Ella Roberts has taken another big step towards achieving her AFLW dream.

After being part of the WA State Academy in 2021, the 17-year-old Peel Thunder wunderkind has reconfirmed her place on the pathway to the national draft through selection to the 2022 State 18s.

“Being able to be part of that again this year is awesome, it’s what I was working towards,” Roberts said.

“It gets you that one step closer to getting drafted, so I was stoked when I heard I was back in the team. It was awesome.”

The celebrated centre half-forward started her sporting career playing footy with the boys in Margaret River after watching her brother play the game.

“I fell in love with footy and just continued to play it,” Roberts said.

Her climb through football ranks saw her awarded MVP at the U19 championships last year.

The rising star, who has the distinction of being part of two back-to-back WAFLW premierships, has her eyes set on achieving her ultimate goal of stepping on to the field for an AFLW club.

“I just take every day as it comes, just try and play my best footy and yeah – what happens, happens,” Roberts said.

“I just have to play my best footy and hope that’s what the clubs are looking for and that I get picked one day.”