Beth Schilling says she will never forget her AFLW debut on the biggest stage in Western Australia, after playing in West Coast’s first-ever match under lights at Optus Stadium.
The 18-year-old ran out in a historic AFLW double-header and clashed with the Bulldogs, finishing the game with seven disposals, four intercepts, and three tackles in her first game as an Eagle.
Schilling looked comfortable with the pace of AFLW football and kept her composure across the match, with a further four contested possessions to her name against one of the foundation teams in the competition.
The defender was West Coast’s third pick in the 2021 draft, and is a versatile half-back with the ability to play as an intercept defender or lock down on her opponents.
“It was my first time playing at Optus Stadium, so to debut there was the perfect circumstances, I’m so lucky,” Schilling said.
“Before the game I was trying to keep that mindset of keeping cool and thinking of it as any other game, just to try and keep my nerves at ease.
“But I think as soon as I got onto the field all those thoughts melted away.
“It was pretty overwhelming at the start to be at such an incredible oval, it was pretty unreal.
“I’m just so grateful to be able to be given that opportunity to get out there and support the girls on such a special field.
“Being around them not just off the field, but on the field.
“It was an incredible moment and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It was unbelievable”
The West Coast Eagles have now blooded the entirety of their younger contingent of players this season, with Schilling the fifth and final player to make her debut from the 2021 draft class.
Senior coach Michael Prior made the announcement as a surprise in Thursday’s team meeting, with Schilling ‘ecstatic’ at the opportunity to debut.
“It was a complete surprise to me, I had no idea leading up to the meeting, I actually saw Michael Prior in the hallway before we entered the meeting,” she said.
“I didn’t think he was going to announce my debut because he was talking about what I was going to do in my WAFL game.
“So it was a complete surprise, a surreal moment, I was so ecstatic the emotions were just too much and I was speechless for a couple of seconds.
“The girls seemed just as excited as I was to be honest, so supportive and just got around me which made me feel even more at home.”