The 11-year-old is just back from the Michael York-Kim Shield Cup in Tamworth, where she was a member of the Manning Valley under 11s hockey side. Lillianah usually the smallest player on the field. But she’s never far from the centre of the action.

There were 24 girl’s sides at Tamworth. Manning Valley played eight games and lost just one, but finished third on goal averages.

Lillianah was outstanding in every game, scoring seven goals before being named the player of the tournament.

She is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana.

Lillianah played centre midfield in the tournament, although she prefers the attacking midfield role. The Tamworth tournament was the perfect preparation for Lillianah as she’ll head to the NSW PSSA Championships at Moorebank later this month with the Hunter team. Here she hopes to gain selection in the State side. She gained a spot in the Hunter squad following trials earlier this year.

She was also a member of the Hunter team in 2016.

This is also the second season Lillianah has been in the Manning Valley under 11 team.

Lillianah was an early starter in the game, having her first game when she was four, playing occasionally in the under nine competition. She followed her sister, Tyler, into the game, then playing for Tigers. She now plays against Tyler in the under 14s.

Lillianah has enjoyed playing against older players ever since. She plays in the Manning under 14 competition along with the 11s with Chatham while she occasionally having a run in the under 18s side if the team is short.

“Yeah, it’s fun,’’ Lillianah replied when asked if she enjoyed the older age divisions.

Lillianah also plays touch football and shows promise in athletics.

However, she cut down on other sporting commitments this year as she concentrates on impressing selectors at the State PSSA championships. She did represent Taree Touch under 12s in the State Junior Cup played at Port Macquarie earlier this year. She’ll be eligible for the 12s again in 2018. Lillianah is looking forward to the start of the next Taree junior touch footy comp in September.

She was the age champion at the Taree West Public School athletics carnival this year. From here Lillianah has qualified for the zone titles to be held at Forster, where she’ll have a busy day, contesting the 12/13 years 100, 200 and 800 metres along with the relay. She prefers the longer distance races and thinks her best chance of qualifying for regional will be in the 800 metres.