the years to come.”
