By Sophie Taylor
Seventeen-year-old Tayla Abraham is shooting for the stars.
The young Wilman and Wagyl Kaip goal shooter was one of the youngest in Western Australia’s team at this year’s First Nations Tournament, and proved herself immediately.
Boasting quick footwork and smarts inside the goal circle, Abraham more than held her own despite the calibre – and experience – of players she came up against.
She made a significant impact in her first year at the Tournament, piling on 160 goals across eight matches and top-scoring for the competition.
The young sharpshooter slotted in effortlessly as WA produced an underdog performance to be proud of, rocketing from sixth in last year’s tournament to second in 2026.
Thirty-five goals against Queensland in the teams’ pool match was Abraham’s best outing of the tournament, shooting at 90 per cent accuracy and leading the side to an upset victory.
While the grand final rematch didn’t go quite the same way, Abraham was critical in their enormous 13-4 third-quarter comeback and more than deserving of the silver medal.
She piled on 26 goals against the pressure of Black Swans defender Brook Lacey in the final, her footwork and vertical jump impressing as the match went down to the wire.
Lacey is a player the young goal shooter is set to become very familiar with, rewarded with a maiden selection in the First Nations Black Swans squad off the back of her tournament performance.
One of three new faces to the Black Swans environment, Abraham will have familiar faces in WA captain Scarlet Jauncey and vice-captain Tierrah Miller to lean on as she steps further into the pathway.
While Abraham’s maiden First Nations Tournament appearance was a revelation for WA, her performance came off the back of missing out on underage nationals.
Selected in WA’s wider squad in 2025, Abraham reflected on the opportunity to train at a higher level.
“Being in that atmosphere, and the level of training, was just so different,” she said.
“Experiencing the facilities and professionalism of being joined with (West Coast) Fever was really cool.”
While she identifies her nationals non-selection as a setback to her burgeoning career, Abraham knows it was an important learning.
“I felt really good about squad selection, and then not getting picked in the final team, I lost some confidence,” she said.
“But you do learn that's just part of your journey.”
Abraham’s parents have helped her through that realisation.
“My parents do so much for me,” she said.
"When I didn’t have a license, they would take me to and from training, like six times a week, in the mornings, in the afternoons…
“And when I haven't been picked in something, they've been right there supporting me the most.”
