2022 AFLW Draft Guide

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Rookie Me Central team would like to thank all those involved with compiling this 2022 AFLW Draft Guide ahead of the 2022 AFL Women’s Draft. The work is a culmination of writers who have spent many hours this season watching in person, on live streams or replays in order to bring you the most comprehensive coverage available.

In particular, it is worth recognising the efforts of the following people who wrote draft profiles which were used in this guide:

› Michael Alvaro

› Declan Reeve › Peter Williams

The booklet was made possible thanks to the Rookie Me Central editing team, who have been a huge part of the ongoing and continual growth of the site, in particular:

› Michael Alvaro

› Liam Badkin › Alyce Collett › Peter Williams

The editing team has spent countless hours putting this guide together for everyone to enjoy.

Lastly, a big thank-you to all the organisations who have assisted Rookie MeCentral and its team throughout the year. All statistics used in this Draft Guide have been courtesy of the various competition websites, using Champion Data, or in the case of the QAFLW, Premier Data.

PICTURE CREDITS FOR THE DRAFT GUIDE:

In another challenging year for the industry, Rookie Me Central would like to thank the photographers whose photos provided shots for individual profiles:

› David Layden Photography › Eleanor Jeanne Photography › Jillo’s Sporting Pics

› Nigel Barrie Photography

We would also like to thank those photographers who assist us with images throughout the year:

› Nick Hook Photography › On The Ball Media › Pixell Photography

› Russell Freeman › Shazza J Photography › Solstice Digital

TOP 30 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mia AUSTIN

Mia Austin is one of the bolters in this year’s AFLW Draft crop, having exploded onto the NAB League Girls scene with her goalkicking exploits. The mobile forward, who can also roll through the ruck, boasts terrific athleticism and strong set of hands which served her well during six successful outings in the competition. Despite an injury setback, Austin’s early body of work saw her selected for higher honours via Vic Metro’s Under 18 championship squad.

A 178cm, the 18-year-old’s overall dexterity is quite impressive. Not only is she a reliable marking target with great reach, but she also got her hands dirty at the fall of the ball this year with an average of 5.7 tackles per NAB League game. Austin clunked multiple marks in all bar one Eastern Ranges appearances, including a high of four in her threegoal performance against Oakleigh Chargers in Round 5.

Given this was her maiden NAB League campaign, Austin looked like anything but a newbie. Her natural ability to be balanced when leaping and landing was great to watch, whether that was in marking or ruck contests. On the end of her good work was sound set shot goalkicking. Austin went at a spectacular 90 per cent conversion rate this season, booting nine goals and one behind for the Ranges.

As a prospect with high upside, there is also an element of rawness to Austin. Her injury came at an unideal time and while still able to get on the park in Metro colours, her output was not quite the same as beforehand. With greater exposure at those high levels and experience under her belt, the exciting key position talent can enhance her best traits and become an effective goalkicker who offers handy fold through the ruck.

Charlotte BASKARAN

An ultimate professional and one of the most wholly impressive 17-year-olds to ever come through the elite talent pathway, Charlotte Baskaran presents as a top prospect both on and off the field.

Coming into her top-age campaign as a known quantity, Baskaran took her game to yet another level with a scintillating start to the NAB League season; averaging 33.6 disposals, 6.7 tackles, and a goal per game across the first month. She was arguably the best player in the competition at that point, transferring into a permanent midfield role having cut her teeth across half-back and out on the wing.

A ridiculously hard worker, the improvements Baskaran made truly showed. Her football smarts are off the charts, so her stoppage output became enormous in 2022 on the back of perpetual motion and an unrivalled understanding

between her teammates. Perhaps the most significant lift came in her turn of speed, with Baskaran making full use of her first five steps to accelerate away from the contest and use the ball with time on the outside. As the season wore on, Baskaran’s size became a factor which worked slightly against her as a pure midfielder, and she was made to showcase her versatility at either end of the ground while representing Vic Metro.

Overall, the polished Western product has been a beacon of hope and leadership among her region, helping it rise atop the NAB League Girls mountain in what was a fitting finish to her pathways journey. Baskaran is the type of character who will, by no matter of fortune, get the best out of herself and adapt to whatever she is tasked with at the elite level. That will likely be on a flank or wing, where the talented teenager’s class and running capacity can shine.

Mia BUSCH

A gusty competitor who thrives when the ball is there to be won, Mia Busch is the kind of player you want on your team. The dual Eastern Ranges best and fairest set the bar high coming into her top-age year, but signalled her intent with a record-breaking score of 17.8 in the NAB League Girls preseason yo-yo test. The rest was done on-field.

Having cut her teeth as a speedy half-back with terrific ball retention and rebounding skills, Busch also got her wish of spending more time in midfield this year. Able to play both on the inside or on a wing, the 18-year-old brought her typical competitiveness and combined it with enormous running power to become an apt accumulator, line-breaker, and clearance winner. At 166cm, her best position seems to be behind the ball. As Vic Metro teammate Jasmine Fleming testified, Busch is a nightmare to play against and almost impossible to beat one-on-one. She reads the play well

and gets to aggressive positions to intercept, committing herself to the contest either aerially or at ground level.

She has little trouble finding the ball and has the evasive tricks to find exits from congestion, but can become a touch more effective with her disposal. Tending to put boot to ball and compound her metres gained, Busch’s improvement will come from adding polish to those touches under pressure and better utilising her opposite foot to become more efficient.

As an overall package, recruiters will love the character Busch offers as a professional type who seeks to get the best out of herself. Her athletic traits, blending speed and endurance, allow her to get involved wherever the play goes and make her a well-rounded prospect who can be relied upon to perform each week.

Amber CLARKE

Few players came into the 2022 NAB League Girls season with higher wraps, yet Dandenong Stingrays’ Amber Clarke took it all in her stride and was able to come out as one of the best players across the league, and the country. She started off with a massive five-goal haul against Geelong Falcons in Round 1, and though she only really had one more major bag, she was still able to influence games on the regular.

That influence was reiterated by Clarke winning the NAB League Girls Best and Fairest, and polling in all seven games she completed - six of those best on grounds - with only her injury against Eastern Ranges in the first term not earning her a vote. She carried that form into the national carnival for Vic Country, and was a potent forward and looking lively around goals. Though not quite as consistent quarter-byquarter, she did spend the majority of the time inside 50, with only some rotations onball.

Clarke is a player who has the goal sense and X-factor to impact a game in a big way, and though in Round 1 she was kicking goals from everywhere, became a little less reliable in front of the big sticks as the season progressed. Her trademark snap around the body often misfired when she could have composed herself for an extra step, but that learning will continue to come, especially at the elite level. She could also continue to develop further through the midfield, having an outstanding game there for the Stingrays in the NAB League Girls Grand Final, but is still able to impact further with more time.

Clarke is one of those players who will attract interest from the majority, if not all of the Victorian clubs, and will likely land in the Top 10. She has the excitement factor that brings fans to the footy, and as she will likely start as a full-time forward, could kick some amazing goals early in her career.

Fleur DAVIES

Catapulting herself into the standout ruck prospect in this year’s AFLW Draft, Queensland’s Fleur Davies is a name to remember for the future. Set to join her sister Giselle in the AFLW off the back of a terrific last 12 months, Davies is an athletic tall with high endurance and a presence that allows her to not only impact in the ruck, but also down forward as a leading target.

With so many rucks either pure rucks or forwards who can pinch hit, Davies is a player who could legitimately develop into either, and though not always a high possession player, her work around the ground to provide a contest more than makes up for it. When she is running hot, Davies pulls down contested grab after contested grab, though at times she can be a little inconsistent in that area, and it is one way she can further improve. If she clunks them consistently then watch out, as she will present all around the ground.

Davies has that nice balance of having strong, clean hands, but also being able to be utilised in transition as a roaming around-the-ground ruck, and pushing up to be that release kick from the defensive 50. She can hit targets by hand or foot, and in most games, she actually gets better as the game goes on. Her vertical leap is another strength, and given her impressive height in the mid 180s, Davies usually has a few centimetres on most opponents.

Though Davies missed out on All-Australian selection this year, she reemphasised just how good of a carnival she had but taking control for the AFLW Academy game and really stepping up through the ruck. Potentially Queensland’s second best draft prospect - and the clear standout tall in the state, Davies is one who could impact from early on in her career, as a more readymade option than her sister, but will still have plenty of development left in her.

Octavia DI DONATO

Octavia Di Donato is a player with plenty of talent and almost an ideal prospect to bring into your AFLW club. Though there would be heated debates over her best position at the top level, Di Donato does not have too many flaws to her game. She is a pinpoint kick, possesses clean hands, makes good decisions and has a high footy IQ that allows her to play on all three lines.

Though Di Donato started off as a defender coming through the Bendigo Pioneers program she graduated to play midfield, and then even spent time forward. Her best traits are her skills and decision making, that allow her to hit those neat in-board passes to open up the play, and she can also run and carry when required. She could be mopping up in defence, rolling along a wing, and then being a spare option resting forward, though with her smarts, being behind the ball is more impactful for her team.

The big question mark will be exactly where she plays at the top level, with perhaps a half-back or wing role in line for her given strengths. She has others that might be ahead of her in those roles because they have specialised in them, though she has been more than capable at both. What she has not done a lot of is win the contested ball, with her inside game usually consisting of being a second possession winner, receiving by hand then taking off and disposing of it cleanly.

That was further illustrated at the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships, where she won just 30 per cent of her disposals in a contest, and two thirds of her touches came from handball receives. Still, it plays into her strengths and that is exactly what a club would be looking to do at the top level. Di Donato is not a player to bring in to win the hard ball, she is a polished player who can impact going inside 50.

RM CENTRAL

Mackenzie EARDLEY

The standout key position player in the 2022 AFLW Draft, particularly when it comes to dual-position talents is Dandenong Stingrays co-captain, Mackenzie Eardley. The 181cm tall has proven she can play at either end, though largely she is a key defender at heart, and that is where one would expect she plays at the next level.

An offensive player who has very similar traits to Collingwood’s Darcy Moore or Melbourne’s Libby Birch, Eardley is an outstanding intercept mark, and has sublime skills that are almost in a league of their own for players of her height. She can hit passes over short, medium or long distances, and can win it via marks or handball receives that release her to kick long. When up forward, she knows when to lead and then can impact the scoreboard, whilst getting to the right spots to fill a hole up the other end if need be.

The one area where Eardley could improve is her defensive traits, in the sense that because her offensive skills are elite, that she rarely needs to be that defensive lockdown player. It means she can play as a third-up tall or one who can run off her opponent and impact up the field. It does mean though that at AFLW level she might have to sharpen up that accountability factor, given the quality of all forwards in the back 50. That, along with her ground balls - given her method of winning the ball is aerial or via hand - are two of the very few improvement areas.

Eardley is an exciting talent, and a tall that clubs - particularly expansion clubs - could build their list around for the future. She has traits that simply no one else has for a player of her size, and having been a consistent performer at NAB League level for several years now, expect Eardley to hit the AFLW with a buzz and one who will be an eye-catching defender.

Imogen EVANS

Perhaps one of the more underrated players because her numbers do not always jump off the page is Queensland’s Imogen Evans. Moving to Bond University this season to play top-level QAFLW football, the Gold Coast Suns Academy captain is a player with next to no flaws in her footballing game.

When talking about her footballing game, it is in reference to all her natural traits. Evans has clean hands, a great technical kick that hits targets over multiple distances, is not afraid to go inside, stay outside, and covers the ground with ease. She is strong overhead and at ground level, and is a high-volume tackler, making her an all-round prospect.

All that being said, the couple of areas that have her a touch below the elite prospects in the draft, is that she is still ironing out her four-quarter consistency, and she is also

not the quickest player going around. Still having power and strength to be able to exit stoppages, she does not have that explosiveness that some inside midfielders have, but in saying that, she covers the ground better than most with a high-level endurance and footy smarts that allow her to get into ball-winning spots quicker than most without needing that breakaway speed.

What Evans offers far outweighs what she does not, and realistically with ball-in-hand she does not make many mistakes. She is neat, clean and hard-at-it, able to burrow in and shovel it out to teammates, or receive the ball and dispose of it down the field well. A natural inside midfielder, Evans can play in other roles, and though she does not win as much of the footy in those roles, she will always compete.

Evans is a member of the Suns Academy and if she does not end up there, a number of other clubs should consider her.

Hannah EWINGS

Hannah Ewings is one of the most complete players in the AFLW Draft with some elite traits that have allowed her to make AFL Women’s players and highly experienced talents look silly in the SANFLW since she was 15-years-old. Possessing the best kick in the AFLW Draft from a contested situation, Ewings is a ridiculous talent with her combination of power, footy IQ and natural footballing ability.

Playing as an inside midfielder, Ewings wins clearances with ease and can thump the ball long down the ground, able to boot it beyond 50m which is a rare ability for anyone. She is strong overhead and at ground level, poses problems for opposition defenders or midfielders with her work through stoppages, and is able to consistently hit the scoreboard when playing at full-forward. If there was a match-winner in the AFLW Draft crop, then Ewings could well be it, with her ability to stand up regularly against senior opposition.

Like every AFLW Draft prospect, Ewings still has areas she can improve on, with her defensive running being her main focus at the moment. Her offensive abilities allow little need to get back and protect space, but Ewings is still looking to sharpen up that area of her game and impact the contest from a defensive standpoint. She also does not necessarily travel with the ball for as long as some others as she is not an explosive speedster, but more explosive through power. She can burst through a stoppage by shrugging off or evading opponents, but is not necessarily a straight line runner.

Ewings is someone who, when at her best, can influence a game like few others. She will split her time between midfield and forward, and is one of those talents that if she is being tagged in the midfield, can go forward and exploit her opponent in that way. She can create something out of nothing and is already an elite young talent ready for AFLW.

RM CENTRAL

Jasmine FLEMING

One of the more eye-catching prospects in this year’s AFLW Draft pool is Jasmine Fleming, a wonderfully athletic midfielder with weaponous kicking ability. Having made her name among the Oakleigh Chargers’ 2021 premiership side, Fleming took over as the region’s top prospect this year as an AFLW Academy member and standout in Vic Metro.

The 17-year-old has the accumulation factor of Monique Conti, running ragged for repeat efforts and making good decisions with ball in hand, while also displaying a turn of speed and goalkicking ability similar to Patrick Dangerfield. From midfield, there is hardly a weapon more dangerous than Fleming’s right-foot kicking, as she is able to penetrate and pinpoint targets on the fly. Having played off half-back growing up, her ability to see the game in front of her is exceptional, though she can sometimes run herself into trouble by taking on too much with her explosive speed.

That kind of composure is one improvement area for Fleming, and she is also working on being more effective by hand under pressure, while making her left-foot just as much of an asset as her dominant right. Overall though, her athletic traits and skillset allow her to be effective in multiple positions. She dominated both ways in midfield, kicking three goals with a move forward in Round 6, and racking up a season-high 29 touches from half-back in Round 7.

Fleming is a young athlete with the world at her feet. She is excited about the path football is taking her down at the moment, but has the name and talent to also forge a career in cricket should she wish. As the ultimate professional and competitor who seeks to get the best out of herself, she has made grand strides in such a short time and has terrific upside for the future.

Taylah GATT

Taylah Gatt is one of the most damaging players in this year’s AFLW Draft crop. With incredible speed and vision, Gatt can break the lines and hit targets down the field going inside 50. Possessing a lovely kicking technique and a high impactper-possession gamestyle, Gatt is a player who has shot up the draft boards in 2022.

The main question marks around Gatt surround her accumulation, and her contested work, both of which are not major concerns at the next level. Even with 10 disposalsher AFLW Under 18 Championships average - Gatt can often create a high volume of metres gained, most of which are kicks going inside 50. The fast winger is suited to the style given her work rate up and down the ground, and though at times she could get into more ball-winning positions, when she has it, she is incredibly noticeable.

Gatt was one of a number of Dandenong Stingrays to step up in a great year for the talent program, and she would quite often be a player that seemed like she had 20-plus disposals even when she had less than eight. Given the importance of wingers in the modern game of Australian rules football, Gatt is a highly talented prospect who will only benefit from the elite system.

Another area of improvement will be ironing out her consistency within games, particularly off-ball impact. Though it comes hand-in-hand with getting into the right spots, Gatt is still learning that area of her game. Once she has the ball in her clutches, she can do wonders with it.

Expect Gatt to be a highly sought-after talent given her niche role, and abilities that perfectly suit that role. With pace to burn and nice technique, she is one with a high ceiling.

Alana GEE

Alana Gee is the most complete Queensland prospect with an incredible upside worthy of placing her inside the top five players nationally. She has that damaging combination of explosiveness and skill, combined her with vision and versatilty making her an all-round threat. Her numbers at any level leap off the page, able to find the ball at will, and do a lot of damage with it.

Quite often having all of skill, athleticism and accumulation is very rare, but Gee is one of the few that fall under all three. She can be very potent with ball-in-hand and win it in a multitude of ways. She finds it in the contest, on the outside or in transition, and is able to take grass whilst kicking long inside 50. Her vision is arguably the best trait of all, able to spot up targets in space and execute by a long handball or kick to open up the play in the central corridor.

Despite her strengths, naturally there are still areas for Gee to work on. Those areas would be her composure at times, and her defensive running. Though she is such a potent kick, she can tend to release before she needs to, despite gaining the extra separation on her opponents. Additionally, she is is still building the defensive side of her game, and though her tackle numbers are good, they her defensive running in transition could still develop further.

When it comes to offensively, Gee has very few peers, and the fact she can play in just about any position helps. Having been a classy player coming through the program, Gee has already learnt how to play on the inside, then went outside for Queensland, and has even spent time on flanks at either end. As a member of the Gold Coast Academy, Gee is one who is a star in the making, and is right up there with the highest impact-per-possession players in the AFLW Draft.

Zarlie GOLDSWORTHY

Few players have bolted from relative obscurity into the AFLW Draft limelight like Albury talent, Zarlie Goldsworthy. The Murray Bushrangers star wasted no time announcing herself with a massive 33-disposal, four-goal game in Round 1, and proceeded to kick a goal in every game for the season, racking up the ball with will and being the greatest overall accumulator in the NAB League Girls competition.

Goldsworthy has such a well-balanced accumulation from disposals, to marks, clearances, tackles, inside 50s and indeed even goals. She is a contested player who puts her body on the line consistently, and hits the scoreboard with rare regularity compared to her peers. Given her split between midfield and forward, it makes Goldsworthy’s numbers all the more remarkable. Her traits and natural ballwinning ability combined with her penetrating kick that can travel 50m make her a danger anywhere in the forward half.

The major improvement for Goldsworthy that just stops her from being a complete player is her kicking consistency, which luckily for AFLW clubs, can be worked on with good development. She has a penetrating kick and can clear the danger zones, it is just about making it more pinpoint, and being able to hit targets more consistently, without the element of luck. Adding a touch more composure with ballin-hand will help with that, though there is no doubt she still heavily influences matches with her current gamestyle.

Goldsworthy had a massive year for the Bushrangers and the Allies, earning the Rookie Me Central Medal for the best player in the NAB League Girls, before backing that up with the Allies’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the AFLW Under 18 Championships. Goldsworthy has come a long way since effectively playing local footy 12 months ago, and now looms as one of the most talked about talents in the AFLW Draft.

GOODWIN

One of the most damaging players by both her disposal and her metres gained is Glenelg’s Sarah Goodwin who has bolted up to be among the top AFLW Draft prospects. Off the back of a strong SANFLW season where Goodwin lifted her numbers and became a vital player in the Bays defensive setup, she has found a home at half-back having spent time in the midfield last year.

One of the most damaging defenders in the draft crop, Goodwin is best known for her run and carry off half-back, and she is not afraid to take those high-risk, high-reward kicks into the corridor. Possessing a deadly boot that can make those passes, Goodwin has a terrific burst and can take a lot of grass, running from half-back to the wing. At times, Goodwin is often holding a high line on the wing and can even be stationed that kick behind play to send the ball back inside 50.

Her decision making and vision allow her to not only hit targets, but pick the right targets to hit, and that is what makes her all the more damaging from a footy IQ perspective. Her vision to quickly assess what is around her and create her own space, almost having a “worst case scenario” option when she is in trouble from an opponent. When having the game on her terms, Goodwin can propel off half-back and even win over 30 touches a game, being a really high accumulator who not only racks up the stats, but has an impact with just about every one.

Goodwin is definitely an outside player, with her contested work and strength areas to further improve on for the future. She competes one-on-one, but can get outmuscled at times, and a strong preseason at the elite level will help with that. Overall, Goodwin is the type of player who will be utilised in that running role with high hurt factor.

Montana HAM

Arguably the top Victorian prospect this year is Montana Ham, a dominant contested ball winner and distributor. Having been pegged as one to watch in the NAB League as a 15-year-old, the future is now as Ham has completed four campaigns in the competition and fulfilled her underage potential.

Ham took hold as a game winner for the Western Jets en route to stunning premiership glory, before becoming the centrepiece (and MVP) of Vic Metro’s championships, and earning the best afield medal in her AFLW Academy outing. Heck of a resume. Most effective at stoppages, Ham uses her size and power at 179cm to dominate the contested ball. Her clean hands and extremely polished midfield craft allow her to be one of the more effective distributors in the game. While he previously showed a tendency to bomb long out of congestion, she shifted her decision making as the year

went on to show greater composure in possession and use the ball at a greater rate by hand.

One thing which may hinder Ham’s form as a forward is her finishing. 2022 was the only NAB League season where she failed to register a goal, but not for a lack of trying. While certainly a booming kick, she lacked for accuracy at times with 12 behinds in the competition, and 41 per cent kick efficiency figure during the national carnival.

Overall, there is seldom a prospect who can compete with Ham’s body of work over the last handful of years. She is as experienced as any 18-year-old in the country when it comes to junior football, and is thus one of the more complete packages when it comes to pure football craft and smarts. Along with her athletic acumen, it makes her one of the top five talents in the country.

Cynthia HAMILTON

Powerful inside midfielder Cynthia Hamilton became one of only two back-to-back All-Australians this year, earning a place on the interchange bench in her top-age year. She was best on ground for NSW-ACT against the Allies, and though her last two games were not as prolific, she still had her moments. As a strong contested ball-winner capable of pushing forward and hitting the scoreboard, Hamilton is one of the highly touted prospects from the NSW-ACT region.

Hamilton is the sister of former Gold Coast and North Melbourne, now Sydney Swans recruit Lexi, and the younger sibling has ties to both Victoria and NSW-ACT. On-field, Hamilton is a powerful player who racks up a truckload of contested ball and thrives in tight situations. She can get to the outside and still win the ball, with her strength to fendoff opponents and shrug tackles coming in handy.

Hamilton still has a number of areas to work on, with the offensively-minded player still able to improve her defensive running, though her tackle numbers are still through the roof thanks to her work at the coalface. Once forward of the ball, Hamilton is hard to contain, though her kicking can still be ironed out, running at just over 50 per cent across the national carnival. Her hands are a different story though, clean at both ground level and in the air, Hamilton is a player that can beat her opponents in multiple ways.

It is likely Hamilton will start her AFLW career inside 50, and eventually graduate to rotate between midfield and forward. With her power, strength and clean hands, Hamilton has plenty of potential for the future, and keeping in mind she had an interrupted preseason - playing just one game prior to the AFLW Under 18 Championships, so she will be cherry ripe by August.

Zara HAMILTON

A mainstay in the Murray Bushrangers outfit for the past two seasons, Zara Hamilton enjoyed a massive production boost in 2022, taking her disposal average from 13.4 to 24.1 with a move to the inside from the wing.

Hamilton is one that is pretty much always in a position to get the ball, using her smarts to be on the outside to receive a handball, but also knows when it is her turn to crack in and win it in tight. This football nous shows in all aspects of her game, able to adjust to pretty much any position that she’s thrown into during a game seamlessly. Hamilton is a hard worker and one of few prospects that’s able to run out a game completely, able to get contest-to-contest easier than most opponents, making her a nightmare to play on as games wear on. To add to this, Hamilton runs both ways well, averaging 6.1 tackles per game. Hamilton’s consistency also stands out, dropping below 20 disposals only twice during

Hamilton continued her strong NAB League form into the National Championships, rotating on the wing and through the midfield in the Allies clashes against WA and Queensland, Hamilton averaged 17 disposals and three tackles across both games. Impressively, despite spending more time on the wing than she had done for the Bushrangers, Hamilton still managed a 48 per cent contested possession rate.

Looking like one of the better options in the NSW draft pool, there are still some areas of improvement for Hamilton heading into the next level. For a player so adept at winning the ball, Hamilton will be looking to improve her use of the footy and composure as she can sometimes rush her disposals, especially when under pressure, limiting her damage going forward.

her NAB League campaign.

RM CENTRAL

Bridie HIPWELL

An AFL Academy member for 2022, Hipwell stepped into a new look half forward role after playing mostly as a midfielder in her bottom-aged campaign, a move which proved a masterstroke as her strength aerially took another step.

Hipwell played as a ‘link up’ half forward for much of her NAB League campaign, often working up the ground to be a target in transition, then backing her run and carry in to deliver it well to deeper targets. Whilst not a high production prospect, Hipwell is one that will hurt with each of her touches when in space, capable of delivering penetrating kicks forward to leading targets. She is not just an offensive threat however, with her workrate and tackling around the ground Hipwell is one who is not afraid to do the dirty work when not in possession. Hipwell’s biggest strength is her marking, with a sound technique and a good ability to hold

contested marks. She is one that is near unbeatable on the lead and in the air, making her a dangerous forward option heading into the next level.

Due to a wrist injury sustained late in the season, Hipwell only lined up for Vic Metro once, in their first clash against Vic Country, registering 12 disposals and three marks. In her return game from injury, Hipwell got the same statline when lining up for the AFL Academy side against the U23 All-Stars team in May.

At the next level, Hipwell should be looking to up her production as a player moving higher up the field, or hit the scoreboard more often if deployed in a deeper role. She would also benefit from turning into traffic less when winning the ball in congestion, however there was noticeable improvement in this area as the year went on.

Sofia HURLEY

AFL Academy member Sofia Hurley backed up a stellar under-aged season, which saw her win the Sandringham Dragons best and fairest, taking another step in 2022 to become one of the best and most consistent Victorian prospects in the pool.

Starting the season in her regular midfield role, Hurley gradually increased her time in the forward 50 as the season rolled on, showing a clear second position as she heads to the next level - even registering six goals across nine NAB League Girls games. Whilst the added versatility certainly appeals, Hurley’s strengths are best shown when running through the midfield around stoppages, with her reading of the ball off the rucks’ hands and positioning at high levels. They’re deadly skills when combined with her evasive technique. Hurley’s biggest point of difference from other midfield options is her defensive game, aided by her high

work rate and tackling strength. Hurley laid a whopping 84 tackles in the NAB League, the second most overall, to go along with her average of 25.3 disposals - only dropping below 20 once in the entire season Hurley played a smaller role in the midfield for Vic Metro through the championships, spending large chunks of time in the forward half but still managing to impact games, averaging 22.7 disposals and 6.3 tackles across her three appearances. Hurley continued to play predominantly as a forward for the AFLW Academy in their clash against the Under 23 All-Stars, registering 13 disposals and five tackles.

At the next level, Hurley would benefit from some improvement on her body work around stoppages, as she can sometimes be outmuscled when receiving opposition attention. On top of that, her skill execution on her left side is an area she’s already working to improve.

Keeley KUSTERMANN

Keeley Kustermann is one of those players that just ticks a lot of boxes. She does not necessarily have one elite trait, but instead, has a lot of well above average traits that make her a valuable prospect. Possessing clean hands and neat foot skills on the outside, a high work rate, good decision making and nice balance, she is someone who can play in multiple roles - and has done so, predominantly between half-back and midfield.

In 2022, Kustermann went inside more permanently for West Adelaide, and doubled her disposal numbers, while also impacting around the clearances. Though her efficiency did drop under more pressure - similar to Charlotte Baskaran when she moved inside in 2021 - Kustermann is damaging with time and space so is a way to further develop. Often the talented teenager is better on the move and able to see everything in front of her to size up, and pick the right option.

Though not a massive influencer in the front half - she kicked just one goal for West Adelaide this year, albeit in a wooden spoon side - Kustermann is someone who can be creative and set scoring chances up for others. Not a speedy or explosive player by any means, Kustermann still works hard to find space and consistently get into ball-winning positions. She can find the ball in all areas of the ground, and is more than happy to be a defensively minded player if need be, laying almost seven tackles per game in the SANFLW.

Cool, calm and composed with ball-in-hand, Kustermann makes good decisions and is a player who will likely start her AFLW career off half-back. She reads the ball well behind the play, and was rewarded for her AFLW Under 18 Championships form with a spot in the All-Australian side. As someone who will only get better with more midfield minutes, Kustermann is a reliable player each and every week.

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Charlotte MULLINS

Charlotte Mullins is a classy member of the Brisbane Lions Academy who has been able to play a variety of roles over the past couple of years. She can play inside, outside or on flanks at either end, showcasing her footy knowledge. She possesses a number of terrific footballing traits, and while there are some improvements still to make, she is a player with great upside for the future.

Mullins plays her best footy on the outside when she has time and space. She has that touch of class and ability to deliver cleanly to teammates through nice vision and good decision making.The only caveat to her disposal is under pressure, where she can tend to have less time and is not able to utilise the ball as cleanly as on the outside. Her efficiency can drop off, but it is to be expected, and as she showed at the national carnival, she can easily slide to the outside or even defence and provide a reliable kicking option

in transition.As a midfielder Mullins is not one to often hit the scoreboard, which is another string she can add to her bow, mainly because she is often the first or second possession winner and then quickly kicks it forward from congestion. When she has played as a forward in past years, Mullins can hit the scoreboard, but adding that element as a midfielder is always a way she can improve.

Mullins is not afraid to get her hands dirty, and laid seven tackles in the NAB League Girls game against Western Jets, emphasising her willingness to go in and attack the hard ball and opponent. Depending on where an AFLW club - such as Brisbane might utilise her, she will add enough accountability to her offensive impact that she can always play off half-back or a wing if required. That ‘jack of all trades’ ability is something that is crucial at AFLW level, and Mullins’ versatility in her role and traits are clear.

Claire RANSOM

Claire Ransom came into 2022 as Tasmania’s top AFLW Draft prospect, and was able to juggle those expectations to piece together a solid, rather than outstanding season. It was more the former due to injury that curtailed half her year, and then she predominantly played forward for the Allies upon her return from injury. As a midfielder - which is Ransom’s best position - she is a clean user with nice athleticism and particularly evasion, and she is able to spot targets down the field.

Ransom is not particularly known for her contested work, with the skilful talent able to impact games more with her neat sidestep of first few steps to burst away from the stoppages. At her best, she uses the ball over short or medium distances as well as anyone, though under pressure her efficiency can still improve a touch. Her kicking penetration is an area that could  develop, but her short, sharp passes are effective.

Defensively, Ransom is a player who can work hard to lay some good tackles, and is a natural leader on the field. She directs traffic and uses her voice to guide her younger teammates, then gets involved when she needs to. Her defensive pressure combined with her offensive impact makes her quite the all-round prospect, and once she can improve those areas of her game that are a touch below, she can add more weapons to her game.

North Melbourne has first access to Tasmanian prospects, and Ransom looks likely to follow in the footsteps of past AFLW Academy members such as Mia King and Perri King. As a bottom-ager, Ransom looked to have higher potential than her Apple Isle predecessors, but injury slowed that down. She heads into the AFLW Draft as perhaps a touch underrated, but her best is as good as anyone’s and no doubt with a full preseason behind her, she will find that again.

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Ella ROBERTS

Ella Roberts is easily the most complete player in the AFLW Draft. From a draft profile perspective, she has the lot - athleticism, skill, footy IQ and high impact aerially and at ground level - and it is splitting hairs to really have anything detrimental about her game. Roberts herself says her defensive work could improve, and while the defensive running is an area she can always build up, she lays multiple tackles in a game and certainly brings the defensive pressure.

Roberts has long been a player to watch for this year’s AFLW Draft. She burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old to help guide Peel Thunder to their first flag coming off a wooden spoon season. She kicked a couple of vital goals to get them over the line, and then was again a key cog in their back-to-back premiership. She has collected two West Australian MVPs, two All-Australians and the 2021 AFLW Under 18s MVP.

It has been difficult to stop Roberts over the years, though when being fully tagged at WAFLW level, she has been able to be nullified, which speaks volume of a player who copped her first tag at 16. She will get a lot more of that at the top level, which will be an area she will have to adapt to.

Breaking down her strengths, Roberts is as clean in the air and at ground level as anyone that has come through the pathways. It is a nightmare for opposition defenders to know that even if they win the aerial battle with a well-timed spoil, chances are Roberts has already recovered and is away.

Her footy IQ and skills, particularly by foot are exquisite, and she can launch shots on goal from 50m. From a positional analysis, Roberts is a natural forward, but has spent time on a wing and now inside. Roberts is going to be a very special player at the next level.

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Keeley SKEPPER

Keeley Skepper has one of the most powerful boots in the AFLW Draft crop, and loves to create some space and use it, playing between midfield and defence. Having developed from a midfielder into a rebounding defender, Skepper has been able to maintain consistency throughout the NAB League Girls and AFLW Under 18 Championships, where she was among the best for the Murray Bushrangers, and then earned MVP honours for Vic Country.

Though Skepper has a super boot - and a high favourability to lean towards her boot over her hands, she still has to iron out her consistency by foot. She has improved in 2022 from 2021, and the extra time and freedom coming off half-back or getting to the outside has helped with that over bursting away from a stoppage and having to rush it onto the boot. Though she can rush and could improve her composure, Skepper still impacts the contest.

Skepper enjoys taking grass and running with the ball, and she spreads well from the contest. Now she has added playing as a defender to her repertoire, Skepper has that added versatility which will appeal to AFLW clubs. Her penetrating kick on the end of running with ball-in-hand, Skepper can be a damaging option forward of centre even if she does not pinpoint her kicks perfectly. The technique itself has great potential, it is just the decision making behind it and lowering the eyes at times.

Skepper’s 2022 season which included the MVP at the AFLW Under 18 Championships is one that she can look back on fondly and know she could not have done much more. With her traits and influence both on the inside and outside, Skepper has put herself into first round contention for the Victorian pool, and with further development, could go a lot further in her overall profile.

Ella SMITH

One of only three Queensland AFLW Academy members, Ella Smith is a tough inside midfielder who has been learning the ropes of a wing role this season. Smith became synonymous with winning the hard ball and firing out handballs, or quickly bombing it from a stoppage. Her accumulation was as good as anyone’s, and she can rack up the ball in high numbers really quickly.

In 2022, Smith spent more time on the outside for Queensland, and then when she did roll inside, was a beast around the clearances. At times she can unassumingly keep ticking over the stats without a lot of influence, but that is largely due to her lack of metres gained. She wins the ball, but rather than use her explosiveness, she will quickly dish off, an area that Smith herself said she was looking to utilise more often. Along with that, Smith could also hit the scoreboard more often to add another weapon to her game.

Smith’s strengths are plentiful with her inside game, particularly her contested ball-winning and clean hands among her top traits. She won the ball in a balanced capacity at champs, collecting an even spread of hard balls, loose balls and handball receives to try and put into practice her run and carry. Though her kicking is still an area of improvement as well, she is able to influence through her hands, and that helps her fulfil her role on the inside.

In the top handful of Queensland prospects this year, Smith lead from the front with the Brisbane Lions Academy, whilst also juggling her other passion - rowing. It meant she could only play two of the AFLW Under 18 Championship matches, then returned to represent the AFLW Academy. If Smith can continue to implement and exercise more of her running game - which she has the potential to do - then she will be all the more impressive with ball-in-hand.

Jasmyn SMITH

Jasmyn Smith was one of the surprise packets of the AFLW Under 18 Championships, being the premier clearance midfielder at the carnival. Though not reward with AllAustralian honours, Smith averaged 17.7 disposals, six clearances and six tackles per game, predominantly spending time on the inside, then rotating forward. Though she has played on a wing in the past to help with her run and carry, Smith has looked comfortable on the inside and really lifted her draft stocks in the past 12 months.

Smith is a player who can fill a hole in the midfield or up forward, and is a clean user of the ball by hand or foot. As someone who was more heavily reliant on using it by hand in the past, Smith has been able to get ball to boot more often this year, and it has helped with her impact on games. She is by no means a penetrating kick, but she is clean over short and medium distances.

Aside from perhaps adding that extra bit of punch to her kicks, Smith’s major improvement would be her cleanliness at ground level. With ball-in-hand, Smith is clean and precise, but she can be a touch more fumbly than others when trying to win it off the deck. If she can add that element to her game where she can consistently be a one-touch player, then it will help her exponentially considering she can burst away and evade opponents.

Additionally, Smith is really clever at drawing free kicks, be it head highs, or in the back, and that helps her also extract the ball from the stoppage. She is clever at the ruck taps, and reads the ball of hands well, but is just as comfortable laying a strong tackle on an opponent. When having time and space and being able to run with ball-in-hand, Smith generally makes good decision and can influence a match in transition regularly. One to watch from an AFLW Draft perspective.

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Sachi SYME

Sachi Syme has been one of the big improvers out of South Australia this year, and is another whose stocks have risen courtesy of the Croweaters’ success at the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships. Syme predominantly played as a midfielder for Norwood at SANFLW level, but has since added forward as a position to her repertoire, able to spend considerable time there, hit the scoreboard, then rotate through the middle when required.

Syme is a clean ball user, and whilst her  efficiency numbers were down at the AFLW Under 18 Championships, they do not tell the full story of what she is capable of. She earned AllAustralian honours off the back of a terrific carnival, and just ticks a lot of boxes across the board. Along with the clean skills, she has a high work rate, a strong inside game, and great balance, where she can extract it from the stoppage or play out on a wing and move the ball in transition.

In terms of a couple of areas of improvement, Syme is best known for her short, more precise but clean passes, and is not the most penetrative of kicks. She can kick long, but it does not have the same range as her shorter passes, and her quick hit-ups to teammates are what help get her team on top. That, along with her explosiveness out of the contest just knock her back a bit compared to some midfielders, but her clean skills - particularly by hand under pressure - maker her a very valuable player.

In terms of AFLW Draft prospects, Syme has a lot of terrific traits that will hold her in good stead for the future. She has that versatility to now play forward, and was already more than capable of starting at the centre bounce, or heading out to a wing. Throw in the fact that she hits targets consistently, and is so balanced, and Syme has a lot of upside, knowing how to play to her strengths.

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Charlotte TAYLOR

Versatility is an essential attribute in the top levels of Australian football, and Charlotte Taylor is a prospect who has it in spades. At 174cm, the Oakleigh Chargers utility cut her teeth in defence as a bottom-ager, before being thrown into midfield during this year’s NAB League season, and playing as a tall forward for Vic Metro in the Under 18 National Championships.

Her traits have translated well on each line, with Taylor’s size and contested acumen boding for competitive work across all levels of play. The 18-year-old is a beast around the ball, proving strong over it and using her impressive physicality to body opponents out of the road, while also offering a capable marking target. Arguably Taylor’s best work as a topager was done in midfield, where she became the Chargers’ beacon of hope alongside top prospect Jasmine Fleming. She also spent plenty of time rotating forward for the

Chargers and found the goals in two of her nine NAB League outings this year. That set her up for a more permanent move to attack for Vic Metro, where she essentially played as a tall who presented high up the ground. Marking was a noted area for development coming into 2022, and while she was able to cleanly do so around the ground, contested grabs on the lead remain improvable.

Taylor’s handling is cleaner in the thick of midfield or with more time behind the ball, but that was not showcased as often when she was forced to meet the ball as a forward. Given her contested proficiency, Taylor could add that touch of polish with her handling and kicking to become even more effective coming away from congestion. Having worked on her endurance coming into 2022, Taylor may be an option who clubs think can pinch-hit through the engine room while establishing herself at either end of the ground.

Lauren WAKFER

All-Australian ruck Lauren Wakfer has a habit of stuffing the stats sheet. The West Australian talent from the AFLW Academy is able to be like a “fourth midfielder” at times with her ability to win the ball at the stoppage and then dispose of it quickly. She also covers the ground really well, works hard defensively and then can present well up forward, whilst having nice athleticism to-boot to make her the second best AFLW Draft prospect in Western Australia.

Wakfer is not quite the finished product, but she is getting there, with noticeable development in the past 12 months to have more influence on games than she did previously. At South Fremantle, Wakfer takes advantage of less mobile rucks, and though she can sometimes be outbodied oneon-one, she will almost always have a better leap than her opponent. This helps her take control at the stoppages, and her ruck craft is very impressive.

Aside from her strength which will continue to improve at the elite level once she has more development under her belt, Wakfer also needs to iron out her disposal consistency. She can sometimes lean back on her kicks and semi-rush them even when not under pressure, which is an area that can be adapted. When playing on instinct, Wakfer is generally a better field kick in play, then when she has time to assess options. Overall it is not a major concern, but more an area that the Bulldogs ruck can further improve.

As a whole though, Wakfer has a lot going for her, and it showed with her impressive, well-balanced stat sheet across the national championships. She earned the AllAustralian ruck spot and has been among the top rucks in the WAFLW each and every week this season. Unfortunately a late-season ACL injury will put Wakfer on ice for Season 7, but her ability should still see both WA clubs keen.

Rylie WILCOX

At 158cm, Rylie Wilcox has proven size to be no real barrier throughout her top-age campaign, thundering up draft boards to become one of the top Metro talents in Victoria. Likened to new Essendon AFLW recruit Georgia Gee, the clever winger/forward offers a terrific turn of speed on the outside and is no stranger to hitting the scoreboard when rolling forward.

A key factor which sets Wilcox apart is her work rate. Playing in a NAB League region which finished bottom of its pool, she put in many a shift to help keep the Knights competitive. While not afraid to have a crack, she wore a few scars, particularly with a rib injury which kept her sidelined. In the Under 18 National Championships, she was freed up on the wing and tore up the outer with that patented speed, giving good indication as to where she may be best suited at the next level.

Wilcox also featured up forward and hit the scoreboard with regularity towards the back-end of the season. Turning out for Vic Metro, the Under 23 All Stars and in Carlton’s VFLW side, she was good for at least a goal per game and found many avenues to the big sticks.

In addition to her speed and agility, Wilcox boasts another trait typical of small talents - smarts. Her decision making and spacial awareness are high level, and she is hardly fazed by the chaos of contested footy - despite her outside ability.

Overall, with top notch skills and exciting athletic traits, Wilcox is a player which every AFLW club will want and need. The level of footy IQ and speed-endurance combination she offers loom as desirable assets to any club looking for a difference maker within the top 15 Victorian picks.

MATURE-AGE TALENTS

Ellie BISHOP

Ellie Bishop is an overage prospect who has flown under the radar since her national carnival commitments ended last year for the Allies at the 2021 AFLW Under 19 Championships. Having turned 19 just this week, Bishop is still a young player who showed enough signs to suggest she could fit in as an inside midfielder, or one who could play a role in defence.

Regarding her disposal and footy IQ among her better traits, Bishop is technically sound when it comes to using the ball by hand or foot, and she has proven she can play behind the ball as well as in the middle. Though a natural inside midfielder with a fierce intent to win the hardball, Bishop did seem comfortable in defence, which given the amount of midfield prospects going around, having a second role is important.

When playing inside midfield, Bishop was a contested ball winner, and one who could feed the ball out to outside

runners, playing to her strengths. Between her inside game and footy IQ, Bishop is able to be a key link in the midfield chain. Playing at Ainslie in AFL Canberra, Bishop is one of the nation’s capitals top prospects, and will be eyeing off getting a chance at the second opportunity of asking.

In terms of her improvements, Bishop is not overly athletic which holds her back from other midfielders, but is also less crucial when onball. She does not have that explosive speed or evasion, and still needs to build her endurance further, which will help her remain competitive and impactful for longer periods of time.

Overall, Bishop has earned an AFLW Draft Combine invite off the back of some strong form in her overage year, and with two teams now in the NSW-ACT draft pool to select players.

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Madison BRAZENDALE

An over-age running machine who had a really solid 2022 season, Madison Brazendale was one of two overlooked Tasmanians to earn an AFLW Draft Combine invite. The 2003born talent from Launceston averaged 17 disposals and laid almost five tackles per game across the NAB League, and showcase a high work rate, great defensive pressure and strong positioning to be a big improver from 2021.

Brazendale improved her defensive running in 2022, not only lifting her numbers across her disposals and tackles, but also doubling her rebound 50s, while also improving her inside 50s. This told a story of how Brazendale settled into the wing role, and started to develop more of that football aspect that did not necessarily come across as easy as her running. Being a high-level athlete who competes in a manner of events up to 400m, Brazendale has a high endurance base and it shows on gameday.

The Tasmanian has started to use it more effectively in matches, and while there are still some fundamentals for her to improve - such as her kicking consistency and scoreboard impact - Brazendale has certainly added more strings to her bow from a knowledge perspective. There were a number of times where as a winger, she knew when to run back hard and stand in the hole a kick behind play, often thwarting opposition attacks. Then when it was her time to go, she would spread to the outside, and drive the ball forward.

Brazendale lifted her game again for the Allies, clunking six marks against NSW-ACT, which is usually an area that was a touch inconsistent for her during the season. What has not been inconsistent is Brazendale’s ball-winning capabilities. Four of her nine games were more than 20 touches, and only one - her first game - was in single digits. A long-term pick for a club, but  she is a player with a high aerobic capacity.

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Jaide BRITTON

West Australian 19-year-old Jaide Britton could possibly be the most improved player in the country the past 12 months. After captaining Western Australia at the 2021 AFLW Under 19 Championships, Britton missed out on getting an AFLW Draft Combine invite. She went back to Peel Thunder, worked out what she needed to do to get herself onto club radars, and produced a massive preseason that saw momentum carry into her WAFLW campaign.

Over the past 12 months, Britton has been able to transform her game in a way that has unlocked the weapons she already had - her speed and endurance mix - and enable her to become an incredibly damaging player. In the past, the Peel Thunder teenager had the athletic traits but rarely utilised them, but that all changed in 2022, when she added strength and worked hard on her kicking to be one of the most eyecatching players across Western Australia.

Her performances warranted that AFLW Draft Combine callup, and it is easy to see why. Each game there are multiple moments where Britton takes the game on, burns off an opponent and then, unlike few others, can hit targets at speed. Even from early season until later in the season, the winger improved her composure and being able to lower the eyes going inside 50, to become a more complete player.

Britton has largely been pidgeonholed on a wing for the Thunder, but has made the most of it with her season. Her traits lend themselves to playing off half-back, but she has also been trialled as an inside midfielder and rested forward. In-game though, Britton can still expand her versatility, as well as her contested game as she is on face value, a very outside player. It works though because her athleticism and skill are so damaging, and she is not afraid to win her own ball.

Nyakoat DOJIOK

A change of role in season 2022 is what Nyakoat Dojiok will hope helps her take the next step into the AFL Women’s. The former AFLW Academy member missed out at the first chance of asking despite a fairly strong underage campaign with the GWV Rebels. Last year, Dojiok had a few questions over her work rate and kicking, which have been an area of continued improvement for the athletic talent.

What Dojiok offers to a side is very eye-catching with highlevel athleticism, and great positioning behind the ball. She is able to leap high and pull down big grabs, and does her best work when she is able to drop into a hole in defence. Except in 2022, Dojiok had a change of clubs, and scenery. The former defender shuffled to the other end of the field with the change from the red, white and blue to the black and white, with the Bulldogs half-back becoming a Magpies forward in the VFLW this year.

Dojiok had success in attack, booting nine goals in seven games, and only went goalless once - but kicked a behind - in Collingwood’s huge 73-point defeat at the hands of Essendon. Dojiok kicked multiple majors against Geelong, Carlton and Hawthorn, becoming a regular scoring threat for the Magpies. On talent alone, Dojiok has enough about her to earn a call-up, and the fact she has proven herself as a forward to go with her natural defensive role, will appeal to a club willing to give her a chance.

Her kicking is still going to be a question mark, but it will be whether a club will overlook her deficiencies for what she brings to the table. With maturity and experience, Dojiok could be a valuable addition and play in a variety of positions going forward. That versatility adds another string to her bow for the AFLW Draft, and from there, she has a springboard to stake a case to recruiters.

Liz DOWLING

One of the more consistent overagers this season, Geelong Falcons’ Liz Dowling certainly caught attention early in the NAB League Girls, booting back-to-back hauls of four and five goals against the Murray Bushrangers and Gippsland Power respectively. She only kicked five goals in the remaining seven matches, but also spent time in defence and through the midfield, adding more strings to her bow.

Having been pigeonholed as a defender in her top-age year and missing out on being drafted, Dowling started up the other end of the field, and showcased her trademark traits in that capacity. She is strong on the lead, overhead and at ground level, with a high energy of competitiveness. Though she is not the most athletic forward, she has improved her tank that allows her to work over opponents and create headaches up the ground then doubling back to defence.

She became a full-time midfielder for Vic Country during the AFLW Under 18 Championships, and certainly showed she could mix it with the best in terms of her contested work, Her 73.2 per cent contested possession rate at the carnival was the second highest of any player that had at least 40 disposals.

An area that Dowling can still sharpen up is her disposal, which is a key area for the inside midfielder. At the championships she was a touch over 50 per cent across the board, and though it was predominantly contested, is still a way for her to further improve. In saying that, her strength over the ball and in the air is very good, and helps her beat opponents one-on-one.

Dowling is a potential pickup for a club looking for a readymade, versatile option who has plenty of experience.

Emily EAVES

Though a little older than a usual inclusion to a Sydney Swans Academy program, Southern Power’s Emily Eaves has certainly made waves in 2022. The 21-year-old midfielderforward has plied her trade through the AFL Sydney Premier Women’s competition, and then off her own bat decided to trek down to Victoria where she ran out with Williamstown in the VFLW. There, she played as an inside midfielder with the Seagulls, showcasing some of the traits that have put her in the AFLW Draft frame, and earn an AFLW Draft Combine invitation.

Eaves is a natural contested ball winner who has come a long way this year. She stands up at the coalface, and is a prolific clearance player when given the chance. In particular, her quick and clean hands out of a stoppage to a running player can be very efficient, and her strength around the ball helps her protect the zone and buy time to be able to make the

right decision when extracting the ball. She can kick the ball a fair distance, but is still ironing out consistency with it, often under pressure from winning it in a stoppage.

Along with improving the consistency, Eaves also just lacks that explosive speed that some of the inside midfielders might have, but what she lacks in that area, she makes up for in work rate. She covers the ground well and leads by example, as a member of the successful Southern Power leadership team. Her inside game is at a stage where a club such as Sydney could immediately slot her into a senior lineup, and she is able to provide a contest and a presence each time she goes out there.

One of a number of mature-age NSW-ACT talents, Eaves has shown great initiative to test herself at a higher level in the VFL Women’s and did not look out of place at the Seagulls.

Meghan GAFFNEY

Meghan Gaffney is an over-age Tasmanian prospect who ticks a lot of boxes and could be considered as one of the top picks from the Apple Isle. Though not pre-listed like some other 19-year-olds, Gaffney represents value and a high work rate that will no doubt stop at nothing to improve. Though she might not be the most potent user, she is a high efficiency player who does not make too many mistakes by hand or foot.

Gaffney is often found playing off a wing, though did manage to earn some minutes up forward, which could be a valuable extra string to her bow if she can really develop in a second position. She is not overly tall, but what Gaffney lacks in size and perhaps an inside game, is her ability to be clean with the ball regularly, and is able to burst away from opponents and create her own space to deliver inside 50. The Tasmanian is one player teammates can rely upon to deliver to forwards.

Perhaps the one question mark outside the exposure on the inside is Gaffney’s potency by foot. She is an accurate and efficient kick going forward, with neat 30m passes that can hit targets well. A lot of the time this will be more than enough and she certainly has the smarts and skills to influence a contest, but is not one to drain those 40m inboard passes with precision. So whilst she is clean and reliable by hand or foot, there is just that limitation.

Clubs should overlook that if they are keen on getting Gaffney in to play her role, because she is such a steady head with ball-in-hand, and her extra pace and burst from a stoppage allows her to gain that extra 10-20m she might lack in penetration. Her work rate and determination is superb.

Gaffney is one of the top 19th year prospects in this year’s AFLW Draft and could be looked at as a specialist winger.

Teagan GERMECH

Teagan Germech was one of a number of top-age players at last year’s 2021 AFL Women’s Under 19 Championships, representing the Allies. Germech is not a high production player, and has some consistency areas to work out, but she is someone who has that rare balance of athleticism and strength, which makes her desirable for an AFLW club. Still only 19 until September, Germech is playing for Belconnen Magpies in the AFL Canberra competition, and was able to earn an AFLW Draft Combine invite again this year.

Germech is a player who has size on her side at 177cm, and at the championships, she played as a rebounding defender, and rolled through the ruck. If picked to go to the next level, Germech would be unlikely to play as a ruck, so could end up as a key position player at either end. Her offensive output was something that caught attention at last year’s championships and that is handy to have as a defender who

can both lockdown on an opponent or provide some run and drive out of defence.

Germech uses her athleticism to full advantage when chasing down opponents. She has a high work rate and someone who is capable of matching up on the bigger forwards who have both strength and speed. Having now pieced together plenty of football at AFL Canberra level, Germech is capable of standing up against senior opponents, and would benefit from slotting into an elite program.

That elite program might be the GIANTS, who Germech has come through the pathway with, and whose elite level club lost a number of key talls over the off-season. If given a chance, Germech could be fast-tracked into a role, and ideally could take over a key position post, while assisting in the ruck.

Sarah HOSKING

One of a number of over-agers who got their chance at the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships, Vic Country’s Sarah Hosking is a speedy half-back/winger who can impact contests in bursts throughout games. Though her consistency is not always there and she is an outside player, Hosking has the need for speed and can break the lines down the field.

Stepping up as the Dandenong Stingrays acting captain in he absence of co-captains Felicity Crank and Mackenzie Eardley earning in the championships before receiving the call-up, Hosking played a good game through the midfield, showcasing her versatility. Though it was only a brief glimpse, Hosking is one who could have a lot more to come in the future. She needs to iron out her kicking when going down the ground, and is not a high accumulator of the football, but when she has it, she has a fierce attack on the ball and

driving it down the field in transition. Her aggressive style of play works well with her half-back or wing positioning, and she has that natural leadership about her. With speed to burn, Hosking will be looking to further improve her other areas and do it more consistently, which will enhance her impact for longer in games.

In 2022, Hosking averaged in the single digits for both the Stingrays and Vic Country, often used behind the ball and one who could mop up or receive and drive it forward. She looked good early against South Australia at the championships, but like most of her teammates, faded in the second half. Having represented Williamstown at VFLW level, Hosking does have senior experience, and would be more readymade than a number of other peers in the role. Where she plays at AFLW level might be unknown, but if picked, expect it to be behind the ball where she does her best work.

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India LEHMAN

Over-age small forward-midfielder India Lehman earned an AFLW Draft Combine invite off the back of six goals in eight games for the Murray Bushrangers, and a spot with NSWACT at the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships. Lehman is a clever forward with smart game and goal nous when inside 50. In prior years, Lehman has played further up the field, but due to her 163cm size, she is better suited to a small forward role at senior levels.

Lehman can always add further defensive elements to her game, but she has the offensive ones, particularly around goal down pat. Though needing to improve her consistency from game to game, Lehman showed in her Round 1 game against Bendigo Pioneers, she is capable of hitting the scoreboard multiple times, slotting four goals from eight touches. Then later in the season, Lehman spent more time up the ground again, as indicated in a lift in disposal numbers

It is likely that Lehman earned an AFLW Draft Combine invite off the back of known form for the NSW-ACT pool, having clean hands at ground level, a high work rate and footy smarts to be able to slot into multiple positions. She has the capacity to fit into the midfield rotation - particularly on the outside, and though not overly athletic, covers the ground really well.

Going forward, Lehman is a readymade small an AFLW club might look to in order to slot into a program, and play a variety of roles. She has the experience coming through multiple Academies and pathways, and therefore has been able to adapt to a number of challenges. Only managed the game for NSW-ACT but has runs on the board.

for her final NAB League Girls game, a 19-disposal haul against Northern Territory.

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Ella LITTLE

Ella Little is an over-age AFLW Draft prospect who by her own admission used to be a “lazy footballer”. Since missing out on State Under 16s, Little worked her way into a position where she could not be ignored, teaming up with Narelle Smith at the Eagles, who got the best out of her. Transforming her from a medium-tall forward to an inside midfielder, Little thrived, and became one of the best exponents by hand in the AFLW Draft crop.

Little is one of those players that every team needs, someone willing to put their body on the line, use brute strength to feed the handball out to a running teammate. At the AFLW Under 18 Championships, Little had more time and space, playing between midfield and forward, but when on the inside, was able to show those traits she did at SANFLW level.

Her hands inside the contest are as good as anyone’s, and

she can shrug off would-be-tacklers whilst getting her arms free to dish of the handball. As someone who can also unleash the long handball, Little has the ability to open up space through the corridor. Along with her hands in close, Little’s work as a forward has come in handy as she is strong overhead and able to impact in the air. It makes her a dual threat, wherever coaches might want to play her.

Naturally she still has areas to iron out, with Little lacking that explosiveness compared to some inside midfielders, as well as that polish, particularly by foot. But as a player who best impacts by hand, Little plays to her strengths, and it goes a long way to impacting a game.

As a draft prospect, Little has some terrific inside traits, and though she could sharpen up areas to become a morerounded player, she has the tools to step up to the AFLW.

Bella MANN

Bella Mann is the sole over-age talent from Western Australia to earn an AFLW Draft Combine invite, having had a successful AFLW Under 18s campaign as captain of the Sandgropers. The Peel Thunder defender was able to spend more minutes in the midfield, and while her endurance is still a work in progress which will help with her consistency, she has made noticeable improvements on last year.

Mann is a fierce competitor who thrives on the contest be it in the air or at ground level. She might not be the most explosive player going around, but she has good power to shrug off opponents, or stand up in tackles and dish off the ball. Her strength and one-on-one ability certainly helps, and she can tackle both taller and smaller opponents at 171cm. Her tackling is something that sets her apart from many peers, with plenty of ferocity going into them, and locking the ball up well at the contest.

When it comes to Mann’s offensive abilities, she does provide good rebound and positions herself well to intercept. Her kicking technique is actually quite good, and when on-song is able to deliver neatly to teammates, something that has again improved on 2021. Her decision making at times could still be adjusted, and if she can find the balance, then she can be that bit more potent with ball-in-hand, but it certainly has been a noticeable improvement on that front.

Mann has her up and down days, where she will collect 15 disposals and be a real anchor in the defensive half, and then others not be able to get into the action as much. Though not always a result of her own action, building that endurance and consistency will help her further impact games for longer. In terms of her draftability in the upcoming draft, it is no surprise to see her earn an AFLW Draft Combine invite, having worked hard and ticked a lot of boxes in the past year.

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Sophia MCCARTHY

FORWARD

Sophia McCarthy has been a reliable scoring threat for Williamstown in her debut VFLW season, earning the key forward an AFLW Draft Combine invite. The 179cm prospect came out of the Murray Bushrangers where she showed traits as a forward, averaging around half a goal a game across three seasons. Since stepping up the the VFLW, McCarthy has scored 10 goals from 13 matches and been a player who can be that goal-a-game type. Keeping in mind the Seagulls only had the two wins for the season, McCarthy was able to kick a major in nine of her 13 games, with a twogoal haul in the Round 6 victory over Port Melbourne.

McCarthy is very much a stay at home type forward, only breaking through to double-digit disposals on two occasions. She is very strong in the air though, positioning herself well on the lead and one-on-one, and is able to pull down contested marks - as well as consistent uncontested

marks - with ease. Her consistency in hitting the scoreboard has leant itself to becoming one of the better VFLW key forwards, and is more readymade than a tall coming straight out of an AFLW program. Having just turned 20 before the AFLW Draft, McCarthy has plenty of time to iron out areas of her game she could improve, such as her speed and potentially versatility.

Though not the quickest player going around, McCarthy’s aerial ability ensures she has an advantage on that front, and she is not afraid to attack the ground balls, even if that too is an area to improve on. Her leading patterns, forward craft and positioning in the marking contests make her a valuable player for that role, and she has done it across the course of a full season. With time, clubs will be able to mould a player of her size to become even more versatile and have an impact up the ground.

Analea MCKEE

One player who really benefited from a role change out of the ruck to a key forward was Geelong Falcons’ Analea McKee. Her athleticism - most noticeably her vertical jump - was more apparent when leading out inside 50 and clunking strong grabs. In the first half of the season when the Falcons were firing in particular, McKee was able to be a real target alongside Liz Dowling, and her leading patterns, clean and strong hands, and reliable set shot routine allowed her to be a threat inside 50.

McKee slotted 13.9 from her nine games this season, including a five-goal haul against Gippsland Power and a three-goal haul against GWV Rebels. McKee’s most notable improvement came in her marking though, averaging 4.4 grabs per game across the 2022 NAB League Girls season, after managing just 1.2 per game in 2021. Though still having lapses in terms of consistency, she showcased her draftable

traits. Her strength and ability to beat opponents in a wrestle, then be able to lead out and gain enough separation to leap up and take the ball at the highest point was important.

Being a contested marking key forward, McKee though athletic from a vertical leap perspective and able to move well enough to provide a bit of space on her opponent, could improve on her ground ball work. Though not completely out of it once the ball hits the deck, she does not have the explosiveness to recover as quickly as some others, and it is a way for her to add another string to bow.

Looking forward, McKee seems to have found her role up forward and she certainly impacts a game more inside 50. Though she can still pinch-hit through the ruck, McKee is at home forward of the ball and can do a lot of damage when in form, and clubs would be interested in adding that to the mix.

Cassie MCWILLIAMS

Cassie McWilliams is a long-term project tall out of Nightcliff in the Northern Territory. Standing at 179cm, McWilliams has some terrific eye-catching traits, but is also still quite raw, with areas to develop for the future. She is still a light body compared to many rucks, and would likely start as a forward if given the opportunity to step up to AFLW level. Few have travelled as much as McWilliams, with the NTFLW player also boarding in Melbourne and running out for Williamstown for a few games in the VFLW.

As an overager, McWilliams is a year advanced compared to many of her peers, and she earned a spot in the Allies lineup. With the state side devoid of tall depth, McWilliams rotated between ruck and forward. There, she provided a target inside 50, and showcased her impressive vertical leap, and work rate. She is athletic for a ruck, and can move well around he ground, but can be brushed aside by stronger

opponents, which will happen at AFLW level. Her strength, along with her ground balls are areas that she can continue to work on, as well as some of her fundamentals around the ground.

What clubs would be getting with McWilliams would be a long-term talent who they could mould into the type of player they were after, given few 179cm players are able to move and leap like the Northern Territory prospect. The fact she has already spent time both in the ruck and forward is another big tick for the tall, and she is someone who has the potential to grow further in an elite program.

Overall, McWilliams is a player who will benefit from matchplay at senior level be it state league or AFLW, but will take time to grow into herself and be a consistent threat around the ground and one-on-one.

Kiera MUELLER

Sturt over-ager Kiera Mueller had a brilliant back-end of the SANFLW season in 2021, and backed that up with a terrifically consistent 2022 season. The running defender earned SANFLW Team of the Year honours averaging 16.4 disposals, 3.8 marks and 3.3 rebound 50s for the Double Blues. Her early season form earned a call-up to the State Academy team where she showed similar traits for the Croweaters.

Mueller is a rebounding talent who is clever both off the ball and on it, with strong skills, and a penetrating left boot that can impact contests. She is able to run and carry well and set up attacking plays from the back half, with her ability to time her runs in transition with her side. Her footy IQ allows her to always get into ball winning positions, be it preparing for a mark, or running beside a teammate for a handball, to take the game on and drive the ball forward after running 30m.

Mueller missed a fair chunk of 2021 through injury, but when she returned, she made up for lost time and showed draftable traits as that rebounding defender. She is one of the more consistent overagers in the draft crop, and would be considered a readymade option for either South Australian side this coming draft. Though she has a lot of positives, Mueller still has some areas to work on in terms of her upside, but mostly around her versatility and ability togo inside.

The Sturt defender has ticked all the boxes as a clean and skilful talent, with terrific footy IQ and a balance of athleticism and drive. She will likely have to develop a second position at some stage, which will come with further development. As far as her ability when compared to other running and intercepting defenders goes, Mueller is right up there with the best in the 2022 AFLW Draft crop.

Grace MULVAHIL

Well-travelled over-ager Grace Mulvahil missed out on being selected in last year’s AFLW Draft, but determined to make the most of her football journey, made the trek south to the SANFLW. There, Mulvahil took up a role with Norwood, starting in defence for the first half of the season, then was swung forward in the last month. Though she still has to iron out her consistency, Mulvahil further supported evidence from last year that she could play at both ends.

The Northern Territory teenager averaged three rebound 50s to go with 11.5 disposals in the first four rounds. Backto-back Norwood thumpings saw her form waiver with her team, before she came back and slotted three goals in the final term playing forward against West Adelaide. She would kick another one the following week, but the Westies game was her standout effort, also taking six marks which is an area she is continually looking to improve on.

With ball-in-hand Mulvahil is a clean user by hand or foot, and is naturally talented with her athleticism and in particular her explosiveness able to create separation on opponents. She is a competitive player in whatever role she plays, and could slot into a number of different positions should she be given the chance at the top level. Mulvahil’s consistency is still an area to work on with her run out of defence perhaps her best attribute. When forward she is less able to use her run as much, and as shown by three of her four goals coming in one quarter, has some highs and lows.

Mulvahil’s ability to adapt to different competitions and levels is an important trait to have, and she has proven that she is willing to travel to chase her dream. While her marking and consistency could still be areas for her to work on, she has some terrific athleticism and natural footballing ability that will catch the attention of some AFLW clubs.

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Amelia RADFORD

Essendon’s Amelia Radford is a mature-age midfielder who had an impressive season for the incoming AFLW expansion side’s VFLW side this season. Though not pre-listed, Radford was one of only a handful of mature-age VFLW players to earn an AFLW Draft Combine invite, suggesting interest from clubs outside the red and black.

She does have a number of traits that lend themselves to being able to adapt to the top level, from her defensive pressure to her stoppage craft and strong hands around the ground. She still has areas to improve on, most notably her kicking consistency, and in turn, her opposite foot.

Radford is a strong, 168cm midfielder who is clean by hand overhead, and at ground level, and lurks around the stoppages to try and win the contested ball. She can spread well to the outside and win it in transition, often being a

player who can dart laterally and put it on the boot true and straight. Her kicking itself can be inconsistent, though she does put it to the right spots. At times she goes for distance, and still directs it to damaging places on the ground, but an improvement on her opposite left foot would help with the overall consistency and efficiency of her kicking. Radford’s stoppage craft around the ground is strong, as is her ability to clunk marks on a lead.

One area that really stands out from a technique perspective, is Radford’s tackling, which is often a case of pinning one arm and leaving the ball handler with no ability to dispose of the ball cleanly. If the Essendon midfielder can tidy up kicking consistency - particularly her opposite foot - and at times decision making, then she has some nice defensive and offensive traits as a midfielder who can play in other positions.

NIGEL BARRIE PHOTOGRAPHY

RYAN

Bendigo Pioneers over-ager Drew Ryan was a ray of consistency for the NAB League Girls side this season. Though others might have caught the eye more often with explosive runs or towering marks, Ryan kept quietly going about her business, racking up the ball and working hard across the ground to be an important fixture in the Pios’ side.

Ryan’s hard work was rewarded with an opportunity to run out with Vic Country at the AFLW Under 18 Championships, where she picked up 12 disposals and had a couple of inside 50s and rebound 50s in Country’s big loss to Vic Metro. Her numbers throughout the season have remained consistent, with Ryan being a clever type who can slot in on all three lines. She spreads well and has such a high work rate that she covers the ground impressively. By hand or foot, Ryan can neatly dispose of it and hit targets, and though not one to really go for those game-changing passes, she

plays possession footy and keeps the ball in the hands of teammates. Even under pressure Ryan is not really phased, and though she plays both inside and outside, she is more of a second possession winner than a first.

In terms of areas that Ryan can improve on, the Pioneers talent could build on her overall athleticism. Though she has a high work rate, her endurance can still improve, as can her speed and her agility. Though she makes it work through her ability to find space thanks to her footy smarts, having greater athleticism will allow her to win more ball at the coalface, and also spend more time in there to add another string to her bow.

When assessing Ryan as a talent, it is fair to say from a natural footballing sense, the Pioneers midfielder ticks a lot of boxes, and could be a player clubs work with in the future.

Madeleine SCANLON

Claremont 21-year-old Madeleine Scanlon is a running defender who has improved plenty over the past 12 months for the Tigers, with her offensive ability incredibly eyecatching. Standing at 172cm, Scanlon is a good height to impact in the air, and she reads it well, able to take the ball cleanly above her head. Her work rate and second efforts also standout, with her athleticism and area that separates her from a number of her peers at WAFLW level.

One aspect of Scanlon’s game is being able to intercept off half-back and charge down the field to use direct passesby hand or foot - to try and open up the game for her side. She can push up the ground, but is traditional found in the back half, often trying to size up options inside and hit those passes to teammates in space. The knock that comes with this gamestyle and is still a work in progress from Scanlon is her kicking consistency, just needing to tighten up and hit

more precise, pinpoint passes. She generally makes good decisions, but puts it to an area rather than direct, so there is scope for further improvement in her game.

Given Scanlon is still 21, she is a player who has plenty of years ahead of her, but also has more experience than a number of others in consideration for an AFLW list spot. She has a great offensive presence about her, and could easily slot into a half-back role, with her development undoubtedly likely to improve even further at the elite level. She will need to up her defensive pressure however, averaging just over a tackle per game at WAFLW level.

Overall, Scanlon is a high upside player who has areas to sharpen up or improve, but the foundations to become a really solid talent are there. If an AFLW club can harness her athleticism and work rate, then they could have a player.

Lucy SCHNEIDER

Lucy Schneider is a former Darebin VFLW midfielder who switched surroundings in 2022 to head over to Whitten Oval and take up a spot with the Western Bulldogs’ VFLW program. Though the Bulldogs’ season ended up a winless disaster, the winger was able to show enough signs during the tough times to earn an AFLW Draft Combine invite. She was consistently amongst her best week-in, week-out, and was able to rack up the ball with ease, working up and down the ground. Her high-level endurance and work rate, combined with a few other nice traits made her a valuable addition to the red, white and blue.

Schneider was the oldest player to earn an AFLW Draft Combine invite, with the midfielder turning 28 at the end of the AFLW season. It shows that her work this season was enough to overlook the decade’s difference between her at the freshest draft crop, and have at least one club keen on

bringing in a readymade talent. Schneider is strong, and can work around the stoppages as well as on a wing, with her work rate and endurance allowing her to cover the ground well. When not under pressure, she is able to hit targets well on transition, and she does have a penetrating kick that can travel long distances.

Quite often, Schneider is someone who will look to swing onto her right boot to clear the congestion, and this can lead to turning the ball over, so decision making is an area of improvement. Similarly, just been more consistent with her cleanliness at ground level and when going for a mark, as she produced some pretty impressive marking numbers, but could be even higher with consistent one-grab takes. Overall her accumulation and ability to play inside or outside will attract clubs to her, and she is clearly one who can step straight into a team Round 1.

ELEANOR JEANNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Pia STALTARI

After being overlooked in the 2021 AFLW Draft, Pia Staltari returned to the Sandringham Dragons in 2022, and after a year with more positional consistency, she once again finds herself on the draft radar.

Staltari was thrown about into all thirds of the ground last year, finding it difficult to make one position her own as she sometimes switched positions on a quarter-by-quarter basis. However, in her over-age campaign she was given a full run as a permanent forward and shone, bagging eight goals for the season and finishing second in Sandringham’s goal kicking tally.

Staltari adapted her strengths to the role well, with her sound decision making and clean skills holding her in good stead to be the player kicking the goals, or the one handing them off. Whilst not getting as many opportunities through the midfield this year, Staltari still managed to top her

disposal numbers from last season as she pushed up the ground during games to be an option sending it inside 50.

When stationed deeper, Staltari’s application of pressure was immense, doing well to force mistakes from opponents and earn her side goal scoring opportunities. Despite Staltari’s stability in position for the season, given what she has shown in previous years it is fair to say she’s still a versatile prospect when given the opportunity.

Staltari didn’t earn Vic Metro representative honours in 2022 like she had done last year, but turned out for the Southern Saints at VFLW level five times, averaging 11 disposals a game, with seven of those being kicks. Staltari will be looking to improve her contested game at the next level, as she can sometimes be out-bodied when in a one-on-one situation, and often fade in and out of games.

Jemima WRIGLEY

Jemima Wrigley is a readymade NSW-ACT prospect who has cut her teeth through the AFL Sydney competition for the largely successful Southern Power outfit. Captaining that side, Wrigley is a tough, uncompromising midfielder with some eye-catching explosive speed out of a stoppage that makes her a dual threat both offensively and defensively.

The former OzTag national captain has becoming a strong feature at the Power, and her midfield craft shows why. She is able to win the ball in a contest at both ground level and as a second possession winner, and then burst away with speed to create separation on her opponent. Those clean hands, acceleration and pure strength make her a tricky player to try and contain, and one of the more premier inside midfielders to step up in the state. She can find plenty of the ball and utilise her athletic gifts to set up a scoring chance up forward.

Wrigley has equal measures of defensive traits as well, able to lay some big bone-crunching tackle that opponents feel. She has that burst to create separation from opponents, but also has the capacity to run down opponents too. That defensive mind allows her to run both ways, and as Power captain, is something she does that shows she leads from the front each match.

In terms of some improvements, Wrigley’s kicking consistency and lack of an opposite foot (left) are areas he can still improve on. In both scenarios, Wrigley tends to have to overcorrect when running out of a stoppage to get it on her right, or kick it on the outside of the boot. Even when on her right side, the kick, though effective in terms of areas and decision making, can still be a hit and miss in terms of its spin. Overall, the former Sydney Swans Academy member could be considered by her former club.

TOP-AGE TALENTS

J’Noemi ANDERSON

J’Noemi Anderson is the top Northern Territory AFLW Draft hope in 2022, having received a combine invite to further justify her place in the AFLW Academy. The top-age talent did not end up playing a NAB League Girls game in 2022 with Sandringham Dragons, and instead focused on the AFLW Under 18s Championships where she ran out for the Allies a second successive year.

The St Mary’s prospect is boarding in Melbourne - hence the link-up with the Dragons - and is no stranger to long treks across the country, having also represented the Gold Coast Suns Academy and played in the Northern Territory All-Stars game at Under 17s level last year.

It is fair to say Anderson is an interesting prospect, because when it comes to hardness at the contest and willingness to throw herself into the coalface, she is able to thrive. But it is

adjusting her defensive running when not in the immediate vicinity that she can improve. When her name’s called, she will do everything to win the ball more often than not, but that same intent is not as prevalent the other way when opponents earn first possession. However, Anderson is fierce and can impact both in the air and at ground level.

Her strengths are plentiful, and she has certainly come along since her bottom-age year, ironing out consistency within games. Her kicking could still improve as like many inside midfielders, can be a bit haphazard. But her determination to contest the ball in the air, or at ground level is outstanding, and she can pull down big contested marks. Her tackling pressure is high, and she can go forward and have an impact. Her versatility to start onball then rotate forward and kick a goal a game like she did at the national carnival is crucial. Overall, Anderson has potential as a contested ball-winner.

Lulu BEATTY

It took until Round 5 of this year’s NAB League Girls season, but Lulu Beatty eventually got to build on what was a promising bottom-aged campaign in Northern Knights colours. Having cut her teeth in defence, the 18-year-old showcased a good amount of versatility this season by shifting forward and getting involved in all levels of play at 171cm.

Behind the ball, she reads the play well and gets into positions to intercept, splitting contests with her enhanced contested game. Beatty had highlighted that aggression at the ball as an area for improvement during preseason, and her tackling average of over four indicates she put her work into practice. With clean hands and strong marking numbers to boot, Beatty proved solid as they come in defence. She also swung up the other end when required and played as a high half-forward of sorts. Leaning on her work rate to push

up the ground before carrying the ball back towards goal, Beatty’s positive intent in possession was evident. Although, that is where a couple more key improvement areas came to the fore.

Having overcome injury earlier in the year, she took some time to get back up to the speed of the game, and was sometimes caught in possession looking to shift around opponents, or taking too long to dispose of the ball. Inviting such pressure also contributed to her clanger rate sitting around 40 per cent for Vic Metro. If she can pick her time to go more selectively, her distributive skills by foot and ability to move the ball on quickly can become real strengths. Overall, Beatty is a prospect with plenty more development left given the amount of footy she missed, but with a strong 2km time trial showing and her body of work on-field after playing catch-up, she has done plenty to press her case.

Candice BELBIN

Candice Belbin is one of the highest performing Tasmanian prospects who overcame injury in the NAB League Girls to run out for the Allies against NSW-ACT. Belbin is also one of the most pure inside midfielders, but she does have enough tricks to be able to swing into defence and provide some nice burst off half-back.

Belbin’s power out of a stoppage allows her to gain some separation on her opponent, and though she can tend to bomb long and just go for distance, she can clear the danger. The Ulverstone talent admitted she needs to work on her long kicking, as well as her decision making and reading of the play, but her ability to play on instinct when in congestion helps her contribute to any team she plays for at any level.

Belbin is a high-volume tackler as emphasised by her 7.8 per game in the NAB League Girls this season. Though many

other numbers do not jump off the page for the Tasmanian, she does a lot of team aspects that aid others. From blocks and shepherds, to taps and remaining accountable on her opponent, Belbin is a strong defensive footballer.

At the AFLW Under 18 Championships, 10 of her 11 disposals came from a ground ball get, further emphasising her strength at ground level, and her ability to win firstpossession footy. Once she can tidy up some of her execution and decision making, she has the raw tools - of winning her own ball and using power to burst away - to become a very solid inside midfielder.

Tasmania is linked to North Melbourne, and Belbin is one player who with time could fill a role both on the inside, or even as a lockdown defender such is her strength and accountability. A high-effort, consistent talent.

Charlotte BLAIR

A player who has developed impressively from her bottomage year is another Dandenong Stingrays talent in midfielder Charlotte Blair. Being an underrated member of the strong Stingrays midfield group, Blair has found the right balance between her offensive and defensive impact. While she has the ability to lay plenty of tackles, she has become more of a ball-carrier in 2022.

In the past, Blair might win the ball or mop it up and dispose of it quickly, but it was more noticeable in 2022 that she was willing to back herself and take grass before putting it inside 50. Though her decision making at times - bombing long inside 50 - could be improved by lowering the eyes, her stoppage nous and being able to pounce on a loose ball before anyone else became a feature of her game. She can be both a first and second possession winner around a stoppage and use her burst to take off.

Blair is a player who tested fairly well across the board at the NAB League Girls Preseason Testing Day, with above average or better efforts in the 20m sprint, vertical jump and yo-yo test. Though she has the tank to run a full game in the midfield, Blair could still lift her numbers a touch more, averaging just under 13 disposals per game at NAB League level, and less than eight at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. She did have to run around with plenty of quality ball-winners in those sides, but could become even better.

Overall, Blair has a real all-round foundation to work with from an AFLW club’s perspective, balancing her offensive and defensive traits with a high work rate and good athleticism. Not quite the finished product with her ball-winning and decision making areas to still have further improvement, Blair is one who has improved at a rate of knots in 2022.

Ella BOAG

One of the most impressive risers in the South Australian pool is that of damaging winger, Ella Boag. The Glenelg talent has come on in leaps and bounds since starting in the SANFLW Development League at the start of the season, earning her place in the League side and never losing her place. It catapulted her into the AFLW Under 18 Championships team, where she carried that form as a smooth-moving outside talent.

Boag has some really draftable qualities that catch the eye. Her kicking can be quite impressive when she has time and space, and her efficiency at SANFLW level attests to this fact. She still has to adjust a touch when it comes to kicking under pressure, relating back to composure, as that is where she can tend to rush and turn it over. However she has a lot kick clanger rate, which indicates even under pressure, Boag can put it in the right spots to advantage teammates.

Boag has specialised as a winger this season, but has also been trialed off flanks, with her Round 12 performance against North Adelaide earning her a Breakthrough Player nomination when she took up Sarah Goodwin’s role at halfback. She has the athletic traits - most notably the speed - to be an effective ball user from the back half, whilst also having the competitiveness to play run-with roles such as against Shineah Goody on debut. Boag can nullify a direct opponent, while also impacting offensively, which makes her a dual threat, and anyone who can run with Goody for a game has to have a high work rate.

Overall, Boag has come from a player who might not have been high up in draft calculations, to being in the mid-draft section due to her upside. She is not necessarily a high ballwinner yet, but clubs will be looking at Boag for her traits, and potential improvement, which will come with time.

Amelie BORG

North Adelaide key defender Amelie Borg is a rare talent in this year’s AFLW Draft crop. So many defenders available are offensive running types who provide plenty of speed and linebreaking capabilities, but are not always the most accountable. When it comes to Borg, you flip the script and have one of the most reliable, accountable defenders going around. She might not rack up the same numbers as others but when it comes to one-on-ones and beating her direct opponent each and every week, Borg is a player fans and coaches can count on.

The North Adelaide tall is confident flying for her marks, and is a player who can read the ball well in flight, position herself well one-on-one, and then clunk contested grabs if need be.  With ball-in-hand, Borg is not the most consistent kick, but she is also able to use the ball within her means, and quite often it does mean a long kick down the line to a contest.

When assessing where Borg will feature at AFLW level, the Roosters premiership player is a lock to be either full back or centre half-back, taking on the league’s stronger forwards. She is never afraid of a task and is highly competitive. Though every player hates losing, coaches describe her as a player that refuses to succumb to an opponent, and never gives in, such is her competitive nature. Her strength and smarts allow her to compete so consistently in the back half, and she provides that point of difference as a lockdown defender.

The 2022 AFLW Under 18 All-Australian and SANFLW Team of the Year defender is not a player who will rack up tons of touches, or provide incredibly consistent drive off half-back. Though she has done it on occasion - such as 15 disposals and five marks against Norwood - she is far more valuable as a one-on-one defender who nullifies her opponent.

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Abbygail BUSHBY

Abbygail Bushby is an exciting, athletic talent out of Swan Districts who has improved rapidly over the past 12 months. Starting as a forward at the Swans, Bushby moved into the middle and lifted her numbers and impact up the ground. She has a nice balance of offensive and defensive traits, whilst still having areas to work on for the future.

Bushby’s athleticism is what really stands out, with the left-footer possessing a great balance of speed, agility and endurance that allows her to evade opponents, and also run them down. She does bring that defensive pressure each and every time she runs out on the field, and has offensive weapons as well. The balance of her defensive and offensive mindset allows her to be switched on at all times.

One aspect of the midfielder-forward’s game that needs to be sharpened up is her disposal consistency. At times she can

nail pinpoint passes with ease, and then others spray them out on the full. She has the capability of being a damaging ball-user (as a lot of left-footers are), but it is just having a set routine and adjusting under pressure. Similarly, winning the ball at ground level is another area Bushby can improve on, with a lot of her touches often being second possession handball receives.

Bushby has the licence to be that second possession winner because of her fantastic burst out of a stoppage. When forward that can be incredibly damaging, because she has that extra step that can help her snap a goal out of nothing, or get goalside of her opponent earlier. There is a lot of upside with what Bushby presents as an AFLW Draft prospect.

Bushby is a talent who has come on in leaps and bounds the last 12 months and has a good foundation to build upon.

Tess CATTLE

Tess Cattle is a tough inside midfielder who thrives on the contested situations and at the coalface, winning 77.8 per cent of her possessions in a contest throughout her two games at the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships. Cattle is a member of the GIANTS Academy and after six disposals for NSW-ACT against the Allies, she stepped up to play one more game, recording nine disposals and laying six tackles against Queensland.

Coming through AFL Canberra, Cattle has been one of the better Ainslie Tricolours standouts this season in the limited games she has played, also hitting the scoreboard to accompany her midfield work. As someone who can play in a variety of roles - including defence, Cattle has ensured no box has been left unticked in her search to reach the top level. Her athleticism, and in particular her speed will be a question mark, with Cattle not an explosive or evasive player.

The NSW-ACT representative does have power and strength on her side, able to compete with bigger opponents inside the contest, and is able to find the ball herself at ground level. She is not the type of player to be used in transition, but more so as someone who can provide pressure and either mop up or give off to a teammate with a neat, short, sharp kick. Her kicking at the championships was generally reliable, and considering her high rate of contested work, showed she is able to still dispose of it cleanly under pressure.

Cattle has that high defensive work rate about her as well, and though her endurance is another area that can improve - as well as her aerial ability, Cattle does her best work at ground level. Be it winning the ball or tackling an opponent, the AFL Canberra talent is able to be a strong force at the clinches and play a role for any side. She is another over-age NSW-ACT prospect who earned a draft combine invite.

Olivia CICOLINI

No stranger to having to adapt to different sides, Olivia Cicolini is one of a number of NSW-ACT talents who have earned AFLW Draft Combine invites. The Murray Bushrangers talent out of Finley has also represented the GWS GIANTS Academy, NSW-ACT Rams and Allies outfits, which gives her the tick of approval when it comes to versatility within teams and coaching staff.

Cicolini has some upside for the future, as a lot of her areas of improvement surround her endurance and subsequent consistency. She is not a high possession winner and predominantly plays forward, though has graduated to a high half-forward and pinch-hitting through the midfield. The number one step for her is having a big preseason and building up the endurance as she has enough football nous to develop into a really well-rounded player.

From a football perspective, Cicolini is first and foremost a crafty and clever forward. She is quick, clean and deadly when able to read the ball off hands or pounce on a loose ball within goal range. Coupled with the fact she has high defensive pressure, Cicolini is able to be that aggressive forward who has the traits to play both the dangerous goal sneak who kicks a goal or two a game, or the defensive forward who nullifies the potent half-back type.

Cicolini also has good technique with her kicking, and can pinpoint passes when needed, or at least put it to the dangerous spots for her teammates. She is a natural footballer in the way she goes about it, able to execute cleanly by hand or foot. Of course only averaging single-digit disposals per game, Cicolini does not find a heap of it to have a sustained impact. When she is able to work her way into the game and go for longer, she could have a profound impact.

Felicity CRANK

Never one to wain on effort, Felicity Crank is one of a number of Stingrays who consistently put out strong performances in the 2022 NAB League Girls season. Though not the most polished player, Crank’s inside presence and defensive pressure is up there with the very best, and she co-captained the Stingrays throughout their run to the grand final.

Crank has a lot of traits that lend her to being able to deal with senior football on the inside. One could never doubt her courage, leadership and work rate as she burrowed in time and time again around the contests. The Stingrays skipper does not have the explosive speed or agility that some of her fellow midfielders have, but she is a first possession winner at ground level, and uses her stronger frame to win the hard ball and feed it out to the runners.

From an overall perspective, Crank is likely to have to

slot into that inside midfield role as she continues to build her athleticism, because she could also be a strong defensive forward or lockdown defender with her defensive capabilities. She has great strength, competes well one-onone, and unlike many inside midfielders, is a kick-first player who had a 3:1 ratio between her kicks and handballs.

Her disposal overall is sound, generally efficient, and though others can be more potent in terms of penetration and pinpoint accuracy, Crank will always be striving to get the ball to the advantage of her teammates. She can work her way forward and kick a goal - as she did to win the game against Eastern Ranges earlier this year.

Overall, Crank has some readymade traits, and when she can improve her overall athleticism, she can become more potent and add extra weapons to her arsenal.

Keely COYNE

After an impressive bottom-aged campaign playing mostly as a forward, Keely Coyne adapted well to a role on the inside during 2022, averaging 21.2 disposals in the NAB League.

Despite being a shorter player, Coyne threw herself into the new role to be one of the Dragons most influential players across the season, with her composure through the thick of the contest proving key to how Sandringham played as the campaign went on. To aid that composure, Coyne has proven herself to be a good decision maker with ball in hand, knowing when to handball to an outside receiver and when to try a kick forward, where she would often spot teammates making leads even under pressure from opposition. She looks to move the ball forward more often than not, looking for inside-45 options or leading forwards rather than bombing long down the line or out of a pack. Coyne got better as the season went on, with three of her highest disposal games

coming in the final four rounds of the season.

With a stacked Metro midfield, Coyne filled a role on the wing for much of her time representing the Big V, looking confident in the position with her ability to hold space, but not being afraid to play contested when forced to. It was a good showing for Coyne across the three games, averaging 14.3 disposals, two marks and 2.7 tackles for the carnival despite playing largely on the outside.

At the next level Coyne may not get as many midfield opportunities as she has this past season, but with promising form on the wing and a bottom-aged campaign as a forward she’s one that may still find her way into a side early, however if she is given midfield opportunities she will be wanting to improve on her physicality on the inside, and may look to tidy up her kicking with the increased intensity and pressure.

Yasmin DUURSMA

Yasmin Duursma might have a famous surname in AFL circles, but the sister of Port Adelaide’s Xavier is forging her own path. After a solid top-age season with Gippsland Power, Duursma played all three Vic Country games and was best on ground in the final game against Queensland.

Though having plied her trade as an inside midfielder most of her time at the Power, Duursma has spent time on the outside, and more recently settled into defence, where she is able to read the ball well in flight and position herself accordingly. Her traits suit a running defender, with neat skills when given time and space, and clean hands in the contest. She is not afraid to run with ball-in-hand, and is a nice height at 174cm.

At the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships, Duursma averaged 14.3 disposals, kicking at 70 per cent efficiency.

Impressively, despite spending a fair bit of time behind the ball, Duursma - who co-captained Vic Country in the first game against Vic Metro - ran at a 60.9 per cent contested possession rate. It showed she was often under pressure and not afraid to put her body on the line.

At the higher level, Duursma was able to play more of her running game, with a lot more depth through the midfield than at the Power. When allowed time and space, Duursma can do a lot of damage by hand or foot. Under pressure at times her disposal can be improved upon, and of course she can increase her overall strength, but she is is one player who has shown enough to suggest she can cope with the next level.

Duursma is set to nominate South Australia at the upcoming AFLW Draft, with “the dream” to join her brother at Port

Emily ELKINGTON

Flying under the radar due to a number of interruptions this year, Emily Elkington is arguably the best kick in the AFLW Draft crop. Standing at just 157cm, Elkington certainly proves that if you are good enough, you are tall enough, and she packs a punch. Averaging nine tackles per game at the AFLW Under 18 Championships, Elkington cracks in with consistency to throw herself at anything she can win. Then, when given the opportunity to dispose of it, the Claremont talent hardly misses a target.

To watch Elkington’s kicking ability in full flight is a treat, with her technique, weighting, vision and decision making all coming to the fore. She is not someone who has explosive speed necessarily, but being shorter and smarter, she can evade opponents by assessing the situation quickly. Her contested work along with her potency with ball-in-hand makes her a terrific addition to any AFLW club.

Like any AFLW Draft prospect, Elkington still has areas to work on. While her disposal is a treat, it would be even better if she could find more of it. Averaging around the low teens as a consistent type of effort each week, the amount of damage Elkington could do lifting that to 18-20 touches per week would be something else. The other area of improvement is hitting the scoreboard, having just kicked the one goal at WAFLW level despite spending time forward when not in the midfield rotation.

Elkington is the player you want the ball in the hands of anywhere on the ground. Regardless of the situation and pressure she is under, the Claremont teenager just makes the right decisions and is able to hit targets with precisions in dangerous spots. Though many might be too worried to hit that 45-degree kick into the corridor, Elkington does it with ease and is a natural, modern footballer with upside.

Jemma ELLIS

South Adelaide’s Jemma Ellis could be one of those rare football ‘unicorns’ that get discussed, similar to Nik Cox at Essendon. The reason being, that while most rucks stand at around 180cm or taller, Ellis has held down the ruck role at South Adelaide for more than half the season, standing at just 172cm. It should come as no surprise that she has a wicked vertical leap and nice athleticism, but for a purple patch before sharing the role with Tiffany Copley, was picking up 20-plus hitouts a game.

Ellis thrived in the mid-season prior to heading away for state representative duties, averaging 20.5 hitouts from 11 disposals between Rounds 3-6. In her other five SANFLW games, Ellis has averaged a around six touches and seven hitouts, such is the consistency she needs to iron out. There is certainly potential there, though at 172cm ruck at AFLW level is unheard of, which is why she was also tested

in defence at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. Though not winning a lot of it - to be fair the Croweaters defence was rarely under pressure - Ellis showed she could play a different role for clubs concerned about her size when it comes to a ruck role at the elite level.

Ellis seemed to get involved with the Panthers when rucking around the ground, able to take on the “fourth midfielder” tag well, following through with tackles or second efforts from the stoppages, not afraid to clear the ball from congestion as well. In the game against Glenelg in Round 3, Ellis had 13 disposals, 19 hitouts, three tackles, five clearances and two inside 50s in a strong effort. She did not take a mark though, which is another area of improvement, having clunked just seven for the year, three of which came against West Adelaide. Though Ellis does have areas to improve on, her athletic base is enough to excite clubs about her potential.

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Laura ELLIOTT

Laura Elliott may have flown under the radar to start her top-age year, but it’s fair to say she is underrated no more. The Western Jets were arguably bereft of true key position defenders, but the 170cm interceptor proved resolute each week against taller opponents, throughout an extraordinary premiership-winning campaign.

It is clear to see where Elliott’s strengths lie. She is an aerial artist, able to position beautifully behind the ball and cut off opposition attacks with relative ease. She averaged 3.6 marks per her 10 NAB League outings this year, and hovered just under three during the AFLW Under 18s Championships. With such clean hands overhead, her one-wood is as big an asset as any player has.

Along with such promising aerial play comes improvement areas, and Elliott’s ability to follow up has been developing

throughout the year. She looked best in that department during the NAB League Grand Final, where she exceeded 20 disposals for the first time, and racked up 12 rebound 50s. Having the confidence to go at ground level and impact once her initial contest is completed, is something she looks to be working on.

While not a massively damaging disposer by foot, she was able to clear her lines consistently and is neat enough to hit short targets. Looking at how she may fit in at the next level, a player like Carlton’s Annie Lee may be comparable. Both stand around the same height and while proficient overhead, are perhaps not quite tall enough to play on genuine key forwards. That is where improving her contested acumen at ground level, and ability with ball in hand will serve great use, as Elliott can become a well-rounded asset capable of playing above her height - just less often.

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Emily EVERIST

Bendigo Pioneers tall Emily Everist burst onto the scene in 2022 to play eight games and earn a spot with Vic Country. In a side lacking athletic talls, Everist was able to catch the eye early in the championships against Vic Metro, and though not always consistent, showed the traits that endeared her to Vic Country staff.

Everist has a high endurance rate for a tall and is quite mobile for her size, She moves well and has developed quickly in a short space of time. She is still developing some of the fundamentals in her game such as her marking and ironing out that consistency, but she is viewed as a longterm option. The Pioneers talent arguably had a greater impact at the higher level of the national championships, which showed that she is capable to rising up the ranks and still being able to adapt.

Her rate of development in 2022 was quite impressive, and any 177cm talent who has a nice overall athletic base is someone who will always catch the eye. She looked comfortable in defence and was able to rebound on a number of occasions for Vic Country, and even found herself forward at one stage. Though not a high possession winner, Everist is someone who can compete and create a contest, with good closing speed to apply a spoil.

Everist might not have the experience that some others do in terms of length in an elite program, but the development she showed, coupled with her natural athleticism, will always make her one that has potential. If she can start building those fundamentals and particularly aim to be more consistent with her fundamentals, then she is someone who could have a bright future. If she does not get picked up this year, then could be an interesting over-age addition.

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Kadie FLETCHER

Exciting Queensland forward Kadie Fletcher is a unique talent in the Sunshine State pool, with not a great deal of natural forwards available in a midfield-heavy group. She is more of your stereotypical opportunistic forward, with some eye-catching moves and some high level X-factor that helps her break open a game.

Though like most forwards Fletcher can be inconsistent and may only end up with half a dozen touches per game, she will quite often make the most of them. She is quick to put ball to boot or by hand, and can be a headache for opposition defenders. One of those players that if you give her an inch she will take a mile, Fletcher is a mercurial type with good evasion and nice speed.

She is a clean finisher when given the chance, and looks to have enough tricks she can create something out of nothing

from the tightest of angles. As a player who still needs to improve areas of her game such as her endurance to impact for longer and when the ball is not going her way, there is still plenty of room for development.

Having moved from Aspley to University of Queensland in the QAFL Women’s this season, Fletcher is gaining a range of experiences in her football journey. A member of the Brisbane Lions Academy, the forward might not be the complete puzzle just yet, but she has the pieces that when she puts it together, could be something special.

Fletcher is one who would also benefit from an additional year of development should she be overlooked in the AFLW Draft, with the aforementioned reasons of accumulation and consistency areas she can still sharpen up. But if she does get picked up, then prepare for a nice  highlights package.

GRAY

Madison Gray is a highly athletic and clean defender who cocaptained the Murray Bushrangers for the 2022 NAB League Girls season. Gray was often stationed out of defence and held a high line to impact the play up the field, and she had a run-and-gun attitude to her style. Not a high possession winner, Gray still caught the eye with her ball use and footy smarts.

In terms of her strengths, Gray certainly has a range, from her athletic capabilities to her natural football abilities. She recorded the highest standing jump and both sides running jumps , finished third overall in the agility and Top 10 in the 20m sprint at the NAB League Girls Preseason Testing. She admitted she needed to improve her endurance, and after an injury setback this year where she only managed to play the six games, that will still be the case. But as the numbers show, her athleticism alone is one area that catches the eye.

Outside her natural athleticism, Gray is a clean user of the ball and generally a good decision maker. With the amount of grass she takes on one of her runs, she already carries it that 60m plus, which is a huge advantage for her side. But noy only does she carry it and use it well, she backs up effectively with strong second efforts. As an example she might spoil and opponent then attack the ball hard to win it at ground level and look for an option forward.

The knock on Gray will be her accumulation as she only averaged the 10 touches per game at NAB League and her highest disposal game was just 12. When she can build her tank further, she will be able to impact for longer and even spend more time up the field.

On pure football talent alone though, Gray has a great balance of traits and should be considered by an AFLW club.

Tayissa GRAY

While twin sister Madison came in as the higher touted Gray twin given her inclusion in the Vic Country hub, Tayissa showed promising signs in her own right throughout the 2022 NAB League Girls season. Often playing off a wing, Gray was able to provide similar run and carry to her sister, while also needing to further improve her endurance and accumulation numbers.

The areas where Tayissa stood out was further afield, and able to position herself well behind the ball and take off down the ground to deliver neat passes in transition. Her scope of pinpoint accuracy is more through the short-tomedium distances, but she can kick long for distance. She played a more attacking brand than her sister when she was further afield, and tested quite well across all the athletic test. Though she does need to work on her endurance, Gray can burn off opponents with her speed and evasion.

Gray’s work rate is also quite impressive, and her traits lend themselves to play off flanks, particularly off half-back if required. Though she was able to pick off a number of passes in the back half of the ground or on a wing, Gray did only average just over a mark in the NAB League Girls. In terms of her defensive pressure and impact in the forward half of the ground, she stands on her own two feet and with further development she could be a more consistently damaging player.

Gray has a nice balance of athleticism and skill, and though Madison has the slightly more advanced and readymade game, Tayissa has the better defensive traits, averaging 3.4 tackles per game. It is that area of her profile that stands out from a lot of wingers, and while her numbers and marking ability will be a work in progress with her endurance, her defensive accountability and run and carry make her a talent.

HAY

A real natural footballer in every sense of the phrase, Grace Hay is a rebounding, intercept defender who is smart in her positioning and reading of the play, and able to hit long-range targets when coming out of the back 50. She puts her body on the line and is not afraid to go back with the flight, then go immediately into attack mode with a direct style of play.

Juggling her football with high-level netball commitments with North East Blaze in the Victorian Netball League, Hay is a multi-faceted defender, though has really only ever been trialed in that position. Unlike some defenders, she is yet to get too much exposure up the other end of the field, largely because she has excelled at her role in the back 50.

Though not overly athletic in terms of her speed, evasion or vertical leap, Hay makes up for it in natural talent, reading the ball ahead of time and being able to take contact from an

opposition forward. Also looking to build on her endurance as time goes on, Hay is one player who does not let any of that deter from her impact on the field. She is calm, composed and able to consistently mop up in the back 50 be it through a mark or a handball receive to pump it long out of the danger zone.

Hay has a lovely long kick that if it does not hit a target, it will get well outside of scoring range for the opposition. Her contested marking along with her intercepting ability, composure and kicking skills make her an ideal candidate for a centre half-back at the top level. Standing at 179cm, Hay is one who could easily play on one of the hulking forwards.

Overall, Hay might not have the greatest athleticism compared to some others, but her footy IQ and ability to impact both defensively and offensively shines above that.

Kiara HILLIER

As reliable as they come, Kiara Hillier is one of those players you know what to expect each week. Often playing on the last line in defence for her state - or up forward at times for Maroochydore - Hillier is a natural long kick who competes well one-on-one.

Though she is not a known marking presence - taking just two marks in five games across representative duties with the Lions or Maroons at Under 17 and Under 18 state carnivals - she is a known rebounder, and quite often tasked with kicking out from full-back. Her ability to clear the danger zone and go long down the ground helps her team exit the back 50 regularly, and she can hit targets across multiple distances.

Her versatility - which sees her impacting up forward as well as in defence certainly helps, and she applies enough

defensive pressure, especially for a taller player. Standing at 173cm, Hillier can be given key position players, but also do well enough on smaller players. She does need to improve her groundball skills, which was an ongoing focus for her.

At the AFLW Under 18 Championships, Hillier averaged 10.7 disposals and 4.7 rebounds, showing she was more than capable of stepping up against quality opposition. In the Lions Academy match against Western Jets, she picked up the 15 touches and six rebounds in a real tough slog at The Hangar.

Hillier has been a rising star for Maroochydore this seasonliterally winning a nomination in Round 2 after 22 disposals, six tackles and a goal - and her form translated through to nationals. As one of the few dual position talls from the Sunshine State, she offers something different to her peers.

Cassidy MAILER

Missing all of her bottom-age year with a broken leg after being a standout for Vic Country’s Under 16s side, Cassidy Mailer certainly stepped up in a big way for Murray Bushrangers in 2022. The 165cm talent played in all thirds of the ground, plugging role in midfield, defence and attack, wherever was needed. She has superb versatility, and when having time and space on her side, she can utilise the space to curate pinpoint passes.

Though her kicking under pressure can still be tidied up, particularly relating back to composure with ball-in-hand, Mailer is very clever with her use when executing quick handballs in transition. It is her high footy IQ and vision that helps her on the move, and though she does not have explosive breakaway speed, she is able to create separation through smarts and evasion. She sums up the situation quickly and moves to evade a would-be tackler.

Mailer more often than not will make good decisions going forward, which allows her to play in the variety of roles.

She averaged almost three rebound 50s per game for the Bushrangers, then when forward slotted three goals. Always being a part of the midfield rotation, Mailer has a strong endurance base to work with, and combined with her natural footballing ability, she has a lot to like about her future potential.

She managed the two games for Vic Country, and would have played a third, but was a late out against South Australia.

She averaged 9.5 disposals and just under four tackles and four marks per game, strong overhead for a player of her size. She competes well and applies the defensive pressure, making her more than capable in the air, or at ground level.

Her versatility and upside, considering she missed a year of footy, should be more than enough for a club to consider her.

Dakota MASON

Sydney Swans Academy member Dakota Mason came into the year earmarked as a player to watch for the incoming red and white side, and earned Allies selection for the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships. As a member of the AFLW Academy, Mason was one identified as having high talent, though had only played at Under 17s level for the Swans the previous year. Stepping up to Under 18s level in 2022, Mason found the going a little tougher, but you could see some of the traits that saw her rise through the pathways.

Mason is a hard worker with high-level defensive pressure, and a midfielder who does not shy away from the coalface. She has enough evasive skills to work her way through traffic, able to spin and turn to get herself out of trouble. Luckily, Mason also possesses clean hands when in close, and is able to quickly dish off to teammates on the outside, or use a neat burst out of the stoppage to power away from

opponents. Though not as explosive as some, Mason would still be described as above average in her speed, and she is able to play both inside and on a wing, and even rest forward. Though not a natural defender, she even spent time there for the AFLW Academy, further illustrating her versatility across the field.

Mason does need to improve her production as a whole, averaging eight touches at the AFLW Under 18 Championships, and just impacting in bursts. With that, and an improvement in consistency - both quarter to quarter and in her kicking - Mason could be even more of a threat on the field.

As one of the top Swans talents heading into the season, Mason is a player who could play on the inside and then go forward and provide pressure, with a high upside to improve.

Abbey MCDONALD

Players who offer effort and can compete in multiple roles are often highly sought after, and Abbey McDonald is shaping as one such prospect. The Calder Cannons product is a known quantity having made her NAB League Girls debut in 2020, and gone on to represent Vic Metro at Under 17 and 18 National Championships over the last two years.

Versatility is a pillar of the 18-year-old’s game, as she is able to play at either end of the ground or through the middle. While tagged as a small utility, McDonald arguably found a home in defence this season where her defensive acumen and competitiveness shone through. There, she averaged four tackles and three rebound 50s for the Cannons in 2022, while also turning out in Metro’s backline against Vic Country.

Some of her top-age numbers are skewed by an injury suffered in Round 4 against the Gippsland Power, where

McDonald was helped from the ground with a nasty gash to her head which required several stitches. She returned nearly a month later with 17 touches in Round 7, and went on to recapture some of the form she had shown previously as one of Calder’s most important players.

Though listed at only 162cm, McDonald’s toughness is undeniable and she is quite the jack of all trades. She applies her best traits to each position and is difficult to beat oneon-one, making her an asset in terms of ball retention or winning first possession. She, by her own admission, is working on her kicking and endurance to become a more polished player, or even scope out a future with more midfield minutes. McDonald is the type who clubs will know what they are getting should they show faith in her, and she should fare well with the rigours of senior footy, plugging a role while sharpening her skillset.

Brooke PLUMMER

A real runner and gunner, Brooke Plummer has made her name with an abundantly clear gamestyle which suits her greatest strengths to a t. Capable of snatching plenty of territory with her run-and-carry, the Northern Knights top-ager often caps off her work with booming kicks to compound that metres gained effect.

Plummer’s kick first mentality has been evident throughout her junior career. Across three NAB League campaigns, the 17-year-old has not dipped below a kick-to-handball percentage of 84, meaning she weaponises that part of her game and really relies on it to pump the ball into dangerous areas of the ground.

Her ability to drive forward on the outside made for plenty of strong games on the wing for Northern, before shifting into Vic Metro’s defence. There, she continued the pattern of

going by foot (93 per cent of the time) and was often tasked with kick-in duties from the last line.

Another impressive, almost intangible part of Plummer’s game is her character. A competitive type, she leads with her voice and played a couple of handy shutdown roles for Metro. Most notably, she blanketed gun South Australian underager Georgia McKee in game three, adding defence-minded string to her ultra attacking bow.

Around the ground, Plummer also proved a handy overhead marker throughout the NAB League season. She averaged over four per game to make it a handy tool, but will certainly need to lift her tackling output of around one per game if she is to find a home down back - even as a more attacking defender, and if she wins one-on-ones.

Grace PURCELL

Geelong Falcons’ Grace Purcell is in a unique position, as she is arguably the only AFLW Draft Combine invitee who would be unable to take to the field in Season 7. The impressive midfielder in her first season at the club is looking to follow in the footsteps of older sister Olivia, but unfortunately like her sister, Grace also suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, when she went down against the Western Jets in the NAB League Girls.

To that point, Purcell had made a case as potentially the top Geelong Falcon, One of a number of hard-at-it Falcons, Purcell burst onto the scene as a tough inside midfielder, with enough weapons about her to be more than just a contested ball-winner. Purcell would work hard to get to the outside and impact up forward, and though at times her finishing and polish could be tidied up, there is little doubt her strengths would be heavily fancied by AFLW clubs.

The fact Purcell earned an AFLW Draft Combine invite with the clubs fully aware she will miss the next season, is testament to her impact in the first half of the NAB League Girls. That durability question mark, along with her lack of exposure - only half a season and unable to represent Vic Country - will work against her.

But what will work for her is what she did show looked good, with clean hands on the inside, a powerful burst to get to the outside, shrugging off opponents along the way. She could play forward and take a strong grab, and worked up and down the ground well to impact around the field. If a club was to invest in Purcell, it would ba long-term investment, but one that could pay off.

Purcell might not be available in Season 7, a club could see how she she could influence at the top level long-term.

Olivia ROBINSON

Olivia Robinson was one of the more unlucky players not to represent her state at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. The Dandenong Stingrays midfielder adds a lot of impressive traits to the mix playing as a midfielder who can also push forward, and earned a top three finish in the Stingrays’ best and fairest, no mean feat considering Dandenong’s performance throughout the year.

Averaging 17.7 disposals and laying 5.0 tackles per game, Robinson was able to be a key link in transition between onball and the forward 50, moving well and making good decisions by hand or foot. Her skills were clean and she more often than not was able to hit a target going forward. By being able to play both onball and at half-forward showed a level of versatility too, and she had a big second half to the year. Her best game of the year came in Round 9 against the Knights with a number of key personnel missing. Robinson

stepped up to have 26 disposals,, three marks, five tackles, six inside 50s, five rebound 50s and kick two goals. Across the course of the year, Robinson had more than 15 disposals on all bar three occasions, but missed out on being included in the Country squad.

Robinson put the disappointment of missing out behind her and continued to produce on the field, having a really good grand final as well, and staking her claim to the AFLW clubs, as shown by her AFLW Draft Combine invite. As a player with high footy IQ and nice traits, she has a lot of potential to get better. She does have that lack of exposure compared to others, and is not a predominant marker like some players, but she is clean on the inside and outside and is able to hit targets consistently. If a club is looking for a player who can use the ball well and make good decisions, that Robinson could well be a valued pick up in this year’s AFLW Draft.

Krystal RUSSELL

As far as pure rucks go, none have been more prolific atop the NAB League Girls hitout charts than Western Jets tall Krystal Russell. While teammates Charlotte Baskaran and Montana Ham have attracted plenty of acclaim over the years, Russell has been the one providing them with first use as the competition’s most dominant hitout specialist, averaging over 20 per game in the last two seasons combined.

Much of Russell’s game can be summed up in arguably her best (and most important) passage of play this year. She popped up to kick the game-winning NAB League grand final goal; competing in the ruck contest, following up to win the bobbling ball at ground level, before booting it home with the last kick of the season. At her best, Russell thrives primarily in the ruck but also uses her size and competitiveness to follow up and put heat on the contested ball. She may have timed the lone goal of her career perfectly, but the fact it

came with her final disposal highlights how she can lift her overall production rate, to help each team she plays for away from the stoppages. Further to that last point, Russell herself said during preseason that improving her running and kicking have been focus points upon linking with the Vic Metro squad. Doing so will allow her to work into better positions to mark around the ground and use her physical presence in different ways, or even impact as a rotating forward.

Overall, clubs will know what they are getting if they show faith in Russell. She competes and completes her primary role, with scope to add strings to her bow, especially against the ever-evolving talls at AFLW level. Being part of a premiership side helps, particularly when your final act in the team was to win the flag in the first place. There’s a strong base to build upon.

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Lana SCHWERDT

Lana Schwerdt is one of those players you just love to have on your side. The Norwood midfielder is a courageous ballwinner who is not afraid to put her body on the line and win the ball in contested situations. Like a bull at a gate, Schwerdt is a see-ball, get-ball player, and her contested work is superb. Schwerdt came from playing a variety of roles, she stepped up in 2022 to be that dominant inside midfielder.

Coming into this year, Schwerdt said she wanted to improve her kicking, and though still inconsistent at times, when she pulls it off, it can be quite effective. She is generally a good decision maker with ball-in-hand, and often that helps if the disposal is not pinpoint.

Though she is not a predominant marking player - as is to be expected from someone who thrives on the inside - it is an area of improvement, along with her speed. She is certainly

not the slowest player going around and can breakaway from opponents, but often that is through smarts and power.

Those areas of improvement can easily be overlooked though, considering what Schwerdt brings to the table. She cracks in, wins the contested ball, makes good decisions and works up and down the ground to do whatever it takes to help her side. She earned the Ellen Maple Medal in the 2021 clash against Sturt, which is awarded to the player who shows the most courage and determination in the match. Her courage and natural instinct to hunt the football could never be in question.

Schwerdt has really put herself into the draft frame this year off a consistent AFLW Under 18 Championships, where she averaged 20 disposals and seven tackles per game. Every side needs a player like Lana Schwerdt.

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Paige SCOTT

Paige Scott is one of the most dynamic players in the AFLW Draft crop. Without a doubt, her best is just about as good as anyone’s, a match-winner on her day, and an ability to turn a game in a quarter, Her sheer X-factor and ability to do so much damage in a few minutes is undoubted, but the big question mark is how she closes the gap between her best and worst.

In the games where everything clicks for Scott, she can kick three or four goals in a quarter, and threaten to kick double-figures some games. But in others, she struggles to really impact the contest. Take the AFLW Academy game for example. Playing forward, the first half she had three frees against and a turnover kick in a half of football clearly looking frustrated. Then she came out and slotted two impressive goals in the last quarter to seal the game, reminding everyone of what she is capable of at her best.

It is easy to forget Scott got the job done on the biggest stage last year, winning the AFLW Under 18 Championships goalkicking. In a Vic Country team that struggled, she did not get the same supply and she subsequently struggled kicking two goals in three games. It was a similar story at the Rebels, kicking the seven goals in seven games compared to her 15 in nine last year - albeit playing up the field more.

In Round 10 against the Dragons, Scott slammed home three goals from 21 touches and six marks, dominating the defence and reminding everyone of how dominant she could be. Scott then backed it up with a 23-disposal effort against the Pioneers, albeit slotting four behinds. Despite that, her last two games showed promise and if she can work on closing the gap in her consistency, and perhaps having more impact off the ball when the game is not going her way, then watch out because Scott is a very special natural talent.

Kalani SCOULLAR

Kalani Scoullar is one of the tallest players available in this year’s AFLW Draft. Standing at an impressive 190cm, if drafted it would make the GWV Rebels one of the tallest players in the AFLW. She uses that height to advantage in the NAB League, quite often having 10cm-plus on many opponents, and with her impressive positioning at the ruck stoppages and being able to palm it down or punch it clear of the stoppage for teammates to run onto.

When you are as strong and big as Scoullar, it comes with drawbacks in the form of athleticism. Scoullar is not quick nor nimble, and she admitted at the preseason testing that the jumping tests, rather than the running ones were more her go. She is not going to be an athletic or explosive ruck, so the best way of developing Scoullar further is by improving her overhead marking. In many ways, Scoullar is actually more impactful at ground level rather than in the air.

Though she dominates at ruck stoppages, she is not a consistent marking target, only averaging 1.3 marks at NAB League Girls level, and 1.5 marks when representing Vic Country across two games at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. What she does well, is actually getting her hands dirty and laying strong tackles, almost mirroring her disposal and tackle counts. In the NAB League Girls, she laid 4.3 per game, which is impressive for a ruck, and she can tap the ball down and provide a strong second effort at ground level.

Scoullar might have some areas to work on going forward, but 190cm rucks with strength to not grow on trees, so Scoullar definitely offers something different for clubs. In a year where there are not a lot of rucks available, Scoullar has come through the Vic Country programs, and developed traits that could hold up against senior opponents.

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Ava SETON

If there was a player in the AFLW Draft crop that you might feel sore just watching, it might be Ava Seton. The Queensland AFLW Draft prospect thrives on the contested ball, and throws herself at every contest, often copping plenty of contract along the way. Regardless of the knocks and bumps, Seton picks herself up and goes again and again, cracking in at the contested ball and striving to win every hard ball she can.

Seton is a bonafide inside midfielder with a deep desire to win every contest she attends. Her high-level defensive pressure - as emphasised by her nine tackles against the Western Jets at NAB League Girls level - is another feature of her game. Opponents know that when they stand beside Seton, they are not going to be in for an easy day. She could very easily play as a defensive midfielder, or one that can win her own ball, as her accountability is very high.

In terms of her improvements, Seton has a few, and most involve her outside polish. She could improve areas of her game such as kicking and marking, with her possessions often coming under pressure at a stoppage, and then when on the outside, with implied pressure. If she can sharpen up her execution and improve her impact when not at the coalface, Seton will be able to add an extra string to her bow. In terms of an inside game, it is an A+, but her outside game is still a work in progress, and those two areas became evident at the AFLW Under 18 Championships.

A lot of Queensland’s top midfielders had to rotate into other positions, and Seton’s impact on the inside is far greater than that on the outside. She is someone who, if given the chance at AFLW level, will likely be that inside midfielder, but  she could also be an accountable strong defender. She has some terrific inside traits, and now it is ironing her outside traits.

Emily SHEPHERD

A powerful player with a booming kick and strong hands, Emily Shepherd is someone who could go far if everything can click. She has a lot of talent and upside for the future, being able to play both inside and outside, as well as being a leading forward. Her one-on-one ability and cleanliness in the air makes her a threat when inside 50, and the fact she can launch shots on goal from around the 50m mark - such as the important goal she kicked against Eastern Ranges to help win the Dandenong Stingrays the game - shows just how important she can be.

The knock on Shepherd is two-fold. Her kicking can be inconsistent at times, often rushing out of a stoppage and chucking it on the boot. Then when having time and space, she can often look to kick longer than she needs to, or set her sights on goal rather than lowering her eyes to pick out a target inside 50. If she can assess the situation and utilise

her penetrating kick to advantage, then she can become a more damaging team player and impact the scoreboard through score assists as well as directs scores. Her offball work could also improve, which will come with time and learning what might be required in terms of unrewarded running.

Though there is a bit to work on, there is little doubt Shepherd has high level traits. She can be a player that with the right development, could be incredibly damaging at the top level. She has that match-winning ability, and the confidence to back herself to kick the winning goal or make the important pass, whether or not she should. As someone with a powerful boot and an eye for goal, Shepherd is a player to watch for the future because if she does get overlooked in the 2022 AFLW Draft, then expect her to be highly considered as an over-ager if she can tweak certain areas in her game.

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SIMPSON

A tried and true inside midfielder who expanded her horizons to include lead-up forward as a secondary position, Simpson has upped the anti when it comes to her AFLW Draft chances. Not overly athletic compared to other midfielders, Simpson works to her strengths, and few could match heron the inside with her contested work, power and clean hands. Her ability to get her hands free and shovel out the handball to teammates is important, but she also has a powerful kick that she can use out of a stoppage or when within range of goal.

In the 2022 NAB League Girls season, Simpson booted five goals which was impressive seeing  as she started playing full-time midfield, then rotated with Liz Dowling as a player who could compete in the air, and was a reliable set shot. Standing at 168cm, she is a touched undersized to be a key forward, but could be a third tall who provides extra support

in midfield. Ideally though, Simpson is a readymade inside midfielder from a traits perspective, but needs to build on her endurance further - which will happen from a big preseason - in order to impact for even longer.

When on the inside, Simpson can unassumingly have a big impact in ways that are not always reflected on the stats sheet. She provides blocks and shepherds to go with her tackles, and was one of the few consistent clearance players for Vic Country at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. Simpson might have iron out aspects of her game on the outside, but on the inside, she is among the more powerful inside ball-winners.

A team looking for a midfielder who can also play inside 50 might consider Simpson, and with a year of preseason at an elite club, she could become even more well-rounded.

Amelie SMITH

Modern day football requires players to be flexible enough to play a variety of roles, or be an utter expert in one, and Amelie Smith certainly fits the former description. The Oakleigh Chargers prospect has a unique offering of traits at 176cm, which sees her predominantly play as a tall forward, but also as a makeshift ruck or powerful on-baller.

The 18-year-old is a high-impact type, able to make the most of her relatively low possession numbers to either hit the scoreboard or produce something eye-catching. Her aerial ability is a major strength, with Smith happy to play anywhere she can use her leap to advantage. As a bottomager, that was as a dynamic forward who rotated through the ruck. As a top-ager, Smith again used that key forward post as a default, but was also given the opportunity to pinch hit as a midfielder. Attending her share of centre bounces for Oakleigh, she provided short bursts of power, with her size

and strength on the inside leading to some handy clearance wins. Her Round 1 outing was a good example of that.

In terms of improvements, lifting that output by getting to more contests is something Smith can look to do. Albeit with injuries to contend with over the last two years, she averaged around eight touches and a mark over her NAB League career. She competes and can use her athleticism to impact both ways - laying over three tackles per game - but needs the ball in her hands more often to showcase just how damaging she can be.

With all pieces of the puzzle put together more consistently, Smith has the potential to be a highly effective footballer. She is still raw, but with a clean run at it and the perks of an elite environment, may be a player who improves rapidly at senior level. She looms as a fabled high-upside selection.

Brooke SMITH

Brooke Smith has had a tough run through injury the last two seasons, managing just the six games for the Dandenong Stingrays, then coming through to play two of the three games for Vic Country at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. That durability might be a question mark for clubs in the upcoming AFLW Draft, but when she has been on the field, she has certainly caught the eye.

Smith is not a huge accumulator of the football, but is one of those players who catches the eye with every touch. The aforementioned injury setbacks have meant she has had less time to improve her endurance, which is still an area she needs to work on. Though her traits lend themselves to also being able to play through the middle, getting continuity in her football and being able to string plenty of games together will be important, as she showed enough in her six NAB League games and two championship games to earn

an AFLW Draft Combine invite. Standing at 169cm, Smith is a good height to be able to play on talls or smalls, and is one of the quickest players who tested at the 2021 preseason combine.

Though unable to test ahead of the 2022 season due to injury, Smith clocked up a time inside the top 10 across league to show what she is capable of when at her best. Combine that blistering speed with her footy smarts and skills, and there is enough about Smith to suggest she has a bright future.

Playing in defence, Smith positions herself well behind the ball, and though not a predominant marker, she wins the ball well and intercepts, moving well off half-back and disposing of it cleanly and effectively down the ground.

If Smith can build her endurance up and get a clean run at a preseason, then she could be a really valued selection.

Jamie-Lee SPEAKMAN

After missing all of her 2021 NAB League Girls season through an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, JamieLee Speakman certainly made up for lost time. The Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels defender slotted in perfectly, having previously played forward but finding her home in defence. It was clear from very early on that Speakman has natural footballing ability.

The 162cm talent can play on much taller opponents thanks to her contested marking ability and reading of the play, positioning herself well to give her best chance of clunking a grab. She is as good off the ball as she is on it, being a penetrative and reliable kick of the ball, hitting targets over multiple distances. Though she showed she can be a leading forward as she did for the Under 23s side against the AFLW Academy, expect her to be better placed as a defender given her reading of the play and smarts behind the footy.

Speakman is one who started well and finished even better, averaging around 15 disposals, five marks and four rebound 50s per game in the NAB League Girls. Though she did not get as many opportunities to show that dare and run at the championships - even spending time forward in a struggling Vic Country front six - Speakman reminded recruiters of what she was capable of in the AFLW Academy game.

Speakman has missed a lot of footy and is effectively in her first year in an elite program. She does have to work on her endurance given it is quite low and understandably so. She is also not the most explosive or agile player, but instead she is one of those talents who can still shrug off or evade opponents through her smarts. She is good in both aerial and ground contests, and with what she has already shown, expect her to only get better as she has more time to develop, with a future AFLW career beckoning.

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Reese SUTTON

Reese Sutton feats as Calder Cannons co-captain almost helped the region secure a NAB League Girls finals place. Her inside-outside balance was proven by season’s end, with Sutton a prolific centre bounce asset in Calder colours, but a designated winger for Metro. On-ball, she used her smarts, clean hands, and turn of speed to prove an evasive clearance winner, bursting away in a flash or dishing out to her fellow midfielders to help link the ball forward.

On the outside, Sutton’s speed was just as useful as she looked to break the lines and be aggressive each time she earned possession. Despite being of the small-to-medium variety, the nifty ball winner showed enough guts to win her own ball and even from her station on the wing, earned possessions at a 53 per cent contested rate for Vic Metro. Remarkably, she also clunked three contested marks in her two-game carnival. Completing a relatively well-rounded

midfield game is Sutton’s defensive pressure. You have to be able to go both ways, and she certainly did that throughout 2022 with tackle averages of 8.4 in the NAB League and 3.5 during the championships.

In the way of improvements, her disposal on the end of each stoppage breakaway may be an area to look at. While clean by hand and technically okay by foot, being more damaging and penetrative on the attack is always possible. Given her stature, speed and defensive acumen, Sutton may be one who specialises in pressure roles at either end of the field. Although, she tends to make good decisions and showed a good amount of potential up on the wing to suggest that may also be her position at the next level. Overall, Sutton’s output across her top-age campaign was enough to earn deserved plaudits and a draft combine invite, putting her in the conversation as expansion calls for depth of talent.

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Freya TAYLOR

Freya Taylor is a member of the Sydney Swans Academy, and is seen as a player with a fair bit of upside going forward. She has tasted action at VFL Women’s level for Port Melbourne, with a season-high 11 touches coming against the Western Bulldogs in Round 8. The other two matches she only managed the two disposals apiece, but laid eight tackles against Southern Saints on debut in Round 7.

Taylor did also step up at the AFLW Under 18 Championships, representing NSW-ACT and then the Allies, for an average of 3.5 disposals, three tackles and a rebound 50. Though her production numbers are low, she is a player who has a number of traits which have earned her an AFLW Draft Combine invite. Her defensive pressure is a clear one, even when she is not laying tackles, she is harassing the opposition and applying pressure to the ball carrier.

Taylor is also an evasive type with clean hands and a high work rate. No doubt if she can get her hands on it a bit more, she can do a lot of damage in close, as she is comfortable attacking it hard. When playing for Port Melbourne, things did not always go her way stepping up to the level, but she was able to put her body on the line when it counted, and get invaluable experience against senior opponents.

The Inner West Magpies youngster clearly needs to lift her production in the future, and she is more of a long-term prospect who is still learning the craft. She can be effective by foot, but is more of a hit and miss where she can be pinpoint, but then also spray it out on the full. Her ability to cover the ground works well, plugging in holes here and there. Though she does have a bit to work on and more experience to be gained, the Swans have been keeping a close eye on her journey.

Maddi TORPEY

Fresh to the Dragons program in 2022, Maddison Torpey made an immediate impact and quickly became one of the more reliable rucks in the NAB League competition, giving her midfielders first use well as she finished with the fourth most hitouts for the season with 150.

Whilst she may not be as athletic as some in the pool, Torpey was a constant competitor in the ruck all season and aided her midfielders well as she controlled her taps to be at their advantage, beating her opponents for hitouts in six of her nine appearances for the season as she took the number one ruck role. The combination of Torpey’s follow up work and decision making is an eye catching aspect of how she plays, regularly competing for the ball from her taps and then weighing up whether to hand off or whether to bomb long well, seeing her become almost like an extra midfielder around the contest. This all highlights her work rate well

in offence, but she’s equally as switched on defensively, pushing back to provide an extra number in transition but also capable of laying tackles in close. Despite not representing Vic Metro, Torpey’s consistency and impact on Sandringham, who have traditionally struggled for ruck stocks, has seen her earn a National Combine Invite. It could be argued that her best performance for the year came against the Calder Cannons in Round 9 when the Metro and Country game was played, amassing a season high 15 disposals, six tackles and four rebound 50’s, demonstrating her gradual improvement as the year went on.

Heading forward, Torpey’s ‘rawness’ will be something that’s ironed out over time with more training to work on her basics such as kicking and handballing, and development in a second position, perhaps as a key forward, would allow her to have a more sustained impact on games.

Asha TURNER FUNK

Asha Turner Funk is an inside midfielder out of Newcastle, who has been playing for Manley Warringah Wolves in the AFL Sydney Premier Women’s Division. Turner Funk’s form earned her elevation into the NSW-ACT squad to face the Allies at the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships. Picking up nine disposals, two marks, two tacklesa nd two inside 50s in that performance, Turner Funk was solid before returning to the Swans Academy for the Winter Series game against the GIANTS.

Turner Funk has not had as much exposure as some other AFLW Draft hopefuls, but has been under the watchful eye of the Swans as a potential draft prospect. She is a fierce ball-winer who is not afraid to get her hands dirty, able to burrow in and win the contested ball, Most of her disposals at the championships came from ground ball gets, with Turner Funk able to be clean enough off the deck to win the ball.

The Sydney Academy member’s marking is another area that she can do well in, with good strength aerially which is important when resting forward. Her footy IQ allows her to get into the right spots, and she has a high work rate and a penetrative right boot. By being able to find space when out of the contest, she can unload and go forward, which is a point of difference among many peers.

Turner Funk might have a high work rate, but she is still looking to build her endurance, as well as improve her athleticism, with a higher emphasis on kicking consistency another area she can build on. Overall, her inside game and what she uses to extract the ball works well, and she could well end up earning a place on the Swans list ith her development the last 12 months. As someone who has more of a readymade style, Turner Funk is a local talent in the Academy who has a few strong tricks on the inside.

Mia VAN DYKE

Mia Van Dyke is one of those rare players capable of playing on all three lines if required. Though having predominantly settled in defence for the Geelong Falcons in 2022, Van Dyke has also played forward, and on a wing, not too dissimilar to her predecessor Ingrid Houtsma who was also a good size and capable of slotting in across the board. Van Dyke is a little taller than Houtsma at 176cm, and though not quite as consistent across the year, she has some traits that naturally catch the eye.

Van Dyke is a fairly athletic player for a tall, and she is incredibly smart when it comes to reading the ball in flight. She can judge it well and position herself for the mark up either end, then generally use it well by hand or kick long by foot. She is a player who, when given the opportunity, can do a lot of damage in transition, but simply just needs to find it more and impact a game more consistently.

Having come through the Geelong Falcons pathway at V/ Line Cup and then as an Under 16s talent and bottom-ager, Van Dyke was always touted as an incredibly, naturally gifted youngster. Though she has not quite ironed out that consistency, her traits are what really standout to spectators when out on the field. She can win the ball in the air or on the deck, but she is more potent when able to intercept, and then run out of defence. When in attack she can provide a target, and has a nice burst of speed on the lead.

Going forward, Van Dyke is the type of player one would like to see develop through having more match time against senior bodies. She will have to add greater strength to compete against the stronger forwards of the AFLW, but should have many of them covered once the ball hits the ground. Her decision making and footy smarts will help her develop in the future and will be one to consider for the AFLW Draft.

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Ash VAN LOON

One of the top Geelong Falcons prospects coming into the year, Ash Van Loon’s season hit a speed bump at Epsom Huntly Reserve, when she came off with a knee injury in Round 2 against the Bushrangers. First  feared to be an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, Van Loon was able to recover in time to play the last four games of the NAB League Girls season.

Excluding the injured game to the Bushrangers, and the semi-final against the Stingrays where she only had the two touches after another early exit, Van Loon picked up between 12 and 14 disposals in the other four games. A natural tackling machine, she averaged 5.7 tackles, though perhaps her eight-tackle average in a full season as a bottom-ager is more accurate. Similarly, Van Loon can create drive going forward, but her best work is on the inside, with a balance of offensive and defensive traits, in particular her clean hands.

Van Loon is one who is very clean at ground level and quick to dish off handballs to running teammates, doing the hard yards on the inside. She gets her hands dirty and lays plenty of tackles, with around a 50 per kick ratio. Van Loon is not a natural goalkicker and she has largely played as that contested ball-winning midfielder. When it comes to clearances, Van Loon can have a massive impact, and is evasive enough to use power to shrug off would-be tacklers.

Generally her decision making process and footy smarts are strong, and though her kicking can still be further improved, Van Loon utilises her strengths over her deficiencies, and is able to scoop the ball up cleanly and set up teammates with her quick hands and vision. Though injury impacted her year, Van Loon is one who could be one to watch in an elite system, with a great attitude and work rate. If she can get a clean run, then Van Loon could be a valuable inside midfielder.

Molly WALTON

GWV Rebels talent Molly Walton has added an extra string to her bow in 2022, developing from a rebounding defender in 2021, to now run out full games in the midfield. Walton has a high endurance base from which to work with, which helps her run out games and outrun opponents. Though not overly quick, Walton is clever and is able to quickly dispose of the ball cleanly.

Looking at Walton’s game, she was quite an impressive defender, but like many rebounding types, it was important she was able to expand her horizons. That came in 2022 when she stepped up into the midfield, and was a consistent ball-winner for the Rebels, averaging more than 20 disposals, and still picking up almost four marks and four rebound 50s per game. Though not necessarily having elite athletic traits, Walton is a player you can guarantee will have a crack each and every week, and with a smile on her face.

When assessing areas Walton could work on, the Rebels talent could definitely hit the scoreboard more, with a memorable goal against the Bushrangers in Round 3, then another one in Round 10 against the Dragons. If she can add that more offensive ability to her game, it will add an extra weapon to her defensive strengths.

There is little doubt that Walton’s tackling pressure, rebounding and intercept marking are all consistent features of her game. Able to sit a kick behind play, reading it well and driving it forward, Walton can be a playmaker in transition. She is not as explosive as some other midfielders, but she makes do with solid decision making and reliability by hand or foot. She can amass the ball with ease and run out four quarters no problems. Overall, Walton is a really solid player across many fronts and one to remember for the future.

Christine WATSON

Christine Watson is the ultimate key position utility, with the Queenslander able to play at both ends, as well as through the ruck, such is her versatility. The Toowoomba Tigers talent is a member of the Brisbane Lions Academy, and standing at 178cm, has been utilised in a variety of ways. Playing though the ruck and defence as a bottom-ager at the AFLW Under 17 Championships, Watson was also thrown forward in the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships.

Watson is a raw, athletic tall who has not had a great deal of exposure to the elite level programs, remaining in North Queensland to play her football. She has shown over the past couple of years that she has the propensity to leap at the ball and provide a target, with just her finishing capabilities of pulling down marks the next step. When at ruck stoppages, she can compete with taller opponents, able to get her hands to the ball and palm it down.

When in-play, Watson has enough speed to be able run down opponents, or apply pressure to them, which was indicated in averaging 7.5 tackles per game at the 2021 AFLW Under 17 Championships. That defensive pressure comes with fierce aggression, and she is able to apply that in any role she plays, be it as a defender, a ruck, or a pressure tall forward. Once she can begin clunking more marks and being involved more consistently with a higher production rate, then Watson can add more strings to her bow.

Overall, Watson is more of a long-term project player, but one with some eye-catching traits both athletically and defensively. If she can add that offensive element to her game, then she can take the next step in her career. As a foundational base though, Watson has shown that versatility and a knack to compete against bigger opponents around the ground are quality traits to have.

Tegan WILLIAMS

Tegan Williams is one of the rare key position options in Victoria with an AFLW Draft Combine invite, and earned her place amongst the best in the draft crop after a strong carnival with Vic Country. The Bendigo Pioneers tall cut her teeth as a rebounding defender in year’s gone by, but is a natural forward, a role she switched to in her top-age year, averaging a goal a game.

Williams is an ideal swingperson with a knack to adapt to roles at either end of the field. She might be deemed more of an ‘old school’ footballer for her contested marking, outstanding penetrating kick, and most of her touches coming from leading up the ground be it through marking or follow-up efforts. But the Pioneers tall also has a high work rate and enough footy smarts to be a natural footballer, and could be a real value pick-up for a side in this year’s AFLW Draft.

Playing in a couple of sides who struggled for the most part, Williams was a shining light, and even in a heavy defeat against South Australia, looked likely to break the game open in the first half. The one aspect that clubs will have to overlook is her athleticism, with Williams not the most explosive, nor evasive tall, but when you’re a strong contested marking player, something has to give. She is able to pull down big grabs and even react quicker than a lot of opponents, and put her body on the line, with her field kicking - when going inside 50 - a highlight in her game.

Williams would also like to impact more at ground level, though she does put pressure on opponents and will always beaten them in the air or usually on the lead. If Williams can find a home as a lead-up forward, or even a defensive tall who can intercept in the back half, she can easily adapt at the top level and be a crucial key in a team’s spine.

WOODLEY

Heidi Woodley’s rise to earn an AFLW Draft combine invite has been steep, with the Calder Cannons product making the most of important late-season appearances. After getting injured in an otherwise promising Round 1 debut, the 17-year-old quickly got into the swing of things upon returning to NAB League Girls action, and was soon called up for representative duties.

Having come in as a relative unknown compared to many of Vic Metro’s midfield stars, Woodley found her spot up forward and caught the eye credit to her willingness to take the game on. With speed and slick evasive technique, the 169cm talent looked up to the level and has some exciting traits to work with.

Whether it be breaking away from congestion or using the space in front of her in transition, Woodley is difficult to

catch. She often looks to be attacking in possession, driving her legs forward and snatching valuable meterage before finishing with a kick. Though her end product could do with some polish over time, the raw potential is there and makes her a promising type.

With scope to rotate strongly through midfield or move out to a wing, Woodley has a good amount of upside. In her last four NAB League games, she proved her ability to produce strong numbers across the board and finished with a season-high effort of 25 disposals, six tackles, five inside 50s and a goal against Northern in the repechage round.

She built into her top-age campaign nicely and still has plenty of room to develop, making her a prospective option for AFLW clubs to consider.

OTHERS TO CONSIDER

Steph ASCIAK

DOB:

POSITION:

BATES

DOB:

DRAFT ANALYSIS

A consistent midfielder who stepped up in her overage year for the Western Jets, Asicak offers a fierce defensive presence who can also impact offensively. She is a readymade talent who also spent time with Essendon VFLW where she impressed.

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Winning the SANFLW league best and fairest in 2022, Bates is hoping to continue the success of past winners getting drafted. A massive accumulator, Bates became an offensive weapon this year, adding to her high-level defensive traits.

Laura BLUE

DOB:

DRAFT ANALYSIS

One of the most reliable players in the QAFLW, Laura Blue is a talent who has succeeded at not only Australian rules football, but also soccer. She is one who provifes a strong aerial presence, a calm head and a natural leader for Coorparoo.

Jade BRIGGS

Tarnica GOLISANO

DOB:

MIDFIELDER

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Having overcome injury issues in the past, Briggs started to get back to her best form in 2022. She has a booming left boot and can hit the scoreboard, whilst competing strongly both aerially and at ground level. A high-upside talent with her weapons.

DRAFT ANALYSIS

One of the top performing West Australians all year, Golisano captained Subiaco and consistently put out big numbers each week. A real all-round performer, Golisano boasts offensive and defensive traits, and a high skill level both under pressure and in space.

DOB:

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Lily Hart is an high-endurance midfielder who is capable of playing in a multitude of positions. The Oakleigh Chargers talent earned Vic Metro representatation where she stepped up to be a solid performer across all levels of her footballing.

Abby HEWETT

DOB:

Courtney HINGSTON

DOB:

DRAFT ANALYSIS

DRAFT ANALYSIS

DRAFT ANALYSIS

in her

Abby Hewett is a silky midfielder who also loves the contested work, and was unlucky

year last

Though

needing

lift her production, she

in the

Courtney Hingston is a running defender who is capable of providing offensive transition out of the back half. After a solid NAB League Girls season, Hingston was named in the Allies squad where she

some impressive footy off half-back.

Glenelg’s inspirational skipper has not done too much wrong over the past couple of years, and is a barometer for her side with her attack on the ball and influence at both ends. She cracks in to win a truckload of the ball and is clean by hand.

Madison LANE

DOB:

Alana LISHMUND

DOB:

Tesharna MAHER

DOB:

DRAFT ANALYSIS

An over-age talent out of the State Academy, Lane has played at both

DRAFT ANALYSIS

DRAFT ANALYSIS

drivin the ball out of defence. Lane has slick

but does her best

and reads the play well, possessing a high footy IQ in order to

with her

Having played in a range of positions in past years, Lishmund found her role in 2022, playing as a leadout forward. With a booming and accurate left foot, strong hands and a consistency to hit the scoreboard, the 18-year-old won the SANFLW goalkicking.

Having represented her third SANFLW club after West Adelaide and WWT Eagles, Maher flourished for Norwood once stepping into the midfield. She became a critical part of the Redlegs midfield, utilising her explosive speed from stopapges.

DOB: HEIGHT:

19/02/1998 168CM

QLD

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Martin has pieced together an outstanding QAFLW season in 2022, with the 24-year-old putting up some ridiculous numbers. She averaged 27 disposals and seven marks up to Round 11, and used the ball at 66.7 per cent to put herself in the draft frame.

Charley RYAN

DOB: HEIGHT:

09/02/2004 171CM

POSITION:

FORWARD

SCHIRMER

DOB: HEIGHT:

18/02/2003 178CM

POSITION:

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Unfortunately an ACL tear brought an end to the 18-year-old’s top-age season. She has incredible upside, as well as skill and athletic traits, with little doubt she is worth a punt for an AFLW club, even though she will miss the upcoming season.

NUMBERS

DRAFT ANALYSIS

One of the most versatile players, the former forward has spent 2022 in defence, whilst pinch-hitting in midfield. She continually provided plenty of run and drive, with high-level athletic traits and defensive nous that make her a readymade AFLW option.

Jaslynne SMITH

ANALYSIS

An experienced SANFLW campaigner but only just turning 22 in August, Smith is a reliable

who uses the ball well and reads it exceptionally behind play. She is often tasked with the Panthers kickout duties and attacks hard each and

Shelby SMITH

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Central District’s captain has had a couple of the biggest years in the SANFLW and on-form - after back-to-back league best and fairest runner-up efforts - should earn a spot on an AFL list. She is turning 31, but is readymade and an inside star.

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Yet another Central District prospect, but the standout ruck in the SANFLW with her hitouts and clearance work. She is a little undersized for a ruck at the elite level, but can accumulate massive numbers consistently and play in roles around the ground.

DRAFT ANALYSIS

A hard-running winger from Swan Districts, Stribley has also spent some time inside to add versatility to her game. The lightly-built running machine lifted her overall output in 2022, but had an injury-interrupted WAFLW campaign. A top-ager with upside.

Zoe VENNING

DRAFT ANALYSIS

As contested as they come, Venning thrives on the hard ball and winning it at the coalface to feed it out to teammates. She was able to improve her spread in 2022 and also provide some work in transition, but became a

light in the Westies midfield.

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Returning to the SANFLW in 2022 with a new club in South Adelaide, Waterhouse made a splash to be one of the leading goalkickers and winning Team of the Year honours. Though small, Waterhouse packs a punch and can impact up foward and in midfield.

Jess WHELAN

DOB: HEIGHT:

12/09/2002 175CM

POSITION:

CLUB/STATE:

MIDFIELDER SOUTHERN POWER / NSW-ACT

DRAFT ANALYSIS

An impressive improver who has been in and around the draft frame, Whelan is one of the better mature-age prospects out of NSW-ACT. She was in contention last year where she played for the Allies but has stepped up for Southern Power in 2022.

Erin WOODFORD

DOB: HEIGHT:

29/08/2003 170CM

POSITION: CLUB/STATE:

OAKLEIGH / VIC

DRAFT ANALYSIS

The overage Oakleigh Chargers defender stepped up for her side all through the 2022 NAB League Girls campaign. Woodford impressed enough to earn a spot with Vic Metro for the AFLW Under 18 Championships, and become a reliable rebounding defender who was ever-competitive.

NUMBERS

Aisha WRIGHT

DOB: HEIGHT:

06/08/2004 157CM

POSITION: CLUB/STATE:

FORWARD / MIDFIELDER

THUNDER / WA

DRAFT ANALYSIS

A high-upside half-forward who can also play wing, Wright is a tenacious talent who can create scoring opportunities and also dance around opponents. The top-ager is one who with the right development has the potential to become a high-impact player.

NUMBERS

Brooke BARWICK

29/07/2005 | 158cm Midfielder

GLENORCHY / TASMANIA

Barwick might be small, but the talented midfielder packs and punch and displays similar traits to 2022 top draft prospect Charlotte Baskaran. The Tasmanian has some outstanding skills coupled with a high-level defensive game, with many regarding her as one of the toughest players going around.

Georgie CLEAVER

14/08/2005 | 183cm | Ruck / Forward

EAST FREMANTLE / WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The bottom-age AFLW Academy member from Western Australia came on in leaps and bounds in 2022. She looms as the top tall out of the Sandgropers next year. Playing a key role in the undefeated Sharks run through the WAFLW, Cleaver is athletic and can play both ruck and forward.

Jaime HENRY

05/10/2005 | 176cm | Midfielder / Defender

SWAN DISTRICTS / WESTERN AUSTRALIA

As tough as they come, Henry is a prototypical inside midfielder who can also play as a defender which she has done through the Swan Districts program. The West Australian is a player with strong footy smarts and overall skills that enable her to impact a contest wherever she plays consistently.

Josie MCCABE

18/04/2005 | 173cm Midfielder / Forward BOND UNIVERSITY / QUEENSLAND

A player who unfortunately missed the majority of the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships due to a first game injury, McCabe is a talented midfielder who can also play forward. The Queenslander has clean skills, provides plenty of run and can hit the scoreboard and bring others into the game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT YEAR

Molly BROOKSBY

18/07/2005 | 171cm | Midfielder

NORWOOD / SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Holding her place in a strong Norwood midfield, Brooksby is a running machine on the wing and one who has shone she can play inside as well. Brooksby has smooth skills and makes good decisions, roaming up and down the ground to get creative and impact games going inside 50 for the Redlegs and Croweaters.

Darcie DAVIES

14/06/2005 184cm | Ruck / Forward

SOUTHPORT / QUEENSLAND

The third sister in the Davies family to be eyeing off a spot at AFLW level, Darcie brings similar traits to Fleur with her outstanding athleticism and ability to impact around the ground. Regarded as one of the highest upside talls next year, Davies is one set to explode in 2022 with her natural talent.

Ava JORDAN

29/04/2005 | 148cm | Midfielder

NORTHERN KNIGHTS / VIC METRO

The pint-sized pocket rocket from the Northern Knights is undoubtedly one of the most naturally-talented players going around. Her size - 148cm - would make her the smallest AFLW footballer, but her toughness, skills and smarts through the midfield should be enough to make clubs overlook the height.

Sienna MCMULLEN

15/07/2005 | 164cm | Midfielder BOND UNIVERSITY / QUEENSLAND

Producing an outstanding game for the AFLW Under 17 Futures showcase, McMullen is one to watch. She showed her incredible burst away from the stoppage and cleanliness by hand or foot around the ground. She has a piercing kick and she covers the ground well in an all-round profile.

Ava CAMPBELL

29/07/2005 | 174cm | Tall Defender

EASTERN RANGES / VIC METRO

Campbell is a high-upside rebounding tall who proved herself at Under 18s level in this year’s national carnival. She is a player who can impact incredibly well aerially, but also bring the offensive drive that saw her avearge three marks and three rebounds at NAB League Girls level for the Ranges.

Shineah GOODY

08/11/2005 | 166cm | Utility

WWT EAGLES / SOUTH AUSTRALIA

A name that even the most passive elite junior pathways watcher will recognise, Goody took out the 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships MVP award. Possessing a ridiculous work rate, incredible skills and high-level footy smarts, Goody will go close to the overall top pick in the 2023 AFL Women’s Draft.

Lila KECK

20/10/2005 | 161cm | Midfielder BENDIGO PIONEERS / VICTORIA

A talented midfielder with X-factor, Keck is one of those players who can be a match-winner up forward after pushing hard from the midfield. She has some highs and lows within matches, but when she steps up she can provide some incredible highlights. Vic Country’s top prospect in 2023.

Alyssia PISANO

01/07/2005 | 161cm | Forward EASTERN RANGES / VIC METRO

One of the top AFLW Draft prospects in 2023, and arguably the best out of Victoria, Pisano had to watch from the sidelines in 2022 after injuring her knee mid-season. Pisano is electrifying inside 50, and is near unstoppable once the ball hits the ground, with her goal sense and smarts simply elite.

Georgia CLARK

11/12/2005 | 173cm | Forward

GLENORCHY / TASMANIA

One of the most promising tall forwards in the 2023 AFLW Draft crop, Clark is an incredible mark and reliable shot for goal. On top of her strong forward traits, Clark has some impressive footy smarts and can impact at ground level, making her an exciting prospect inside 50 for next year.

Elaine GRIGG

23/12/2005 | 165cm | Forward / Midfielder

NORTH ADELAIDE / SOUTH AUSTRALIA

A player making this list on upside, Grigg has some traits that few can easily obtain. The North Adelaide premiership player has elite speed and incredible defensive pressure, as well as a high work rate up and down the field. Only eligible by eight days, if Grigg can iron out some of her techinque, watch out.

Bianca LYNE

06/04/2005 | 176cm | Ruck

DANDENONG STINGRAYS / VIC COUNTRY

An undersized ruck, Lyne is an athletic tall out of the strong Stingrays program that became a feature for both the minor premiers and Vic Country this year. She has some fundamentals to build on, but her upside, particularly through her athletic gifts, makes her a tall to keep an eye on in 2023.

Matilda SCHOLZ

29/04/2005 | 187cm | Ruck

GLENELG / SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The premier South Australian - and arguably most complete nationally - ruck is an athletic tall who has also been able to play up both ends of the ground. Given her height and leap, she is hard to contain around the ground, and she can get involved in transition, becoming a lock in Glenelg’s best side.

TO WATCH NEXT YEAR CONTD.

Kaitlyn SRHOJ

10/07/2005 | 175cm | Midfielder

PEEL THUNDER / WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Catching the eye on debut for Peel Thunder in the WAFLW, Srhoj has only gotten better from there, growing in confidence as the season went on. Earning a best on ground effort in the AFLW Under 17 Futures game, Srhoj possesses outstanding speed and endurance, and has good technique going forward.

Jess VUKIC

09/11/2005 | 179cm | Ruck / Forward

EASTERN RANGES / VIC METRO

Arguably the cleanest of the rucks in terms of her tap work, Vukic is very clever when it comes to ruck stoppages. Standing at 179cm, Vukic has a high vertical leap to get hands to it, and then can go forward and create a contest. One of the big improvers through the NAB League Girls competition.

Kristie-Lee WESTON-TURNER

01/07/2005 180cm | Forward WESTERN JETS / VIC METRO

High upside is the best way to describe Weston-Turner, with the Western Jets premiership player really bursting onto the scene in 2022. She has some outstanding athletic traits and a booming kick, Weston-Turner is one who has high impact in patches and will be looking to iron out consistency next year.

Kiera WHILEY

07/04/2005 | 173cm | Midfielder

WESTERN JETS / VIC METRO

Another Western Jets prospect to make the list, Whiley is just consistent across the board. She can play inside or outside, or plug holes in attack and defence, but primarily influences games in the middle. She ticks a lot of boxes with neat skills and good athleticism, and is an all-round type of prospect.

Mikayla WILLIAMSON

08/05/2005 | 173cm | Defender / Midfielder

DANDENONG STINGRAYS / VIC COUNTRY

A speedy half-back/winger who loves to take grass and bring up her metres gained, Williamson is a running machine. Needing to just improve her kicking, Williamson is an eye-catcher with her dare and dash, and she has good size to be able to compete with talls and smalls, whilst being that offensive weapon.

Piper WINDOW

30/07/2005 | 166cm | Midfielder / Forward GLENELG / SOUTH AUSTRALIA

A natural inside midfielder, few are as good as Window in close. The tough-as-nails SANFLW premiership player possesses some of the cleanest hands, and is as able to stand up in tackles and compete aerially. Window is arguably an effective kick away from being an all-round star, with so much upside.

Lauren YOUNG

16/09/2005 | 179cm | Midfielder WEST ADELAIDE / SOUTH AUSTRALIA

It is remarkable to think that our top pick for 2023 did not even take the field this year, but that speaks to the incredible talent that is Lauren Young. Earning the South Australian Most Valuable Player (MVP) and All-Australian honours as the youngest player at the 2021 AFLW Under 19 Championships, Young is the complete package. She can play in all thirds of the ground, but does her best work in the midfield, standing at 179cm to be too strong in the air, but equally damaging at ground level. One to watch upon return from an ACL injury.

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