Wilkinson’s new role

By Sophie Taylor

It has been a whirlwind 18 months for Olivia Wilkinson.

Making the move from Victoria to Western Australia in late 2023, Wilkinson’s trajectory over a short period is nothing short of impressive.

The 21-year-old took the court in 12 matches during her debut season, offering a tall, crafty option to the Fever goal circle.

And while the Fever ranks will miss sharpshooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard in 2025, Wilkinson is confident in her side’s potential to challenge the competition in a different way.

That includes learning a new role for the upcoming season.

“I haven't really played a lot of goal shooter before, so it's been really, really fun over preseason, learning that position,” Wilkinson revealed.

“For me, it will be being able to seamlessly go from goal shooter to goal attack and do whatever the team needs at any given time.”

While the squad itself has remained mostly stable, they brought in Malawi star Mwai Kumwenda (MJ) to the fray to replace Fowler-Nembhard, and elevated young defender Ruth Aryang in place of Kelsey Browne.

“The great thing about this team is we have such great depth, everyone brings something a little bit different to the side,” she said.

“Whether you see MJ out there or see me out there (in goal shooter), we all bring something a little bit different.

“It's a really good thing to have the versatility, and the depth in the side is going to be a big strength of ours.”

One thing for sure is there will be no clear-cut starting seven for the Fever this season, at least from the outside.

“It's going to be a force to be reckoned with,” she said.

“I think it will be based on match ups and what the moment needs.

“It won't give the opposition a chance to get used to just one starting seven, because we'll have so many options.”

At face value Wilkinson looks every bit a traditional goal shooter.

But the 191cm goal attack is deceptively mobile and has a natural accuracy from long range.

Something the Fever will be hoping to exploit this season.

“The super shot is going to be huge for us this year, we didn't really utilise it as much last year,” Wilkinson said.

“That's something I'm really excited about.”

Without a club following Collingwood’s departure from the league in 2023, then-training partner Wilkinson was in a challenging position ahead of the 2024 season.

But what happened next would astound the young goaler most of all.

“As soon as I got the call from Dan to move over to the west, I didn't even have to think about it. It was an 'Of course, I'm definitely coming',” Wilkinson said.

“It was a surreal feeling. I've always dreamed of playing at this level from when I was little.”

Then an untried 19-year-old, Wilkinson was offered a whopping three-year deal by the Fever.

From there, she packed her bags and moved to the other side of the country to chase her dream.

“It's been a learning journey,” she said.

“For any first-year player it's all about growth, learning and building yourself into the player you want to become.

“Moving out of home for the first time and being in a different state to my family, only knowing one or two girls from the team was tricky.”

While still young and relatively new to SSN, Wilkinson has a newfound confidence heading into her second season.

“It was a big learning and growing year for me, it was an important year for me to have lots of different experiences,” Wilkinson said.

“Throwing me out there in the last minute or two of a game, to then starting a game, to then injecting me into a game, to not playing at all... they're all really important experiences to have in your first year.”

“I’m grateful I was able to tick all those things off in my first year so now in year two, I can really consolidate my skills and the learnings I made in 2024.”

Asked for the biggest learning from her first season, Wilkinson was clear.

The biggest lesson for me is that growth takes time,” she said.

“It doesn't happen overnight, it's something you have to keep working on continuously, seven days a week, 365 days in a year.”

Wilkinson showcased her work ethic more than once during her debut season, proving she will be an important talent to watch for years to come.

“I’m tenacious in the way I play, I'm aggressive in anything that I'm doing,” Wilkinson said.

“Whether it's going for the shot in the last two seconds of a game to win the match, or to throw my body on the line.

“I would like to think that that's going to be a big thing for me in 2025.”

Away from the court, Wilkinson says she is “probably not as in your face”.

“I'm a bit more shy in person, off the court,” she admitted.

“My competitive side comes out a lot more on court.

“But that’s what everyone has when you step out on an SSN court, it kind of takes over you, and you're just in this competitive mode.

“Off the court, I'm definitely similar, but dialled down just a notch.”

With one season successfully under her belt, Wilkinson is grateful for the support of the club and is looking forward to fresh challenges in 2025 and beyond.

“It could have been really difficult for me, but Fever has been great, and the girls have been welcoming to me, so it's been an easy transition moving states and clubs,” she said.

“The coaching staff at Fever has been so supportive in letting me grow, letting me learn and giving me some minutes out on the court so I can get that exposure.”