D'Addario embracing being back and midfield role

Emerging Swan Districts midfielder Carys D'Addario has shaken off her injury of last year to be putting together a standout 2024 season with the knowledge she still has more than a year before worrying about a potential AFLW future.

D'Addario was the leading goalkicker in the Rogers Cup competition back in 2022 and then started the 2023 season in the WAFLW team with Swan Districts but then injury ended that campaign just as it was warming up.

The now 17-year-old's season ended after Round 4 last year but she is now back to full health, had a strong pre-season and it's now paying off with the way she has played so far in 2024.

Spending most of her time in the midfield with Swans in a team having won six of 11 games to be sitting in fourth position, D'Addario has been instrumental in that despite still being a teenager and currently finishing her Year 12 studies at Guildford Grammar.

D'Addario is averaging 18.5 possessions a game so far in 2024 while having also got forward to kick five goals, but it's her physical pressure with 60 tackles that is another added impressive nature of her game.

She has no complaints over the way things are going so far this season.

"Yeh I'm happy with the way I'm playing especially with my consistency so far," D'Addario said.

"Whilst possession and disposals are good, disposal efficiency is what i pride myself on and I'm always looking to improve in this areas.

"Of course there are still other areas for improvement which i am continuing to work on that would take my game to the next level."

Having already proven what a lethal goalkicker she can be and having also spent time playing as an attacking defender, D'Addario is enjoying the chance to play more as an on-baller this season even with the challenges that go with it.

"I'm really enjoying it. Compared to the backline i feel i have a bit more freedom and can move around the ground," she said.

"The extra running that comes with being a midfielder is a challenge but i know I've just got to keep working at it. As a team we are working hard to improve and i am learning a lot at the moment from coaching staff and experienced midfielders such as Em Humphries."

It's been a strong season so far for Swan Districts to be sitting in fourth position with four rounds now remaining of the home and away season.

There were plenty of changes at Swans over the off-season but D'Addario is impressed with how the group is coming together and couldn’t be happier to be part of it.

"The whole team this year is really putting in their best efforts and I’m really excited as to what is to come next," D'Addario said.

"We are a really close bunch this year and there is lots of positivity amongst coaches and players this season which i think has helped our connection on the field and everyone is enjoying themselves playing.

"All my teammates have their own strengths which they contribute to the team so if we keep working hard at it to improve i believe that we could have a really successful season."

The closeness of the playing group is another aspect of the team for 2024 that D'Addario is especially impressed about and there are plenty of teammates she is embracing forming a closer bond with on and off the field.

"Like i said we are all really close and i love playing alongside all the girls," she said.

"I do always look forward to seeing Kingy or Bakes because they are both always smiling and happy which they then pass that energy to me.

"Lily Paterson is one that has impressed me a lot this year. She has improved so much since last season because she has put in the hard work in and out of training and is extremely motivated."

D'Addario has a big year to deal with in 2024 and not only is it a big commitment to be playing WAFLW football with Swan Districts, but she's also giving her Year 12 studies her best crack to help set up the rest of her life.

"I’m in Year 12 this year. School is a big focus for me as I'm doing ATAR and i do spend a lot of my time outside of school studying," D'Addario said.

"I typically use footy as my social outlet as obviously i am very busy as i also work on weekends as-well. But i am looking forward to my final year at school and spending time with all my friends and family."

D'Addario hasn’t just been a talented footballer growing up either, but has also been a standout on the hardwood playing basketball and for a lot of her teenage years she has been juggling playing both sports.

However, following her injury last year and then with her school studies this year as well as playing football, basketball is the thing that has had to take a backseat at least for now.

"After my injury last year where i wasn’t playing any sport i decided that it would be best to give up basketball and focus on footy," she said.

"As i mentioned before with school and work commitments i wouldn’t really have any time to play basketball anyway."

It doesn’t take much of a leap to watch D'Addario play for any length of time to see someone who naturally could have an AFLW future, and it's only natural for that to be her dream.

However, she won't be eligible to be drafted into the AFLW until 2025 so for now she's just focusing on continuing to develop at Swan Districts and enjoying and embracing everything that goes with that before worrying about what the future holds.

"Yeh i think because I'm not eligible to be drafted until the end of next year I'm still focusing on my game at Swans and team success," D'Addario said.

"I'm trying to have a solid year this year but really focusing on the team and looking on what i can do to help get swans closer to a premiership.

"I think after the end of this season i will really knuckle down and work on what i need to do to get drafted and from their implement that into another season at Swans."