1
2022 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL AFLW DRAFT GUIDE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Rookie Me Central team would like to thank all those involved with compiling this 2023 AFLW Draft Guide ahead of the 2023 AFL Women's Draft. The work is a culmination of many hours this season watching in person, on live streams or replays in order to bring you the most comprehensive coverage available. In 2023, Rookie Me Central went to another level again, providing countless player highlights and features, as well as draft content across the year. Be sure to check out our social media channels @RookieMeCentral with Instagram and YouTube in particular providing video content. A big thank-you must also go to the Rookie Me Central editing team who have been huge parts of the ongoing and continual growth of the site, in particular: › Peter Williams
› Michael Alvaro
› Liam Badkin
› Alyce Collett
The editing team has spent countless hours putting this guide together for everyone to enjoy. A special thanks to all the photographers whose photos can be observed in the guide. These include Cory Sutton, John Emery and the SANFL, Pixell Photography, Brian Conduit, The Sports Photo and the WAFL, Fiona McQueenie, Arj Giese, NT News, Williamstown FC, AFL Queensland and AFL Photos. Lastly, a big thank-you to all the organisations who have assisted Rookie Me Central and its team throughout the year, including representatives from the SANFL, WAFL, QAFL, AFL NSW/ACT and AFL Victoria. All statistics used in this Draft Guide have been courtesy of the various competition websites, using respected data analyst, Champion Data. 2
CONTENTS
PRE-LISTED DRAFTEES
05
TOP 30 PLAYERS TO WATCH
14
NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE INVITEES
48
OTHERS TO KEEP IN MIND
98
2023 RMC POWER RANKINGS
110
AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIP
112
AFLW U18 MVPS + ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM
116
SARA HOWLEY WINS RMC MEDAL
120
RMC COATES TALENT LEAGUE TEAM OF THE YEAR
121
AFLW DRAFT COMBINE INVITEES
126
TOP 5 NATIONAL COMBINE RESULTS
127
COOPER CRUSHES COMBINE
128
PLAYER FOCUS: SHINEAH GOODY
129
‘ECSTATIC’ TALLARITI - JUST ‘DOING MY PART’
130
Q&A WITH SOPHIE PETERS
131
PLAYER FOCUS: INDIA RASHEED
132
AFLW DRAFT BOLTERS
134
BLUES FAN BARWICK’S POSITIVE OUTLOOK
136
WILL 2024 BE THE FIRST AFLW SUPER DRAFT?
138
WAFLW GF PLAYER FOCUS: ZIPPY FISH
140
ROGERS CUP GF PLAYER FOCUS: KAITLYN ROPER
141
TOP 24 IN 2024
142
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
145 3
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PRE-LISTED DRAFTEES 5
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
5-10
Molly BROOKSBY NORWOOD
DISPOSALS
16.7 SOUTH AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
172 CM
D.O.B
18/07/2005
3.0
POSITION
MID/DEF
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT
DUAL-SIDED STAR
Brooksby stands at 172cm, which is a good height for a versatile midfielder. Playing with Norwood in the SANFL Women’s, the talented bottom-ager hit the scene last year predominantly as a wing. Though a new position, Brooksby was able to grasp it with both hands, and though she was on the outside, still averaged 4.3 tackles from her 11.7 disposals at the level. Entering her top-age year, the AFLW Academy member spent time on the sidelines with knee and hamstring issues, delaying the start to her season. She returned to play a fairly full representative season, donning the Australian jumper for the Academy against 6
6
FUNDAMENTALS
the Under 23 All-Stars, and then for the Croweaters at another unbeaten national carnival. After a couple of quiet weeks to start the SANFLW season, Brooksby found her grove again and finished the year with some strong performances against South Adelaide in the final round, and then Sturt in the first final. There, playing off half-back, Brooksby had 23 disposals, 10 rebound 50s and even kicked a goal to really remind people of what she is capable of.
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
3.0 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
KICKING
+
VERSATILITY
+
DUAL-SIDED
+
FOOTY IQ
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
DECISION MAKING
On her draft profile ...
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62.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
AFLW FANTASY
71.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.3
-
PRODUCTION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
20-40
Holly COOPER SWANS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
9.3 NSW/ACT MARKS
HEIGHT
164 CM
D.O.B
23/02/2005
2.0
POSITION
MID/FWD
CONT. POSS %
KEY TRAIT Cooper is a natural athlete and it shows both on and off the field. Through testing, Cooper rated elite in each of the vertical jumps, 20m sprint and agility, while being above average in the yo-yo. Her ability to win the ball on the inside or outside and move it quickly in transition is a key aspect of her game. She can be a little hit or miss with her kicking at times, but her technique is sound, and her weighted handballs open up play for her teammates. Though often a ground level player, Cooper is a second possession winner from a stoppage, using her burst to advantage, and not only that, but her high-level agility to
7
ELITE ATHLETE
FUNDAMENTALS
weave through traffic. By hand, Cooper is clean and able to dish off well, running at 72.7 per cent efficiency in that regard at the AFLW Under 18 Championships for the Allies. Despite her kicking efficiency running at 35.3 per cent, Cooper has a sound technique and her ability to create separation from the stoppage allows her side to benefit down the field. The Swans Academy member has been able to play both inside and outside, and as a small forward at AFL Sydney level for the Wolves. ...
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65.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
2.7 STRENGTHS
TACKLES
+
SPEED
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
AGILITY
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
VERTICAL LEAP
+
HURT FACTOR
KICKING CONSISTENCY
AFLW FANTASY
48.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
4.7
-
PRODUCTION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
7
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
15-30
Amy GAYLOR
DISPOSALS
17.3
CALDER CANNONS
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
170 CM
D.O.B
23/08/2005
1.7
POSITION
MID
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
OUTSTANDING LEAP
Gaylor has had quite the journey over the last two years, from bursting onto the scene as a bottom-ager with Calder, to progressing through to play in the Under 17 Futures match, get into the AFLW Academy and then a top-age Vic Metro selection. But it was far from smooth sailing for the teenager who initially thought she would be out for 12 months. Told she had torn an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Gaylor feared the worst when heading into surgery, but was pleasantly surprised when it was found not to be as severe as first thought. After facing the possibility of missing the entire 2023 season, Gaylor 8
8
FUNDAMENTALS
returned for Vic Metro’s final AFLW Under 18 Championships match, and then played out the remainder of Calder’s season. On-field, Gaylor’s mix of athletic and footballing profile makes her a damaging player. From an athleticism point of view, there’s little that she does not excel in. Boasting the biggest vertical jump in the country (62cm standing and 74cm running), the 171cm midfielder also clocked a 3.2-second 20m sprint, and a sub-eight minute 2km time trial. Essentially, Gaylor can run all day, and ...
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7.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
3.3 STRENGTHS
FREES FOR
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
ATHLETICISM
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
VISION
OUTSIDE GAME
AFLW FANTASY
77.8
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.0
-
KICKING UNDER PRESSURE
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
TOP 2
Shineah GOODY
DISPOSALS
24.7
WWT EAGLES
SOUTH AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
163 CM
D.O.B
08/11/2005
4.7
POSITION
UTIL
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT
CLOSE TO PERFECT
There are so many places to begin when it comes to Goody and what she offers. From bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old with Woodville-West Torrens, the talented utility showed promise even then. Though she was thrown around at bit at either end, she showed the traits that would soon make her one of the best going around. A year later she was a fully fledged winger who could roll back into defence or go forward, and developed into that incredible onballer at state level. In short, she has played on all three lines, inside and outside and can just about do it all.
9
FUNDAMENTALS
With ball-in-hand, few are better distributors of the pill than Goody, who has lovely weighting on both her kicks and handballs. In particular, her long handball one that can travel 30m - is near unmatched, and her one-touch ability is equally ridiculous. Able to win it in space or in close, though she is only 162cm, Goody holds her own, and once she has the ball, she rarely coughs it up. Even when tackled, Goody has outstanding core strength to dish off by hand and even occasionally shrug off would-be ...
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75.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
5.7 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
FOOTY IQ
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
SKILLS
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
CONSISTENCY
+
ATHLETICISM
IMPROVEMENTS -
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
3.3 AFLW FANTASY
90.0 2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
9
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
20-30
Hayley MCLAUGHLIN EASTERN RANGES
DISPOSALS
17.0
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
164 CM
D.O.B
22/11/2005
3.3
POSITION
WING
CONT. POSS %
KEY TRAIT
SPECIALIST WINGER
McLaughlin is a unique AFLW Draft prospect, and one who has come along in leaps and bounds in 2023. As a bottom-ager last season off the back of a cricketing background, McLaughlin rapidly improved for the Eastern Ranges, nailing down a wing role with the Talent League grand finalists. When watching McLaughlin, it is easy to formulate a profile on her because of her clear strengths, and where she can further add strings to her bow. From a positional perspective, few players hold down a wing role better than McLaughlin, whose running patterns, work rate and overall smarts allow her to both win the ball, and use it well. 10
10
A noticeable improvement for McLaughlin in 2023 was her production rate which lifted from 15.2 disposals per game to 19.1. Her defensive pressure remained steady, but rather than being a sheer attacking wing/half-forward, McLaughlin added that defensive running element to her game. That, along with a massive 15 Talent League games - to add to her five in her bottom-age season. McLaughlin’s running patterns and understanding of the game have noticeably improved, and that has come thanks to ...
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41.2
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
1.7 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
OUTSIDE GAME
+
POSITIONING
+
COMPOSURE
+
WORK RATE
+
KICKING
+
DECISION MAKING
STRENGTH
AFLW FANTASY
60.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.3
-
CONTESTED WORK
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
TOP 5
Laura STONE
DISPOSALS
21.0
EASTERN RANGES
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
170 CM
D.O.B
22/11/2005
3.5
POSITION
MID/DEF
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT Stone is an incredibly dynamic player, and her hurt factor and general impact on games cannot be understated. She came into the year as a clear first round talent, but from early on it was evident that it was going to be the pointy end of the first round, and is among the top Victorian prospects in the country. A Collingwood supporter, Stone will switch her black and white stripes for brown and gold, with the Ranges’ ties with the Hawks allowing them to pre-list her. In an open draft, she would be contesting the top Victorian pick and among the top five players in the country. Focusing in on her
11
EXPLOSIVE
FUNDAMENTALS
game, Stone is a natural midfielder, who cut her teeth as a half-back in her bottom-age season. Her ability to win the ball both via hand and off the deck makes her a dual threat in that sense, and allows her to play inside and outside, or just about any position. In 2023, Stone struggled with some concussion issues which saw her miss a number of games, and then returned to the Ranges late in the season where she spent a fair bit of time forward, and rolled into defence. But as soon as she had a few stoppages in the ...
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57.1
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
2.0 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
STRENGTH
+
HURT FACTOR
+
VERSATILITY
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
CLEAN HANDS
ENDURANCE
AFLW FANTASY
74.5
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.5
-
FUNDAMENTALS
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
11
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-40
Jess VUKIC
DISPOSALS
8.0
EASTERN RANGES
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
179 CM
D.O.B
09/05/2005
0.7
POSITION
RUCK/FWD
HITOUTS
KEY TRAIT Vukic is a player who will vary in clubs opinions because of her size compared to her preferred role. When it comes to junior level, and when asking the Ranges tall herself, there is little doubt that ruck is her more dominant position. The AFLW Academy member has tried out both that role with a key forward position, though the former is where she excels head and shoulders above the latter. Over the last couple of years, Vukic has been building nicely, and earned a spot in the AFLW Academy off the back of a promising bottomage campaign with the Ranges. There, she shared the ruck duties with close friend Jacinta Hose, 12
12
RUCK CRAFT
FUNDAMENTALS
but with Hose tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in each knee on different occasions, Vukic often shouldered the ruck load at the Ranges. The plan was for her to play more forward in 2023, and though she did get stints there, her ruck work still remained her greatest technical skill. Few players are a better exponent of the hitout to advantage than Vukic who palms down the ball to teammates or to open space and into the right areas with such skill and grace as she does. Though her ...
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11.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
1.3 STRENGTHS
TACKLES
+
AGGRESSION
+
FOLLOW-UP WORK
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
RUCK CRAFT
+
STRENGTH
FORWARD CRAFT
AFLW FANTASY
46.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.3
-
MARKING
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
1
Lauren YOUNG
DISPOSALS
17.0
WEST ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
178 CM
D.O.B
16/09/2005
7.0
POSITION
UTIL
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
GENERATIONAL TALENT
Young is the top pick in this year’s AFLW Draft, and for Port Adelaide fans there is quite a lot to look forward to. Making her SANFLW debut back in 2021, the then 15-year-old Young went on to earn a Rising Star nomination on debut, taking the most marks, having the most disposals and rebound 50s on the ground, all while playing in midfield and floating to defence. From there, she won the Breakthrough Player Award and competition best and fairest - despite being one of the youngest in the league - while making the SANFLW Team of the Year.
13
It was pretty evident from game one that had she needed to step up to the AFLW a week later, that she could have coped, but instead, it was the AFLW Under 18 Championships where South Australia sought - and received - special allowance to play Young as a 15-year-old. She went on to not only hold her own, but win her state’s MVP and earn All-Australian honours off just two games. At the end of the year, disaster struck, and she tore her ACL, missing the entire 2022 season. Returning in 2023, ...
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3.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
GOALS
3.0 STRENGTHS
SCORE ASSISTS
+
CONTESTED MARKING
+
WORK RATE
+
VERSATILITY
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
ATHLETICISM
+
KICKING PENETRATION
POLISH
AFLW FANTASY
96.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.7
-
SET SHOT CONSISTENCY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
13
TOP 30 PLAYERS TO WATCH 14
A-Z
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
15-30
Chloe ADAMS
DISPOSALS
11.3
GEELONG FALCONS
VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
163 CM
D.O.B
13/12/2005
1.7
POSITION
MID/DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Adams is the quintessential coaches dream. She can win the ball inside or out, use it effectively both sides of her body, bring plenty of defensive pressure and do it each and every week. As captain of Geelong Falcons and co-captain of Vic Country, Adams is a player who has quickly endeared herself to both coaches and players alike. Starting with her game itself, Adams is a natural contested ball-winner, but is just as capable on the outside. She can thrive on being that first possession winner, as her hands out of traffic and ability to kick off both sides of her body allow her to win her fair share of clearances. As a second
15
LEADER
FUNDAMENTALS
possession winner, she can also pick the right options, showing fairly strong decision making processes as well. While her hands are her best asset from a disposal perspective, her opposite foot is strong enough she can still fall back onto it if corralled, and that decision making will ensure it is at least into an advantageous area for her team. Without the ball, Adams is a consistent and relentless tackler, and it showed with eight per game at Talent League level. ...
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7.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
2.3 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
DUAL-SIDED
+
CLEAN SKILLS
+
CONSISTENCY
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
LEADERSHIP
GROUND BALLS
AFLW FANTASY
64.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.0
-
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
15
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
20-40
Isabel BACON
DISPOSALS
12.7
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
172 CM
D.O.B
11/04/2005
2.7
POSITION
MID/DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
PHYSICALITY PERSONIFIED
Bacon comes from a multi-sport background, where she played a variety of sports including basketball and netball alongside her athletics and cross country. In her top-age year, she set her sights on reaching the elite level of Australian rules football, and by the end of the Talent League Girls program, hit her straps with her best form of the season. The Dragons utility played both half-back and through the middle, as well as off a wing. Though not the highest accumulator of the ball, Bacon’s explosive speed coupled with her physicality and aggression at the contest make her such a concern for the opposition. 16
16
FUNDAMENTALS
When she tackles, she tackles with intent, and laid a whopping 7.5 per game across her 11 matches for the Dragons. A real ground level player who had more aerial presence when stepping into the ‘Big V’, her work at halfback for Vic Metro really caught the eye. She ran off and provided some drive from defence, and set up scoring chains in the process. With a high-level endurance base to go with her speed and all-round athleticism, Bacon can continually impact games with her repeat contest work. Bacon ...
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4.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
46.3 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
ENDURANCE
+
PHYSICALITY
+
VERSATILITY
+
UPSIDE
KICKING
AFLW FANTASY
59.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.3
-
DECISION MAKING
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
TOP 5
Brooke BARWICK TASMANIA DEVILS
HEIGHT
157 CM
DISPOSALS
14.5 TASMANIA
D.O.B
29/07/2005
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
65.5
POSITION
MID
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
SMOOTH-MOVING SMALL
A talented player out of the Apple Isle, Barwick has plenty going for her as a prospect. Long considered one of the better Tasmanians in her draft class, she showed her talent in glimpses as a 15-year-old in 2021. After playing seven games that year and averaging 9.6 disposals and 4.0 marks, Barwick stepped up as a bottom-ager in 2022. Her class and toughness came to the fore last season, as she upped her numbers to 15.6 disposals and 6.2 tackles. Though only a small player at 157cm, Barwick packs a punch for her size, and is not afraid to take on much bigger opponents. Even at last year’s national carnival for the Allies, Barwick held her own
17
FUNDAMENTALS
with an average of 14.5 disposals and 4.5 clearances in the two games as a full Allies outfit. Barwick’s clearance ability, combined with her defensive pressure, stands above all else, but she is also clean and effective with ball-in-hand. She picks the right decisions and has the footy smarts to get herself out of trouble. A well-balanced player by hand or foot, she does not have a dominant predisposition to either, and therefore plays each possession on its merits. The pocket rocket rarely plays a bad game ...
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2.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
76.7 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
SKILLS
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
CONSISTENCY
+
EVASION
+
FOOTY IQ
+
TACKLING
ENDURANCE
AFLW FANTASY
46.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
0.7
-
MARKING
2022 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
17
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
15-30
Kiara BISCHA
DISPOSALS
8.7
SUNS ACADEMY
QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
174 CM
D.O.B
15/04/2005
1.3
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
UNDERRATED DEFENDER
Bischa has done well adapting to a multitude of teams this year representing Bond University either side of a campaign with the Suns Academy and then Queensland at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. While all those sides are stacked with young talent, Bischa stood out to claim the Academy Player of the Year award, showing just how highly regarded she is internally. Perhaps the performance that put her on the map was her national carnival game against Lauren Young, where she kept the top AFLW Draft prospect to just one goal and did just about all you can with a player of Young’s size, strength and attributes. Then 18
18
FUNDAMENTALS
against Vic Country, with potential top pick Ash Centra running hot with two goals in two minutes, Bischa moved onto her and did not allow another major from that point on. The 174cm defender is ultracompetitive and has clean hands. She is able to time her spoils well, and her defensive accountability really shines. But perhaps the fact that she can still provide some offensive drive is what really catches the eye, as she is not just a pure stopper. With ball-in-hand, Bischa is generally ...
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4.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
65.4 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
ONE-ON-ONES
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
DEFENSIVE ACCOUNTABILITY
+
KICKING
+
DEFENSIVE VERSATILITY
POSITIONING
AFLW FANTASY
43.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
4.5
-
CONTESTED MARKING
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
10-20
Brooke BOILEAU SOUTH ADELAIDE
DISPOSALS
21.3 SOUTH AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
169 CM
D.O.B
28/01/2005
2.7
POSITION
MID
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT
CONSISTENT PRODUCTION
Boileau was a member of the State Academy extended squad heading into her bottom-age year in 2022, but missed the final cut due to the strength of the overall team that went undefeated at the national carnival. Finishing the year in her preferred role of midfield, Boileau made marked improvements both in her game and athletically. Looking at her athletic profile, her agility in particular improved substantially from preseason through to the AFLW Draft Combine, shaving off 0.69 seconds to rank inside the top 10 with a score of 8.629 seconds. She also showed off an impressive endurance, registering a time of
19
FUNDAMENTALS
eight minutes and two seconds to be equal second in her state. Looking to her on-field traits, it is hard to go past her natural contested ball-winning ability. She thrives at the coalface, puts her body on the line and can be a first or second possession winner. Though she is not explosive, Boileau is very good at taking long strides from the contest, covering more ground than a lot of other midfielders. Importantly, Boileau does not just win the ball, but she wins it back. The South Adelaide ...
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59.4
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
TACKLES
5.7 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
CONSISTENCY
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
FOOTY IQ
+
PRODUCTION
+
AGILITY
OUTSIDE GAME
AFLW FANTASY
86.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
4.3
-
COMPOSURE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
19
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
10-25
Cleo BUTTIFANT GIANTS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
14.7 NSW/ACT MARKS
HEIGHT
174 CM
D.O.B
03/05/2005
3.3
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Buttifant is a name who would have been scarce on draft boards 12 months ago, with the touch football player really breaking through in Aussie rules this year. She started the year for the GWS GIANTS Academy and caught the eye with her aerial ability and natural play reading from the defensive half. Though she has spent time through the midfield for the Turvey Park Bulldogs, Buttifant settled into a centre half-back role at Talent League level. In her two games for the orange and charcoal, Buttifant averaged 17.0 disposals, 3.0 marks, 4.5 inside 50s and 4.5 rebound 50s. Her aggressive nature, both in her 20
20
HUGE UPSIDE
FUNDAMENTALS
tackling and playstyle showed a raw innate ability that could be unleashed on the AFLW. Though some areas of her game are still raw, Buttifant has a lot of eyecatching traits. In particular, her aerial ability is a standout feature. She can leap high, pluck contested marks or drop into the hole to intercept, then explode away down the field. At times she would be better to take the extra few seconds to assess her options, but the touch background has her naturally wanting to take grass and get metres for ...
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3.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
3.0 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
ACCELERATION
+
OFFENSIVE DRIVE
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
UPSIDE
+
READING THE PLAY
+
AGGRESSION
KICKING CONSISTENCY
AFLW FANTASY
62.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.0
-
DECISION MAKING
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
10-25
Georgia CLARK
DISPOSALS
15.9
TASMANIA DEVILS
TASMANIA MARKS
HEIGHT
173 CM
D.O.B
11/12/2005
4.0
POSITION
TALL FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Clark is a naturally gifted forward who has a mix of old school and modern forward traits. The old school side of Clark’s forward craft comes in her traditional leading and marking, before converting set shot goals consistently. But where the Tasmanian adds a point of difference is in her work rate up the field, getting as far up as half-back to provide a marking target, before pushing forward to get involved in repeat contests down the field. In marking contests, Clark is hard to quell. If the ball is put to her advantage, an opponent simply has to get body contact on her, or have a well-timed spoil, or she will clunk the mark. In her first two Talent
21
VELCRO HANDS
FUNDAMENTALS
League games, Clark averaged 10 marks from 17 disposals and booted 5.3 in that time. Though it took her a little while to find that form again after a midseason quiet patch, Clark finished fairly strongly with big games against Murray Bushrangers and Calder Cannons with 20-plus disposals in each match. Her season ended with figures of 17 goals in 11 games from 15.9 disposals and 4.0 marks, though her work was largely done between the arcs later in the season. At the national carnival, Clark found ...
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5.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
2.5 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
CONTESTED MARKING
+
ENDURANCE
+
STRENGTH
+
KICKING
+
FORWARD CRAFT
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
SPEED
AFLW FANTASY
88.2
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.5
-
GROUND BALLS
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
21
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
10-20
Georgie CLEAVER EAST FREMANTLE
DISPOSALS
11.9 WESTERN AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
181 CM
D.O.B
14/08/2005
2.3
POSITION
RUCK/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Cleaver is a naturally gifted athlete who has also shared her time between both football and netball. One of Western Australia’s rising stars across both sports, the 181cm talent is hoping to land a contract in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN), particularly at home with the West Coast Fever. Along with her netball aspirations, she wants to chase her AFL Women’s dream, with a focus on remaining in Western Australia to juggle both her sporting commitments. A massive West Coast Eagles fan, Cleaver has a lot of tricks to her trade, with her aerial ability, marking and groundball work among her big strengths. 22
22
ATHLETIC TALL
Starting with her athleticism, Cleaver is strong in her leap and able to take the ball above her head consistently, including in contested and uncontested situations. Often taller than most, and certainly more athletic, she is hard to beat in the air. What complicates the situation more for an opponent is, even with a clinical spoil, the contest is not yet done. Once the ball hits the deck, Cleaver is efficient at ground level, and just as mobile as any opponent, able to scoop it up and dish it off to running teammates ...
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5.1
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
HITOUTS
12.1 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
MARKING
+
ATHLETICISM
+
GROUND BALLS
+
WORK RATE
+
UPSIDE
KICKING
AFLW FANTASY
73.6
IMPROVEMENTS -
0.6
-
SET SHOT CONSISTENCY WAFL WOMEN’S
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
20-40
Rania CROZIER
DISPOSALS
10.7
LIONS ACADEMY
QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
179 CM
D.O.B
18/11/2005
3.7
POSITION
KEY FWD
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT
RAPID DEVELOPER
Aspley talent Rania Crozier has been a draft bolter of sorts since returning from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury last year. Crozier played exclusively through the QAFL Women’s where she plied her trade for the Hornets against senior opponents. Kicking nine goals in 13 games, she showed off her rare athleticism and ability to clunk the ball at the highest point. Her form in the state league competition was enough to catch the eye of Lions Academy coaches, and AFLW Academy head coach Tarkyn Lockyer agreed, adding her to the AFLW Academy despite not playing for her state at the national carnival. That decision proved
23
great foresight with Crozier going from strength to strength this year. Crozier only played the eight QAFL Women’s games, kicking six goals, but also booted goals in each of her three Talent League games for the unbeaten Lions Academy, and represented her country at Marvel Stadium. At the national carnival, Crozier played two matches, with her best performance coming against the Allies where she kicked three goals to be one of the best.From a draft profile perspective, Crozier’s marking is what really ...
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65.6
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
TACKLES
1.3 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
CONTESTED MARKING
+
WORK RATE
+
ATHLETICISM
+
UPSIDE
CONSISTENCY
AFLW FANTASY
54.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.3
-
PRODUCTION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
23
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
25-50
Keely FULLERTON BENDIGO PIONEERS
DISPOSALS
8.7
VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
160 CM
D.O.B
30/01/2005
2.3
POSITION
WING/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
DAMAGING LEFTY
Fullerton is a player who can tend to fly under the radar, particularly when two of her Pioneers teammates in Lila Keck and Bryde O’Rourke catch the eye with their own flashes of brilliance. However, Fullerton may well be the most rounded of the trio, even if her consistency and production might not be as high. There is a lot to like about Fullerton, from her all-round athletic base, to her natural footballing skill, and balance of offensive and defensive traits. She is an underrated prospect who in fairness, over her body of work deserves to be among the top 40 prospects this year. There are many layers to her game, 24
24
FUNDAMENTALS
and she has played 26 games at Talent League level across three seasons, building on each. Her top-age year saw her averages rise to 10.4 disposals, 3.9 tackles and 2.6 inside 50s per game. Though not mindblowing numbers, Fullerton is more of a player who impresses from the eye view rather than on a stats page. Rarely will a Fullerton touch not impact a game in some way, as she knows how to effectively use her explosive speed to win the ball forward of centre, and when within range, has a long penetrating kick for ...
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2.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
35.7 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
SPEED
+
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
+
ENDURANCE
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
KICKING
+
CLASS
PRODUCTION
AFLW FANTASY
38.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
0.7
-
FOUR-QUARTER CONSISTENCY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
TOP 10
Elaine GRIGG
DISPOSALS
17.7
CENTRAL DISTRICT
SOUTH AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
161 CM
D.O.B
23/12/2005
1.3
POSITION
MID/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
TENACIOUS TACKLER
Grigg’s game is built off her defensive attributes, and supported by one of the more well-rounded athletic profiles. Her tackling pressure is a non-negotiable in each and every match, and while it can sometimes lead her into trouble - such as conceding free kicks - she will throw everything into stopping the opposition in their tracks. At SANFL Women’s level, Grigg moved from North Adelaide to Central District over the offseason, to play for the club that her grandfather is a long-time patron at. In turn, she became the only back-to-back SANFLW premiership play for the 2022 to 2023 seasons,
25
FUNDAMENTALS
including a typical 15-disposal, 15-tackle game in the premiership win over South Adelaide. Grigg laid five or more tackles in all bar one of her games at SANFLW level this season, recording eight or more tackles in nine of her 14 matches. Given she is a lightly built player, it is more impressive the tenacious utility is not afraid to put her body on the line and worry the opposition whenever she is closing them down.
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
2.3 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
AGILITY
+
TACKLING
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
UPSIDE
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
WORK RATE
Her defensive pressure is helped by a combination of ...
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5.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
DECISION MAKING
AFLW FANTASY
73.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.3
-
KICKING CONSISTENCY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
25
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
20-40
Sarah GRUNDEN CALDER CANNONS
DISPOSALS
12.3 VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
168 CM
D.O.B
25/02/2005
1.8
POSITION
GEN FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
LOCKED IN VISION
Grunden burst onto the scene in the opening three rounds of the season for the Cannons, announcing herself as a genuine draft contender. Having spent preseason with the Western Jets two years ago, a fitter and more experienced Grunden found herself back in the Under 18s elite talent pathway, but this time with Calder. Across the course of the first three weeks, Grunden averaged 18 disposals, 2.3 marks, 3.7 tackles, 4.0 inside 50s and booted 4.3. Those trio of games ended up being three of her highest production games for the season, and gave a glimpse into what she was capable of. As a midfielder at local level who 26
26
FUNDAMENTALS
became a forward at the Cannons, Grunden fitted well inside 50. Even when she was not kicking goals, she was setting up her teammates and showing great forward craft to assist her side to best get the win. Her kicking and vision in the front half particularly stood out and added a point of difference compared to individual heavy volume scorers. Grunden was not a consistent scorer, and in face after the first three rounds only kicked another three goals for the ...
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4.9
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
2.5 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
VISION
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
FOOTY IQ
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
KICKING
+
FORWARD CRAFT
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
AFLW FANTASY
61.1
IMPROVEMENTS -
0.6
-
CONSISTENCY
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
25-40
Jaime HENRY
DISPOSALS
15.0
SWAN DISTRICTS
WESTERN AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
173 CM
D.O.B
05/10/2005
2.3
POSITION
MID/DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
CONSISTENTLY CLEAN
Henry is a natural footballer who has a lot going for her. She is naturally defensive, coming from that tall back role where she started with the Black Ducks in 2021. She moved into the midfield after a successful carnival in that role with Western Australia last year, and has essentially remained an inside midfield throughout the last 18 months. Focusing on her ball use, Henry is a clean player who has a neat leftfoot that can hit targets both under pressure and in space. Though there are more potent users, Henry is usually a safe operator with ballin-hand, making good decisions each time she uses it. Able to go off
27
FUNDAMENTALS
her right too, Henry knows where to move due to her high footy IQ, and she can equally find the ball on the outside. Despite that fact, Henry is an inside-dominant player as that is where her strengths lie. Standing at 176cm, Henry is a tall player with great pure strength, and uses her frame well to keep the ball in her immediate area, while making life difficult for her opponent. Traditionally a first possession winner, Henry is capable of being a second possession winner as well, largely running at a 1:1 ...
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3.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
55.6 STRENGTHS
CONT. POSS %
+
FOOTY IQ
+
CONSISTENCY
+
STRENGTH
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
DEFENSIVE CRAFT
SPEED
AFLW FANTASY
54.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
39.1
-
OFFENSIVE GAME
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
27
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
15-30
Kayley KAVANAGH CALDER CANNONS
DISPOSALS
17.7 VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
169 CM
D.O.B
06/07/2005
2.0
POSITION
MID
HANDBALL EFF%
KEY TRAIT Kavanagh became one of the AFLW draft bolters this season after minimising her deficiencies and improving on her strengths. The 169cm midfielder started the year with a 28-disposal game against Sandringham Dragons, and it was an inkling of what Kavanagh was set to produce, as she recorded 20-plus disposals in all of her nine games. Though often knocked for her polish - she herself noted her kicking particularly when on the move going forward - Kavanagh definitely improved on her execution throughout the year. The Cannons talent has always 28
28
CLEAN HANDS
FUNDAMENTALS
been a clean ball-winner on the inside, but was largely a 1-wood midfielder in terms of how she went about her football. Throughout the course of the season, Kavanagh increased her work on the outside, getting to good positions and even becoming an option in transition, drifting to a flank or to the outside. She took four or more marks in six matches, including four of her last five games. That form was the result of her confidence growing from a superb AFLW Under 18 Championships. Rewind a couple of ...
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91.4
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
TACKLES
5.7 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
INSIDE GAME
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
CONSISTENCY
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
PRODUCTION
+
STRENGTH
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
AFLW FANTASY
67.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
5.7
-
KICKING CONSISTENCY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
10-30
Lila KECK
DISPOSALS
14.0
BENDIGO PIONEERS
VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
162 CM
D.O.B
20/10/2005
2.0
POSITION
SML FWD
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT Keck is first and foremost a prodigious talent with high X-Factor. It is hard to miss when she kicks a goal as she usually has a unique celebration to match. Making her Bendigo Pioneers debut as a 15-year-old in 2021, Keck racked up seven games in her maiden season before becoming that established small forward in 2022. She booted seven goals in 10 games, and followed that up with another three in eight this year for the Pioneers. Throughout that time, Keck moved up the ranks, representing Vic Country at Under 17s and then Under 18s level, including at this year’s national carnival. Across
29
GOAL SENSE
FUNDAMENTALS
her three games, Keck averaged a goal a game from 13.7 disposals, 2.7 marks and 2.7 tackles, even spending some time up the ground on a wing. She played in that role late for the AFLW Academy against the Under 23 All-Stars. Keck’s finishing off the back of her forward craft and high-level footy IQ stands out when she takes the field. She is a ‘moments’ player who will look to challenge the defence and keep the ball in motion as she runs onto it. Though not explosively quick, Keck is very evasive and capable ...
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59.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
TACKLES
2.7 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
GOAL SENSE
+
EVASION
+
FORWARD CRAFT
+
ENDURANCE
+
FOOTY IQ
+
X-FACTOR
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
AFLW FANTASY
58.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.0
-
FOUR-QUARTER CONSISTENCY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
29
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
15-30
Evie LONG
DISPOSALS
9.7
LIONS ACADEMY
QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
175 CM
D.O.B
22/08/2005
3.0
POSITION
WING/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
UNIQUE PROSPECT
When it comes to building a prototype footballer, the traits that come to mind include size, athleticism, skill, decision making and defensive pressure. Rarely will one player have all these traits, but that is certainly the case for Long who ticks a lot of boxes across the board. At the national carnival, the Brisbane Lions Academy wing/ forward - who had only played on Talent League game - averaged 9.7 disposals, 3.0 marks, 4.0 tackles and kicked five goals. Long had a purple patch quarter in the third term against the Allies, kicking three goals and looking incredibly dangerous both in the air and at 30
30
FUNDAMENTALS
ground level. What Long does with ball-inhand is very impressive. Boasting a great kicking technique both in-field and when lining up for a set shot, Long is a consistent ball user with high hurt factor. At her 175cm size, Long has the height to beat most in a one-on-one contest and is quite strong in the air. Impressively if she feels the ball will be smothered, she is not afraid to tap it once before taking it cleanly on the second grab.
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
69.0 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
KICKING
+
FOOTY IQ
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
SPEED-ENDURANCE MIX
+
HURT FACTOR
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
Once the ball hits the ...
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4.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
PRODUCTION
AFLW FANTASY
61.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.7
-
DURABILITY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
10-25
Sienna MCMULLEN SUNS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
12.0 QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
165 CM
D.O.B
15/07/2005
3.0
POSITION
WING
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT McMullen was highly touted entering her top-age year, with the talented winger spending time inside at points, but her best performance came in the Under 17s showcase last June. There, McMullen showed off her best traits which included her speed and agility weaving through traffic before delivering cleanly down the field. In 2023, McMullen again balanced her roles but primarily played on a wing and then rolled to half-back where she could utilise her running power and skill in transition. She is capable of hitting targets at full speed and when she is up and going is one of the best players in
31
SLICK USER
FUNDAMENTALS
the 2023 AFLW Draft crop. McMullen is not a huge ball-winner that perhaps holds her back from some of her contemporaries, averaging 12 disposals, three marks and three tackles from her three state games, and picking up the six touches, two marks and two tackles in her sole Suns Academy outing against the Oakleigh Chargers. Her production rate will increase with greater consistency, and though she has spent time on the inside, still has ...
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66.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
TACKLES
3.0 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
SPEED
+
OUTSIDE GAME
+
AGILITY
+
KICKING
+
ENDURANCE
+
DECISION MAKING
PRODUCTION
AFLW FANTASY
50.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.7
-
INSIDE GAME
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
31
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
20-40
Bryde O’ROURKE BENDIGO PIONEERS
DISPOSALS
9.3 VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
175 CM
D.O.B
28/11/2005
2.7
POSITION
MID/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
NATURAL UPSIDE
O’Rourke has the raw traits to be a very exciting player at the top level. With explosive speed that stands out on the field, coupled with her ability to pull off a slick sidestep, her athletic base itself is what clubs are looking for in a player. Add in her 175cm height, and she will often be taller than most opponents one-on-one. Going further from her height, O’Rourke has shown she can not only play midfield, but also in attack. The latter is where she largely played over the last couple of years as she looked to work on her endurance to run out games for longer and therefore spend more time on-ball. It is still a work 32
32
FUNDAMENTALS
in progress, but with a number of key Pioneers injured mid-year, O’Rourke earned that additional midfield time and added that key experience to her younger teammates. With ball-in-hand, O’Rourke has an instinctive offensive flow to her game. She will look to run and gun, breaking down the opposition defence and going long inside 50, which will lead to a high percentage of inside 50s of almost four per game at Talent League level. Impressive, O’Rourke has stepped behind ...
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3.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
53.6 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
SPEED
+
EVASION
+
SIZE
+
OFFENSIVE GAME
+
VERSATILITY
+
UPSIDE
KICKING CONSISTENCY
AFLW FANTASY
44.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.7
-
ENDURANCE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
10-25
Sophie PETERS
DISPOSALS
11.0
LIONS ACADEMY
QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
163 CM
D.O.B
12/03/2005
1.0
POSITION
WING
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT
SMOOTH MOVER
Peters is such a naturally talented footballer that even when identifying her areas of improvement, it is hard to ignore the array of skills and tricks she has at her disposal. The Maroochydore prospect represented the AFLW Academy at Marvel Stadium playing one of her best games there - and as has also run out in all three games for the Lions Academy in the Talent League, and Queensland at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. For the AFLW Academy, Peters only had the 13 disposals, but took five marks and had a couple of inside 50s and went at 77 per cent disposal efficiency. That is Peters
33
FUNDAMENTALS
in a nutshell, with her combination of skill, speed and evasion all eyecatching. The way Peters plays is perhaps a prototype for the future of AFL Women’s, and though she is not the full package just yet, she is a long way to being a damaging talent. At Under 18s level, Peters looks a class above with ball-in-hand, as she mixes her skill with speed and evasion. One such example was when lining up for goal from 45m out against the Allies at Heritage Bank Stadium, she knew she had to gain 10m ...
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69.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
TACKLES
3.0 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
HURT FACTOR
+
SKILL
+
SPEED
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
EVASION
+
DECISION MAKING
GROUND BALLS
AFLW FANTASY
46.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.7
-
CONTESTED WORK
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
33
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
TOP 5
Alyssia PISANO
DISPOSALS
11.1
EASTERN RANGES
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
162 CM
D.O.B
01/07/2005
2.1
POSITION
SML FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Pisano has long been a player on the lips of club recruiters, turning out for the Ranges as a 15-year-old where she kicked 19 goals in 10 games and announced herself as a star of the future. Unfortunately, the talented bottom-ager would add just five more games to that tally in 2022, going down with a dreaded anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and her year ended with 10 goals in that season. Though she missed Vic Metro representation as a bottom-ager, one would be forgiven for forgetting she ever had a long-term injury, because she returned the Ranges’ first game in Round 1 of the Talent League Girls season. While many 34
34
MATCHWINNER
FUNDAMENTALS
might have a slow start or nervous moments coming back from a knee injury, Pisano slammed home four goals from 13 disposals against Dandenong Stingrays, and backed it up with half a dozen against Northern Knights the following week. It was simply mind-boggling to think that in just two games back from such a serious injury, Pisano had the confidence to twist and turn, weave and dodge, and slot goal after goal. By the end of the Talent League season, she would boot 38 majors in 11 ...
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2.9
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
2.1 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
KICKING
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
GOAL SENSE
+
FORWARD CRAFT
+
X-FACTOR
+
CLASS
OPPOSITE FOOT
AFLW FANTASY
65.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.7
-
CONVERSION
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
5-20
Jessica RENTSCH GWV REBELS
DISPOSALS
14.4 VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
171 CM
D.O.B
10/11/2005
1.0
POSITION
MID/DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
METRES GAINED
Rentsch showed some promising signs as a bottom-ager for the Rebels last season, standing up as a highly athletic talent with upside. Though not always consistent, she had that explosive speed which held her in great stead for the future. After being selected for the Under 17s Futures game, Rentsch’s day ended early after breaking her leg, an injury that would keep her in recovery across the off-season. Fortunately for the top-ager, she was able to return for Round 1 of the Talent League Girls season, and after starting 2023 as a half-back, progressed onto the wing and then into the middle. She gained confidence as the year went on,
35
and soon justified her place as a genuine first round prospect.What stands out about Rentsch is her outstanding speed off the mark, and also her ability to take the ball at top speed and not break stride. Her run and carry she provides for her side is eye-catching and with ball-in-hand, her main aim is to build up metres gained to open up the opposition on transition. Without the ball, she still uses that explosive speed to full advantage, laying a high number of tackles to put pressure on the ball carrier. In terms of her disposal, ...
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5.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
3.5 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
VERSATILITY
+
RUN-AND-CARRY
+
KICKING PENETRATION
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
STRENGTH
COMPOSURE
AFLW FANTASY
32.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.1
-
KICKING CONSISTENCY
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
35
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
20-40
Jemma RIGONI
DISPOSALS
11.0
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
172 CM
D.O.B
04/06/2004
2.0
POSITION
UTIL
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Rigoni has had her ups and downs over the past couple of seasons, showing promising signs in her bottom-age year back in 2021, returning after the pandemic to play 10 games. However disaster struck on preliminary final day. Rigoni tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), missed the grand final and her entire top-age season in 2022. In 2023, she returned in a blaze of glory, quickly establishing herself as a key member of the Chargers’ defence. Her offensive nature and determination to take the game on as often as possible caught the eye of Vic Metro selectors and AFLW clubs. She was named for the 36
36
VERSATILE TALL
FUNDAMENTALS
Under 23 All-Stars and then Metro where she played two of the three games, missing the middle one against South Australia due to a knee injury. Luckily it would not keep her out for long, as she returned against Vic Country, then finished the year with the Chargers, this time completing the fairytale premiership success story having missed out two years prior. Perhaps most impressive was her last month and a half of the Talent League Girls season, where she did not dip below double-digit possessions playing ...
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2.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
1.5 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
READING THE PLAY
+
VERSATILITY
+
AGILITY
+
SIZE
+
UPSIDE
KICKING
AFLW FANTASY
40.5
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.5
-
COMPOSURE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
20-40
Meg ROBERTSON DANDENONG STINGRAYS
DISPOSALS
16.0
VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
169 CM
D.O.B
06/06/2005
2.7
POSITION
MID
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT
INSIDE BALL-WINNER
Robertson worked well in tandem with Mikayla Williamson, as her AFLW Academy teammate rotated in similar roles across the field. The contested ball-winner was particularly influential through the middle and then spent time inside 50 where she was able to hit the scoreboard on a number of occasions. Even when not resting, Robertson was good at pushing forward and finding space to be able to have shots on goal. There are a number of elements that standout about Robertson’s game, with her footy IQ being the top aspect of her game. She reads the play well off taps, gets to the right spaces and can win the ball
37
FUNDAMENTALS
inside or outside. Naturally better at the coalface where she can scoop it up or receive the handball, Robertson has a knack for also getting repeat possessions as she runs hard in transition. On more than a few occasions, Robertson would deliver the ball to half-forward to a leading target, then dart inside 50 and win another touch leading out all alone. Her goalkicking accuracy that came after that was still an area to work on though, as she did leave quite a few goals out on the park when she had ...
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58.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
TACKLES
3.0 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
WORK RATE
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
VERSATILITY
+
SPEED
+
FOOTY IQ
COMPOSURE
AFLW FANTASY
61.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.7
-
CONVERSION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
37
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
TOP 20
Ella SLOCOMBE CLAREMONT
DISPOSALS
15.0 WESTERN AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
165 CM
D.O.B
06/12/2005
1.0
POSITION
MID/FWD
CONT. POSS %
KEY TRAIT Slocombe had a delayed start to the season, spending time overseas over the Summer which initially had her potentially missing the cut for Claremont’s WAFLW League side. Impressing so much in the Tigers’ practice match against East Perth, she forced her way into the Round 1 team and never looked back. In fact, the only thing that stopped her was injury. Unfortunately after splitting her time between the Tigers and the West Australian side, an avulsion fracture in her knee ruled her out of the second half of the WAFLW season. Her last match came in Round 12, which was just her sixth match of the season. Kicking a goal 38
38
SKILL & SPEED
FUNDAMENTALS
a game on average, she had doubledigit disposals in each of her games, with her best performance coming against Peel Thunder in Round 10 with 17 disposals, four marks and 2.2. At the AFLW Under 18 Championships, she was among Western Australia’s best in game one taking on South Australia, then returned for the back-to-back August games. She was a touch underdone for the first one against the Allies not playing to her usual standard, but got back to showing what she can do ...
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56.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
3.3 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
+
ATHLETICISM
+
VERSATILITY
+
KICKING
+
UPSIDE
DURABILITY
AFLW FANTASY
45.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.0
-
PRODUCTION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
10-20
Kaitlyn SRHOJ
DISPOSALS
17.0
PEEL THUNDER
WESTERN AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
174 CM
D.O.B
10/07/2005
4.7
POSITION
MID
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT
OVERHEAD MARKING
Srhoj has a terrific point of difference compared to many other inside-outside midfielders in the sense that she is so strong overhead and can take a stack of marks. While many are better at ground level than in the air, the Peel Thunder top-ager does her best work over her head, and she showed that both through the WAFLW and particularly AFLW Under 18 Championships. From the moment she stepped into the Peel Thunder League side last year, it was evident Srhoj had some special talents. She easily adapted to the top level, and while there were areas of her game that could still improve, she played 10 games
39
FUNDAMENTALS
and averaged 3.2 marks playing as a specialist winger. Following her year - where she also represented the Black Ducks at the national championships - Srhoj earned a spot in the Under 17s Futures game. Running out on GMHBA Stadium, Srhoj earned MVP honours for her side, to really announce herself as a top-end prospect for 2023. That game, along with representing the AFLW Academy at Marvel Stadium, were some of her best performances across the last 18 months, showing she could match it with the best of the ...
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60.8
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
2.3 STRENGTHS
SCORE ASSISTS
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
ENDURANCE
+
VERSATILITY
+
FOOTY IQ
+
EVASION
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
COMPOSURE
AFLW FANTASY
57.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.3
-
CONSISTENCY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
39
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-50
Mel STAUNTON GIANTS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
20.7 NSW/ACT MARKS
HEIGHT
167 CM
D.O.B
24/01/2005
13.0
POSITION
MID/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
COMPETITIVE BEAST
Staunton was a name somewhat of a surprise in the AFLW Academy when it was initially named, having not played for the GIANTS Academy or Allies in 2022. It was soon evident what the coaching staff had seen in the Ulladulla Docker who quickly made her mark upon debut for the GIANTS Academy in the Talent League. The GIANTS Academy member kicked a goal from 20 disposals and laid six tackles against Tasmania Devils, before backing that up with a 25-disposal, three-mark and 1.3 performance a week later against Gippsland Power. She would finish her three-game Talent League stint averaging 20.7 disposals and 40
40
FUNDAMENTALS
5.3 tackles, showing her wares as both a strong inside midfielder and a dangerous forward. Staunton is not quick and does lack that explosive speed that many with similar games have, but what stands out in her bursts from midfield is the fact she is incredibly powerful and strong. Often shrugging off would-be tacklers, Staunton can run herself into trouble at times, but the sheer will to breakthrough players catches the eye. Outside of her athleticism, Staunton is a natural inside midfielder, ...
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5.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
4.0 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
PHYSICALITY
+
STRENGTH
+
FOOTY IQ
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
KICKING PENETRATION
LIMITED EXPOSURE
AFLW FANTASY
80.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.0
-
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
TOP 5
Kristie-Lee WESTON-TURNER WESTERN JETS
DISPOSALS
13.5
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
178 CM
D.O.B
01/07/2005
1.8
POSITION
KEY FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
STAR POTENTIAL
Weston-Turner will have one of the best AFLW Draft highlight packages going around. The way she can duck and weave, turn on a dime and explode away, it is almost unheard of from a player of her size. At 178cm, Weston-Turner can equally beat players in the air, or at ground level, including opponents who are smaller and in theory, should be quicker. Except the Western Jets premiership star defies those expectations. From an athletic base, WestonTurner is one of the most athletically gifted players, and in fact, based off her Physical Performance Rating from the AFLW Draft Combine testing, Weston-Turner scored an
41
FUNDAMENTALS
0.93, the highest of anyone on the day. Her vertical jumps and 20m sprint fell into the ‘elite’ category, with her agility rated ‘very good’. Luckily for Weston-Turner regarding these traits of explosive speed, aerial ability and evasion, she actually shows them on the field. Quite often players will test well and not always utilise their athleticism, but Weston-Turner does just that. Her leading patterns are quick, she gets her hands to the ball and once it hits the deck, she is away in a split second. If Weston-Turner gets ...
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3.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
2.8 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
X-FACTOR
+
EVASION
+
UPSIDE
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
KICKING PENETRATION
COMPOSURE
AFLW FANTASY
53.2
IMPROVEMENTS -
0.7
-
SET SHOT CONSISTENCY
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
41
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-50
Kiera WHILEY
DISPOSALS
16.3
WESTERN JETS
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
172 CM
D.O.B
07/04/2005
1.0
POSITION
MID
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT
WELL-ROUNDED PROFILE
Whiley is a member of the AFLW Academy and primarily an inside midfielder. She has spent time in a range of positions, but largely as a bottom-ager. In 2022, Whiley played 10 games to follow-up from her eight in 2021, increasing her overall production year-on-year. While she often spent more time on the outside prior to this year due to the likes of Montana Ham and Charlotte Baskaran being on the premiership-winning Western Jets side, Whiley had no trouble taking the reins both on and off the field. She captained the club, and shared the bulk of the contested ball-winning with Kiera Leare. Focusing in on Whiley’s game, 42
42
what really stands out is her strong grasp on the fundamentals. She gets to the right spots, wins the ball and makes good decisions with ball-in-hand. Often a lot of her possessions are within a metre of the coalface, and she is one who at a ball-up will have the option of burrowing down, but also ducking out the back and clearing the ball forward. A reliable ball user on both sides of her body, Whiley is not afraid to put her body on the line. She will do all the team things, and also lay the big tackles when ...
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61.2
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
TACKLES
5.0 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
FUNDAMENTALS
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
DUAL-SIDED
+
LEADERSHIP
+
CONSISTENCY
OUTSIDE GAME
AFLW FANTASY
62.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
4.7
-
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
TOP 20
Mikayla WILLIAMSON DANDENONG STINGRAYS
DISPOSALS
19.0
VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
173 CM
D.O.B
08/05/2005
3.0
POSITION
MID/DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
EVASIVE UTILITY
Williamson has plenty of weapons which she draws from, none less so than her explosive speed off the mark. Starting her career as a halfback, Williamson gradually worked her way up the ground and this year really cemented herself as a midfielder who could even rest forward. Her clearance work went up a notch and she became wellrounded as an inside-outside ballwinner. The Stingrays midfielder was named Vic Country co-captain and it was easy to see why, finishing the tournament as All-Australian and one of the more prolific players throughout the three games. What really stepped up for Williamson
43
FUNDAMENTALS
was in her short kicking, which noticeably had work compared to last year and even earlier in the year. Previously, she would blaze away and bomb the ball forward, or just get boot to ball in any fashion. In 2023, she was adjusting her style that, while still a little stiff in terms of its approach, worked far more favourably with short passes that either hit targets or went in the right region. Her kicking particularly longer distances - can still improve, but it went from a major deficiency to ...
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4.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
2.7 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
VERSATILITY
+
ENDURANCE
+
RUN-AND-CARRY
+
CLEARANCES
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSUE
KICKING CONSISTENCY
AFLW FANTASY
74.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.3
-
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
43
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
TOP 5
Piper WINDOW GLENELG
DISPOSALS
16.3 SOUTH AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
166 CM
D.O.B
30/07/2005
3.3
POSITION
MID/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
EXPLOSIVE IN CONTEST
From the very first game of the SANFL Women’s season, it was clear that Window was going to take her game to another level. By the end of the year, the Glenelg AFLW Draft prospect was unanimously seen as the best player in the competition for that year, and the umpires agreed, handing her the league best and fairest. Unlike fellow South Australian top stars Lauren Young and Shineah Goody who were snapped up by Port Adelaide as pre-listed NextGeneration Academy players, Window is a Crows-tied talent and therefore available in the draft. Tipped to head to one of the 44
44
FUNDAMENTALS
South Australian clubs, Window is a player who has a full kit bag of tricks. Her athleticism stands out and almost literally jumps off the page. From her explosive speed, to outstanding agility or evasion and impressive leap, Window has all the aspects that make her such a threat to opposition players. So much so that fellow AFLW Academy player Jaime Henry once said that allowing Window front position at a stoppage meant you were effectively conceding a clearance if the tap went her way ...
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5.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
3.0 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
INSIDE GAME
+
STRENGTH
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
CONTESTED MARKING
+
PRODUCTION
KICKING
AFLW FANTASY
77.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.0
-
COMPOSURE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
+ +
+ +
+ +
VIOLET PATTERSON DAUGHTER OF 96-GAME COLLINGWOOD PLAYER STEPHEN, PATTERSON LOOMS AS THE MOST INTRIGUING FATHER-DAUGHTER PROSPECT THUS FAR. THE TENACIOUS POTENTIAL TOP 30 PROSPECT IS BASED IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND WOULD HAVE TO MOVE STATES IN ORDER TO DON THE BLACK AND WHITE.
PETER WILLIAMS CHIEF EDITIOR @ ROOKIE ME CENTRAL 45
NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE INVITES A - Z 46
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-50
Jacinta BALDWICK LIONS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
12.3 QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
168 CM
D.O.B
14/11/2005
1.7
POSITION
MID/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
ALL-ROUND DANGER
Baldwick is a great player to develop for clubs as she is capable across a number of footballing facets. What stands out about the Coorparoo utility is the fact that she does not have a massive downside that will hold her back from competing at the next level. She might not have the explosive speed others have, and her production is a little lower compared to some in the same role, but she competes and holds her own. From an aerial perspective, the 167cm top-ager is more than capable of clunking contested marks, and though on paper her stats - just 1.7 marks per game at the AFLW Under 18 Championships
47
FUNDAMENTALS
- might not jump off the page, she showed through her QAFLW matches that she was terrific oneon-one and safe in the air. At ground level, Baldwick is clean and able to take the ball well, with her work rate up the field defying a lower 2km time trial score at the National Draft Combine. Though her endurance could improve, she covers the ground soundly, and is particularly busy within the forward half. To negate that lower endurance, Baldwick has little bursts from playing on the wing and then resting forward. ...
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4.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
52.6 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
MARKING
+
WORK RATE
+
SKILLS
+
IMPACT-PER-POSSESSION
+
VERSATILITY
+
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
AFLW FANTASY
54.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.0
-
PRODUCTION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
47
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Serina BAUKES
DISPOSALS
9.5
SWANS ACADEMY
NSW/ACT MARKS
HEIGHT
171 CM
D.O.B
19/08/2005
3.5
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
STRONG DEFENDER
Baukes is a player out of the UTS Bats in the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division, standing at 171cm and gaining great experience playing for the Allies on the national stage. She played two of the three games, averaging 9.5 disposals and 3.5 marks, which followed on from similar numbers in the Talent League Girls playing for the Sydney Swans Academy. A strong marking defender, Baukes has some clear standout traits that come with her gamestyle, which is her overhead ability, strength and reading of the play. She gets into good positions to give her best chance of marking the ball, and when bringing it to ground, 48
48
FUNDAMENTALS
attacks it fiercely with a high level of competitiveness. In the clash against Western Australia, Baukes did well in the opening quarter, going headto-head with equally matched Sandgropers skipper, Anjelique Raison. She matched her for strength and did well to bring the ball to ground, or get into the front position to mark. Once she had the ball, Baukes showed off her penetrating kick which would clear the danger be it in-play or from an intercept grab. In terms of her improvements, ...
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3.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
73.7 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
ONE-ON-ONES
+
STRENGTH
+
INTERCEPT MARKING
+
PENETRATING KICK
+
READING THE PLAY
AFLW FANTASY
42.5
IMPROVEMENTS -
CONSISTENCY
1.5
-
VERSATILITY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Kendra BLATTMAN SWANS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
9.3 NSW/ACT MARKS
HEIGHT
176 CM
D.O.B
09/07/2005
1.7
POSITION
RUCK/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
STRONG UTILITY
Blattman started the year with the Sydney Swans Academy, and after an okay first-up game against the Stingrays, the top-ager went forward and booted three goals from 18 disposals, three marks and six tackles against the Bushrangers, while dominating the hitouts with 25 for the match. What she showed in the game was a natural goal sense to go with a powerful kick and competitive nature in the air. Though Blattman is that touch undersized to play ruck at AFLW level, her vertical leap allows her to punch above her weight. She has great body positioning and uses her strong frame to get into
49
FUNDAMENTALS
the right spots and get the ball to ground or into the hands of her teammates. Blattman plays within her strengths well and could certainly be a second ruck with a predominant forward role at the top level. The main knock on Blattman will be around improving her endurance as well as some of her more ground level athletic traits such as speed and agility. What she lacks in toe, she makes up in strength, but improving those elements will add an extra string to her bow. From an overall off- ...
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2.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
HITOUTS
11.3 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
CONTESTED MARKING
+
STRENGTH
+
KICKING
+
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
+
VERTICAL LEAP
AFLW FANTASY
53.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
SPEED
2.0
-
ENDURANCE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
49
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-50
Alissa BROOK
DISPOSALS
6.3
SOUTH ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
176 CM
D.O.B
23/05/2005
1.0
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
DEVELOPING DEFENDER
Brook was made to earn her spot in a strong South Adelaide outfit this year, with the Victor Harbour prospect instead coming through the Development League where she played a in flag. Despite not featuring at senior level prior to the national carnival, Brook made the South Australian side to take on Western Australia where she did well one-on-one against Sandgropers skipper Anjelique Raison. That showed club recruiters that Brook has deceptive strength given she was competitive in each contest, and though not a high offensive player in that tournament, played her role to perfection. She 50
50
FUNDAMENTALS
cracked into the Panthers’ side for Round 11 then held her spot for the final three games of the year, including the 2023 SANFL Women’s Grand Final. Though on that day at Prospect Oval she only had the three touches, she held her own in defence. A move to defence was a change up from her role at the Under 17 Championships where she showed she could play as a pinchhitting ruck. At 176cm, that will not happen at AFL Women’s level, but having that in her repertoire as an option if called upon ...
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2.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
68.4 STRENGTHS
CONT. POSS %
+
SPEED
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
REBOUNDING
+
ATHLETICISM
+
GROUND LEVEL WORK
CONSISTENCY
AFLW FANTASY
27.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
30.0
-
AERIAL ABILITY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Sophie BUTTERWORTH DANDENONG STINGRAYS
DISPOSALS
9.4
VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
179 CM
D.O.B
11/12/2005
2.3
POSITION
KEY FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
51
TRADITIONAL FORWARD
Butterworth has worked hard to improve her endurance over the last off-season, shaving 42 seconds off her 2km time trial personal best. It was a staggering line in the sand moment for the key forward, who knuckled down to set her sights on reaching the AFLW. Based off her form this season, the Dandenong Stingrays forward showed she could have a massive impact on the scoreboard, finishing second overall in the Coates Talent League Girls goalkicking.
her work. Though she will not be that explosive, athletic forward that some are, that element of her game is not as vital compared to other players.
Remaining on the athletic focus first, Butterworth has improved her times to the point where her agility was rated as “good” and her 20m sprint “very good”, a full credit to
Her goalkicking itself went in waves, where she ...
That is the case because Butterworth has strength and skill on her side. While many developing forwards might have a stack of raw traits, Butterworth is readymade from a footballing standpoint, with strong hands and a reliable long, penetrating kick.
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2.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
1.3 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
CONTESTED MARKING
+
ONE-ON-ONES
+
STRENGTH
+
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
+
KICKING
AFLW FANTASY
53.1
IMPROVEMENTS -
GROUND BALLS
2.1
-
VERSATILITY
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
51
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Ava CAMPBELL EASTERN RANGES
DISPOSALS
12.0 VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
173 CM
D.O.B
29/07/2005
2.3
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
INTERCEPTING MACHINE
When it comes to assessing all areas of a potential draftee’s life, clubs will not have to dig too deep to find glowing reviews of Campbell on and off the field. A natural leader who has been amongst the Eastern Ranges’ leaders for some time, the top-ager captained the side throughout the season as they won the minor premiership, and reached the grand final. On the field, her aerial ability - in particular her intercept marking - is what stands out. She knows where to be and positions herself to be able to either mark the ball or come across with a timely spoil. From an organisational perspective, Campbell sees the game well and 52
52
FUNDAMENTALS
is able to marshall the troops in defence with both her voice and hand gestures so her teammates are all on the same page. Without a doubt, Campbell’s competitiveness and sheer will to win makes her a natural leader. She can step up when it counts and take some big marks, or throw herself in the firing line to lock the ball up or apply a big tackle. With ball-in-hand, the Eastern Ranges defender can have a penetrating kick and look to clear the danger quickly, or mop up with a quick release handball and ...
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1.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
50.0 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
INTERCEPTING
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
READING THE PLAY
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
LEADERSHIP
+
PENETRATING KICK
COMPOSURE
AFLW FANTASY
39.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
4.3
-
ATHLETICISM
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Kyanne CAMPBELL SOUTH ADELAIDE
DISPOSALS
2.5 NORTHERN TERRITORY MARKS
HEIGHT
163 CM
D.O.B
13/01/2005
1.0
POSITION
SML FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
DANGEROUS SMALL
Campbell is what you would expect of a raw, but naturally talented small forward. She has moments within matches and the season itself where she shows glimpses of her potential, but is craving that consistency to build upon those moments for the future. As a member of the AFLW Academy alongside her fatherdaughter ties, clubs have had plenty of opportunities to track the youngster’s development over the years. Starting with Campbell’s strengths, it is evident that her forward craft, in particular her goal sense, comes naturally. She is a player who generally stands deep inside 50
53
and uses little bursts to get away from her opponents. Though not a one-on-one player, Campbell is dangerous once the ball hits the deck and she can get goalside. With her speed, Campbell is one who can create some headaches once she sees the goals ahead of her. One example was her performance for South Adelaide against West Adelaide in a top of the table clash at Noarlunga in Round 3 of the SANFLW season. She kicked two goals in a low-scoring slog, including the match- ...
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1.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
33.3 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
EVASION
+
X-FACTOR
+
FORWARD CRAFT
+
SPEED
+
GOAL SENSE
AFLW FANTASY
14.5
IMPROVEMENTS -
CONSISTENCY
0.5
-
ENDURANCE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
53
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Tyla CRABTREE GWV REBELS
DISPOSALS
14.7 VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
161 CM
D.O.B
09/04/2005
1.7
POSITION
MID
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
TOUGH AS NAILS
Crabtree had a stuttered start to the season missing a couple of games in the first month, and then eventually being able to adjust by the midway point of the Talent League competition. Once she got going, the inside midfielder consistently found the ball and was not afraid to throw herself at every challenge for both GWV Rebels and Vic Country. Slotting seamlessly into the Vic Country lineup, Crabtree played all three games, averaging 14.3 disposals and 3.0 tackles per match, symbolic of her defensive nature. She is consistently competitive and aggressive at both the ball and opposition, providing four-quarter 54
54
FUNDAMENTALS
effort which is supported by a high endurance base. She finished among the top athletes in the 2km time trial at the AFLW Draft Combine, and her running capacity shows on the field. Though not athletic, Crabtree is quick by hand which underpins her game. She is one of the cleanest ball users at ground level, often winning it one take and scooping it out to a nearby runner. Those clean hands coupled with her defensive pressure and natural competitiveness is ...
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3.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
64.4 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
ENDURANCE
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
STRENGTH
KICKING
AFLW FANTASY
53.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.7
-
OUTSIDE GAME
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-50
Lucy CRONIN
DISPOSALS
12.6
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
177 CM
D.O.B
05/10/2005
1.1
POSITION
KEY DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Cronin was one of the more consistent players outside the Victorian representatives squads this season, with the Oakleigh Chargers defender coming back from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Though she only returned in Round 6 and took a little while to find her feet, Cronin was still included in Vic Metro’s extended squad and competed at the trials. Not ultimately selected, Cronin worked on her game in the second half of the season, and upped her production rate to an average of 17.1 disposals in her last eight games after being just 7.0 in her first five matches. Had the national carnival
55
SLICK SIDESTEP
FUNDAMENTALS
been post-Talent League season, there is every chance Cronin would have squeezed into the lineup. What stands out about Cronin is her speed and ground level game for a 177cm player. Tall enough to play on key position types, and fast enough to match smaller players in a foot race, she provides some great defensive versatility. Very hard to beat one-on-one due to her strength, she will aim to halve contests and then run away with the ball to begin transition from defence to offence. In the Round 16 rout against Bendigo ...
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2.9
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
1.0 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
ONE-ON-ONES
+
KICKING PENETRATION
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
GROUND LEVEL GAME
+
SPEED
+
DEFENSIVE VERSATILITY
INTERCEPT MARKING
AFLW FANTASY
47.9
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.8
-
RAW
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
55
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Sophia DE CASTELLA GIANTS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
13.5
NSW/ACT MARKS
HEIGHT
165 CM
D.O.B
20/08/2005
1.5
POSITION
MID
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
KEY TRAIT
HIGH WORK RATE
The Canberra-based de Castella started off her sporting journey as a rugby player, but moved across to the oblong-shaped ball code with friends. A Collingwood fan by nature, de Castella was able to come away playing all three Giants Academy matches in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, and two of the three games for the Allies at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. Having less exposure to the elite junior pathway, de Castella has the athletic traits to match it with opponents, but 2023 has been about learning the fundamentals. Ultimately aspects such as her skills and decision making can 56
56
FUNDAMENTALS
still further develop, but they have improved since the start of the season. From a strengths perspective, de Castella strips back the game to its basic foundations of see-ball, getball. Her power inside the contest allows her to win the hard ball, and though not a consistent high production player, can hold her own within games. Her instincts of winning the ball offensively translate to her defensive prowess, laying tackle averages of 7.7 and 5.5 at Talent League and AFLW Under 18 Championships ...
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51.9
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
63.3 STRENGTHS
TACKLES
+
WORK RATE
+
ENDURANCE
+
POWER
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
AFLW FANTASY
53.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
FOUR-QUARTER CONSISTENCY
5.5
-
FUNDAMENTALS
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Gabby EATON
DISPOSALS
11.0
SWANS ACADEMY
NSW/ACT MARKS
HEIGHT
178 CM
D.O.B
21/10/2005
0.5
POSITION
KEY DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
NETBALL CONVERT
Eaton is a name who would not have been on any club’s radars 12 months ago given her strong netball ties and success in the sport. The talented netballer won Rookie of the Year in 2021 for South Coast Blaze and was highly touted in the sport. But in 2023, she made the move across to Aussie rules with the Swans Academy and made her own mark in a new code. Plenty before her have earned rookie spots off cross-code changes, and earning an AFLW Draft Combine invites suggests she could be next. Though she is raw and still developing fundamentals in the game, she showed promising signs, albeit in
57
FUNDAMENTALS
limited opportunities. By limited, it is just four games of high-level football, with the Swans Academy (two). Allies (one) and Southern Power in the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division (one). It means that there is a fair bit of unknown in the way that Eaton goes about her football, but in that time there have been glimpses of what she could become. Playing as a key defender, the 178cm tall showed a consistent effort above her head, and strong hands to intercept ...
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2.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
0.5 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
MARKING
+
STRENGTH
+
UPSIDE
+
ATHLETICISM
AFLW FANTASY
36.5
IMPROVEMENTS -
EXPOSURE
2.5
-
FUNDAMENTALS
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
57
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Annabelle EMBELTON SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
DISPOSALS
13.4 VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
177 CM
D.O.B
06/12/2005
1.9
POSITION
KEY DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
58
CONSISTENT REBOUNDER
Embelton played two games in her debut season as a bottomager, averaging 15 disposals, two marks and four rebound 50s as an aggressive Dragons defender. Though she played deeper in 2023, she was often battling away on the last line to mop up and get the ball cleared to safety.
the line and play it safe.Largely a pidgeonholed defender, Embelton’s game is simple but for the most part, effective. She will almost always play on from the kickouts and deliver it long down the line, or intercept and look to hit the target in space to turn defence into offence in transition.
Standing at 178cm, Embelton provided a tall defensive option at full-back, but was far from a pure stopper, with her offensive drive arguably her greatest footballing asset. She competes hard in the air, and if she does not mark it, will make it difficult for the opposition to win it cleanly. With ball-in-hand, she will look to kick long down
Of her 165 disposals, 130 were kicks (78.8 per cent) and she had a rebound 50 every 2.4 disposals. That reliability will be something that endears her to clubs, as along with her leadership, consistency and strength, you ...
58
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3.8
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
0.5 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
CONSISTENCY
+
STRENGTH
+
LEADERSHIP
+
READING THE PLAY
+
REBOUNDING
AFLW FANTASY
58.1
IMPROVEMENTS -
ATHLETICISM
5.3
-
VERSATILITY
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-60
Mackenzie FORD TASMANIA DEVILS
DISPOSALS
14.0 TASMANIA MARKS
HEIGHT
163 CM
D.O.B
27/04/2005
1.5
POSITION
MID
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
EXPLOSIVE TACKLER
Ford is a player who is consistent across the board, particularly from a midfield perspective. Having moved through multiple teams on the Apple Isle to eventually play with Kingborough Tigers, then the Tasmania Devils and eventually Allies, she has adapted well to each level she goes up. She has played both on the inside and outside, utilising both her speed and work rate to cover the ground and impact the contest. From an athletic aspect, Ford is known for her explosive speed, and she can evade would-be tackles with that speed. Naturally given her defensive prowess, she has run-down plenty of opponents
59
FUNDAMENTALS
maximising that same speed she has with ball-in-hand. From a disposal perspective, Ford is clean by hand or foot, and while there are more potent users, she is able to still hit targets and set up her teammates after extracting it from the inside, or winning it in space. Where she might play at AFLW level is dependent on the club that drafts her, but considering her self-proclaimed improvement of endurance is one area to still develop, she has scope in both regards. As it stands, she has her bursts between the ...
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10.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
57.1 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
CLEAN SKILLS
+
EXPLOSIVENESS
+
WORK RATE
+
VERSATILITY
+
BALANCE
ENDURANCE
AFLW FANTASY
84.5
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.5
-
ACCUMULATION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
59
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
25-50
Emily GOUGH
DISPOSALS
16.3
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
179 CM
D.O.B
01/12/2005
3.0
POSITION
UTIL
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT In many ways, Gough is a key position player’s height with a midfielder’s running ability which makes her a prospect to keep in mind for this year’s AFLW Draft. On her foundational base alone, clubs will be keen to add them to their list, because not too many 179cm players can move like Gough can, while also being incredibly reliable in the air. Gough possesses a thumping kick and is one of the longest exponents of the Sherrin in the AFLW Draft crop, clearing the danger zone when in the defensive 50, or thumping it to the danger zone when going forward. She is not the most consistent kick, 60
60
BOOMING KICK
FUNDAMENTALS
and that, along with developing a greater understanding of the game will only help her grow and improve even quicker. Those elements will not hold back many clubs, because any player who can kick as far as Gough can - which is routinely over 50m - is a rare talent in anyone’s books. Add her kicking penetration to her contested marking, and Gough is consistently a threat around the ground and capable of clunking some huge marks. Her contested marking and general aerial ability given her size makes ...
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3.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
2.0 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
PENETRATING KICK
+
VERSATILITY
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
ENDURANCE
+
CONTESTED MARKING
+
SIZE
KICKING ACCURACY
AFLW FANTASY
64.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.3
-
FOOTY IQ
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
T’Sharni GRAHAM PALMERSTON MAGPIES
DISPOSALS
4.3 NORTHERN TERRITORY MARKS
HEIGHT
170 CM
D.O.B
28/10/2005
1.3
POSITION
GEN DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
61
RELIABLE DEFENDER
Graham first caught the eye back in 2021, where as a 16-year-old, she stepped up to play a key role in the Northern Territory’s All-Star game playing for Team Ponter. Though it was a 14-year-old Rania Shelford who caught the eye that day, Graham showed her ability to get into the right spots and work hard both offensively and defensively.
Graham’s character and leadership is what stands out as a point of difference among the top-age crop, with each team she joins, raving about her impact on the group. At the preseason training session at Tullamarine, Graham was publicly highlighted by National Academy head coach Tarkyn Lockyer for her work at the session.
Last year Graham was again among the best for Team Ponter in the AllStars match in what was a tough two-game series for the side. Her consistency over multiple years lead her to earn a place in the AFLW Academy, one of only two Territorians - alongside returnee Kyanne Campbell - in the squad.
Though many AFLW Draft prospects are resting up and preparing for the potentially biggest two months of their young lives between school and reaching the elite level in the AFLW Draft, Graham ...
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2.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
38.5 STRENGTHS
CONT. POSS %
+
VERSATILITY
+
CHARACTER
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
WORK RATE
+
LEADERSHIP
AFLW FANTASY
25.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
PRODUCTION
58.3
-
ENDURANCE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
61
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Lilliana GRASSENIS WEST PERTH
DISPOSALS
6.0
WESTERN AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
177 CM
D.O.B
18/12/2005
1.0
POSITION
KEY DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
COMPETITIVE ONE-ON-ONE
Grassenis earned an AFLW Draft Combine invite off the back of a rock solid couple of years. As a bottom-ager for the Falcons, she was one of a number of shining lights in the back 50 as West Perth struggled in its inaugural season in 2022. As the year went on, she got more comfortable with her role, and was able to release the shackles a little and win the ball with confidence. Entering her top-age year, Grassenis was thrown forward as a change of scenery, and though by her own admission she was not a fan and preferred playing in defence, it added another experience to her CV. When West 62
62
FUNDAMENTALS
Perth changed senior coaches mid-season, Grassenis was back in her defensive post and playing to her strengths. Her work without the ball is what she does so well. Defending is her best area, because she is strong, accountable and ultra-competitive. She hates losing and will compete in every contest she can. If she cannot intercept mark, she will spoil and then lay a bone-crunching tackle to lock it up. Her own game is often sacrificed for the team, but it also plays to her strengths. As a bottom-ager, her ...
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2.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
50.0 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
SPEED
+
ONE-ON-ONES
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
DEFENSIVE ACCOUNTABILITY
AFLW FANTASY
25.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
KICKING CONSISTENCY
2.0
-
ENDURANCE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-60
Lara HAUSEGGER OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
DISPOSALS
12.3
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
170 CM
D.O.B
03/08/2005
2.0
POSITION
GEN DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS
Hausegger made her debut as a bottom-ager last year, playing seven games and averaging 6.7 disposals and 2.0 rebound 50s. During that time and over the offseason, Hausegger became a club favourite, and was voted in as captain for the 2023 Talent League season. By the end of the year, the Chargers top-ager became a premiership captain, and arguably her best performance of the season under the pressure of the grand final. That performance of 16 disposals, five marks, three tackles, two inside 50s and three rebound 50s was just what the doctor ordered for her season which has had its
63
ups and downs. Over the last 12 months, Hausegger has made noticeable improvement in her marking, and became a reliable player off half-back. Along with that improvement, her clean hands and reading of the play really stood up as she upped her production from her maiden season. Voted in as captain, Hausegger’s character is another huge plus, and though few are critiqued too harshly, it definitely works in her favour. Her energy and support around the ground, along with her natural leadership ...
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2.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
64.9 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
AGILITY
+
LEADERSHIP
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
CHARACTER
+
READING THE PLAY
+
REBOUNDING
COMPOSURE
AFLW FANTASY
46.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.7
-
KICKING CONSISTENCY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
63
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
25-50
Tamara HENRY
DISPOSALS
8.7
WESTERN JETS
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
170 CM
D.O.B
05/07/2005
2.3
POSITION
MID/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Henry has all the tools of becoming a really damaging player. Often utilised as that high half-forward who could hit the scoreboard, but also provide an option in transition when searching for a target inside 50, she showed glimpses of the players she could become. At Talent League level, Henry averaged the 12.3 disposals, 2.5 marks, 4.8 tackles and 2.5 inside 50s per game, while kicking seven goals from 11 matches. Given she did spend time through the midfield - often rotating with bottom-ager Sierra Grieves - later in the season, her individual scoreboard impact was not often as big as others, and in fact she kicked six of her seven 64
64
STRONG HANDS
FUNDAMENTALS
goals across three matches. Henry’s best style sees a strong half-forward clunking a contested mark then wheeling around and delivering inside 50 to a leading target. That form she showed against Murray Bushrangers - 25 disposals, five marks and booting two goals - was her ‘wow’ moment, and looked like an incredibly damaging talent. Consistency has plagued Henry however, with the three games leading up to that match, and one after that all 10 ...
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1.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
50.0 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
STRENGTH
+
VERSATILITY
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
SPEED
CONSISTENCY
AFLW FANTASY
36.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.3
-
POLISH
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Jacinta HOSE
DISPOSALS
5.0
EASTERN RANGES
VIC METRO CONT. POSS %
HEIGHT
185 CM
D.O.B
05/09/2005
60.0
POSITION
RUCK/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
LONG-TERM TALENT
Hose will be a fascinating watch for clubs in the upcoming draft on a number of fronts. Though the Eastern Ranges tall will miss the majority of next off-season having torn her ACL in August, she fits the role of an athletic ruck in a draft that is severely lacking that type of player. There will be hesitation surrounding her unfortunate injuries, but the tall looms as a low-risk, highreward option. Ranges coach Ash Close backed in his talented ruck/forward, saying clubs would be “silly” not to pick her and just allow her to have a few years to develop. With talls taking longer to develop, it does provide the club
65
FUNDAMENTALS
that chooses her time to get her body 100 per cent right, especially having done both ACLs, one on either side. In terms of her gamestyle, Hose is an ultra-athletic ruck with a nice leap, and most impressively can provided a physical presence in the air. Standing at 184cm, Hose spent a fair chuck of time forward in her bottom-age season, playing 10 games and booting five goals. In 2023, though she only played the one game with the Ranges and one with Vic Metro, it looked likely she would ...
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1.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
HITOUTS
15.0 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
VERSATILITY
+
ATHLETICISM
+
UPSIDE
+
PRESENCE
AFLW FANTASY
35.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
DURABILITY
2.0
-
FUNDAMENTALS
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
65
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Lilu HUNG
DISPOSALS
6.0
LIONS ACADEMY
QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
176 CM
D.O.B
07/06/2005
2.0
POSITION
TALL FWD
CONT. MARKS
KEY TRAIT
CONTESTED MARKER
Hung did not have the ideal topage draft year after a promising preseason with Aspley. The former Wilston Grange tall moved to Aspley at the start of 2021 and gained some great experience through the senior team. Expecting a big year with both the Hornets and Lions Academy, unfortunately two stress fractures in her foot in the opening game of the QAFL Women’s season would be a line through her year. Despite that fact, Hung was still voted in as one of the Lions Academy leaders, and got an offfield view of the game from the coaches box. Learning alongside some of Brisbane’s best, Hung took 66
66
plenty from the season to adapt to her game when she returns over the preseason. Though having limited exposure from a national carnival perspective, she has had a solid junior career leading up to that point, which is why she still received an AFLW Draft Combine invite. From an on-field perspective, Hung is a contested marking forward whose best position is at centre half-forward. She has played in different roles, but her forward craft and general understanding of the game adds a point of ...
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1.0
HIGHFLYER IMAGES
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
80.0 STRENGTHS
HITOUTS
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
FORWARD CRAFT
+
PHYSICALITY
+
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
+
FOOTY IQ
+
LEADERSHIP
ENDURANCE
AFLW FANTASY
25.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.0
-
SPEED 2023 QAFL WOMENS’S
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Holly IFOULD
DISPOSALS
15.7
SOUTH ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
168 CM
D.O.B
02/09/2005
4.7
POSITION
WING
UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS
KEY TRAIT
OUTSIDE RUNNER
Ifould played 10 games in her bottom-age season for the Panthers, establishing herself in Rick Watts’ side, before becoming an integral part of the outside midfield rotation. What stands out about Ifould is her ability to cover ground and work hard between the arcs, having lifted her production rate from 2022 to 2023 as she gained confidence. That production still needs improvement going forward, as does her consistency, but her best stacks up. That best game for the State Academy against the SANFLW Under 23 All-Stars, where, with her side missing its top five players - AFLW Academy members
67
FUNDAMENTALS
- Ifould became a crucial part of the midfield rotation, winning the best on ground medal for her performance in a huge victory. There are games where Ifould looks to break the match wide open and threatens to be a top-end winger, but there are also games where she can fade in and out of games. In preseason, Ifould admitted she was still learning the tricks and trade of the wing role, though came out in Round 1 and had a huge 19-disposal and six-mark game for the Panthers. Her form fluctuated throughout the year, ...
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11.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
63.8 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
SPEED
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
OUTSIDE GAME
+
WORK RATE
+
ENDURANCE
+
SHORT KICKING
CONTESTED WORK
AFLW FANTASY
54.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.7
-
PRODUCTION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
67
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Ava JORDAN NORTHERN KNIGHTS
DISPOSALS
15.3 VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
145 CM
D.O.B
29/04/2005
1.0
POSITION
SML FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Standing at 145cm, Jordan is always going to be up against it when it comes to being drafted. If selected, she would comfortably be the smallest AFLW player. In saying that, to get as far as she has in the elite junior pathway, there has to be an immense amount of talent, and the Northern Knights star has it in spades. Without a doubt, Jordan’s footy IQ is among the best going around. She reads the ball well off hands, gets into the right spots, and has been able to take up a role as a small forward this season. The Knights were well aware that at her size, Jordan would not be playing midfield at the elite level, so 68
68
SMALL STAR
instead threw her a new challenge. Jordan averaged 15 disposals per game and kicked nine majors in 10 matches. Though equalling out to a goal a game on average, all of her goals came within four games. She kicked a bag of four against Murray Bushrangers in Round 9, then kicked a couple of goals against Dandenong Stingrays and Sandringham Dragons in Rounds 15 and 17 respectively. Though not consistently hitting the scoreboard, Jordan’s value as a forward comes in a mix of her ability to pressure ...
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2.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
69.6 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
FOOTY IQ
+
FORWARD CRAFT
+
GOAL SENSE
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
SKILLS
+
VISION
SIZE
AFLW FANTASY
56.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.3
-
SPEED
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Lily JORDAN GWV REBELS
DISPOSALS
9.7 VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
164 CM
D.O.B
29/06/2005
2.0
POSITION
GEN FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
DUAL-SIDED FORWARD
Jordan showed promising signs as a bottom-ager last season, but did not have the substance to match her ‘moments’. Always a talented forward with a unique understanding of where the goals are, the GWV Rebels small kicked 10 goals across the first three rounds, including a five-goal haul against Gippsland Power at Kilsyth. That catapulted her into the Vic Country team after not being included in the initial hub, and though her scoreboard impact dried up for the Ballarat-based side, she found another avenue to impact. Unlike some oneway forwards, Jordan showed her defensive side when things
69
FUNDAMENTALS
were not going her way, laying a whopping nine tackles from just five touches against Gold Coast Suns Academy, with stints of 11 and seven either side of that to average nine per game in that three-match stint. When moved into the midfield later in the season against Western and Bendigo, Jordan had efforts of 21 and a season-high 29, with her kick-first attitude on full display. All of her 29 touches were kicks, while she also had four marks, six tackles, 10 inside 50s and a goal.By the end of the Talent ...
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4.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
2.3 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
FORWARD CRAFT
+
DUAL-SIDED
+
GOAL SENSE
+
WORK RATE
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
STRENGTH
COMPOSURE
AFLW FANTASY
55.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
0.7
-
ATHLETICISM
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
69
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Tshinta KENDALL
DISPOSALS
8.3
BOND UNIVERSITY
QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
174 CM
D.O.B
11/04/2001
0.7
POSITION
TALL FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
RUGBY CONVERT
Kendall’s athletic profile on-field is what catches the eye. She takes the game on and is willing to back herself against the opposition. Naturally with her evasion and ability to break tackles - learned through her rugby experience she will draw multiple opponents which also opens up the game for teammates allowing them to run on. Her first season was in the Queensland Football Association (QFA) Division 1 where she represented Coolangatta Tweed, before her potential saw her move into Bond University. There, she only played the three senior games but was key in the reserves’ 70
70
FUNDAMENTALS
premiership win. At 22 years-old, Kendall is the oldest player who received an AFLW Draft Combine. But, as a Brisbane Lions train-on - who was quickly pushed up from the division one to being a backup for an AFLW team in the space of 12 months was incredible. Her speed and run-and-carry is her bread and butter and instantly it is obvious she is a cross-coder. Her fundamentals are her main growth area with ironing out her technique the next step in her ...
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1.7
AFL QUEENSLAND
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
2.7 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
VERTICAL LEAP
+
SPEED
+
UPSIDE
+
RUN-AND-CARRY
+
POWER
+
AFLW FANTASY
52.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
ENDURANCE
0.3
-
FUNDAMENTALS 2023 QAFL WOMENS’S
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Annabel KIEVIT WARATAH
DISPOSALS
5.0 NORTHERN TERRITORY MARKS
HEIGHT
176 CM
D.O.B
22/09/2005
1.0
POSITION
UTIL
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
ATHLETIC POTENTIAL
Even as an Under 16s talent, it was evident that Waratah young gun Kievit was a player with great potential. She has built a decorated NTFL Women’s Premier League junior career, winning the Rising Star award and has long been a player to watch from the Top End. In 2021, Kievit ran out for the Gold Coast Suns in the Under 17 Championships, and though having not featured for them since then, the Territory talent still earned an AFLW Draft Combine invite. From an NTFL Women’s perspective, Kievit played Under 18s level during the 2020/21 season, booting three goals in nine games, before only adding one more the following
71
FUNDAMENTALS
season having played seniors throughout the year. There, she kicked 12 goals in 13 games, named in the best nine times and earned the Rising Star Award. In 2022/23, Kievit booted a further 19 goals in 13 games, making it 31 goals in 26 games at senior level. The only other representative games she played over the past two seasons saw two matches at the AFLW Under 16 Championships for Team Ponter where she starred in game two booting three goals in a best on ground performance, and one against ...
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6.0
VIA NT NEWS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
HITOUTS
5.0 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
ATHLETICISM
+
KICKING PENETRATION
+
VERSATILITY
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
UPSIDE
+
FORWARD CRAFT
RAW
AFLW FANTASY
33.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.0
-
LIMITED EXPOSURE
2022 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
71
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Tunisha KIKOAK
DISPOSALS
11.3
TASMANIA DEVILS
TASMANIA MARKS
HEIGHT
179 CM
D.O.B
12/05/2005
1.7
POSITION
UTIL
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT The Tasmanian talent is one player who would be seen as a blank canvas for clubs, having played as a key defender, ruck and even key forward at times. The latter came for the Allies at this year’s national carnival, completing her all three lines representation. Though naturally more of a key defender with her ability to leap at the ball and take it strongly, Kikoak offers more than just an aerial presence. The 179cm tall averaged 13 disposals per game in the 2023 Talent League season, though that average was brought down by her limited three-disposal Round 5 match. Otherwise, that went up to 14 touches per game, with a 72
72
KEY UTILITY
minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 in an ultra-consistent production output. What stands out about Kikoak is the fact that she can do plenty around the ground. Aerially, she is a fierce competitor, who if she does not mark it, will aim to bring it to ground. But rather than having to wait for crumbers to go to work, the Tasmanian tall is good at ground level and can win her own ball and compete against smaller players. At ground level, Kikoak has some unique traits for a player of her size, such as her ...
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1.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
HITOUTS
8.7 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
SPEED
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
VERSATILITY
+
MOBILITY
+
STRENGTH
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
ENDURANCE
AFLW FANTASY
51.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.0
-
RUCK CRAFT
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Mylee LEITCH
DISPOSALS
9.0
EAST FREMANTLE
WESTERN AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
160 CM
D.O.B
21/01/2004
2.0
POSITION
MID/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
SMART FORWARD
Leitch has always had the talent to go to the next level, it has been about lifting the production, and doing it consistently. In 2023, the East Fremantle utility has been able to do the latter to an extent, though could still improve the former. With ball-in-hand, Leitch can do a lot of damage, and it is about getting the ball in her hands more often for her to go to work. After a quieter start to the WAFL season and then missing a chunk due to injury including Western Australia’s opening AFLW Under 18 Championships match, Leitch came back in for Round 15 of the WAFLW season. There, she kicked a goal and laid five tackles before
73
finishing off the regular season with her best game of the year. Leitch racked up 16 disposals, eight marks four tackles and booted two goals against Peel Thunder to be best on ground in an outstanding performance working up the ground. She kicked two more goals across three finals, but also had some promising moments playing higher half-forward. On Grand Final day, Leitch finished with six disposals, one mark three tackles, but kicked an important goal.
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
50.0 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
GOAL SENSE
+
WORK RATE
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
VERSATILITY
+
KICKING
The East Fremantle AFLW Draft hopeful has put a ...
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4.0
PIXELL PHOTOGRAPHY
AFLW FANTASY
44.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
CONTESTED WORK
1.5
-
PRODUCTION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
73
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Bianca LYNE
DISPOSALS
10.5
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
174 CM
D.O.B
06/04/2005
0.5
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Lyne has been a player around the mark in terms of talls over the past couple of years, and remains a consideration for clubs off the back of some solid performances in defence for Dandenong Stingrays, Vic Country, and even the AFLW Academy. It was evident from past years that at 174cm, despite boasting an elite vertical leap, she was not going to be a ruck at AFLW level. In order to counteract that, Lyne started her season on-ball against the Swans Academy, while still rotating into the ruck. After the Round 1 game though, she featured in the midfield for a few more weeks before eventually stepping 74
74
VERTICAL LEAP
into defence. Lyne is one of those players who competes well in the air, and though not a consistent mark, can provide an intercepting presence and has good closing speed to spoil. Her elite vertical leap makes her an ideal defender as she can come over the top of opponents and provide a clean punch. Her size is tall enough to play on key position types, while having the athleticism to battle against smaller, quicker players as well.
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
HITOUTS
2.1 STRENGTHS
INSIDE 50S
+
VERTICAL LEAP
+
CLOSING SPEED
+
VERSATILITY
+
ENDURANCE
+
DEFENSIVE ACCOUNTABILITY
+
CHARACTER
The main improvement for Lyne comes in the form of ...
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3.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
KICKING
AFLW FANTASY
41.5
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.5
-
GROUND BALLS
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Chantal MASON
DISPOSALS
11.6
GEELONG FALCONS
VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
176 CM
D.O.B
28/05/2005
4.3
POSITION
TALL FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
Mason’s form in Falcons colours is hard to deny in 2023. After playing the one game last season, Mason took a little while to click inside 50, but when it did, she filled her boots with some massive goal hauls. After being held goalless in the opening fortnight of the season, the Falcons forward kicked three goals in the following fortnight, before really making the most of Geelong’s dominance inside 50.Between Rounds 7-11, Mason slammed home 21 goals at an average of 5.25 per game in a massive purple patch. Though she was playing three of the four bottom sides in the competition - the Bendigo Pioneers, Murray
75
FUNDAMENTALS
Bushrangers and Northern Territory - she still kicked half a dozen against Tasmania Devils, which would arguably be her best performance of the season. Mason found the going a little tougher in the run home, held goalless twice, but also kicking another seven goals by the end of the regular season. A further five in finals was important for her confidence, given she had only kicked the one against an eventual top four side - from four games - in the regular season. At the AFLW Under 18 ...
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2.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
1.9 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
MARKING
+
SET SHOT GOALKICKING
+
FORWARD CRAFT
+
STRENGTH
+
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
AFLW FANTASY
70.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
AGILITY
2.4
-
GROUND BALLS
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
75
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-60
Josie MCCABE SUNS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
15.3 QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
174 CM
D.O.B
18/04/2005
0.7
POSITION
MID/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
76
76
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
McCabe is a strong defensive player, with many of her best traits surrounding those aspects. Since she burst onto the scene at an elite junior level with the Suns Academy, she showed herself to be a strong contested ball-winner and tackling player. Throughout her career, she has averaged no less than four tackles per game at any level, and for the Suns Academy, that number was 10 across four matches.
before going down with injury in the opening match against Vic Metro. Though she missed the remaining two games of that carnival, she returned bigger and better than ever to compete for the Suns Academy, and then Queensland, captaining both teams. Her leadership and character shine through, and McCabe is a popular player amongst teammates and coaches alike.
In her Under 16s year, McCabe held her own rolling through both midfield and up forward against the Lions Academy as a bottom-ager in the Under 17 Championships. A year later, she got out on the park at the national carnival, albeit briefly,
From a footballing perspective, McCabe is clever with ball-inhand and boasts impressive footy IQ. It holds ...
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7.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONTESTED POSSESSIONS
10.0 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
STRENGTH
+
INSIDE GAME
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
LEADERSHIP
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
FOOTY IQ
SPEED
AFLW FANTASY
68.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.0
-
CLEAN HANDS
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Cassie MCWILLIAM SWAN DISTRICTS
DISPOSALS
9.3
NORTHERN TERRITORY MARKS
HEIGHT
179 CM
D.O.B
25/02/2003
2.0
POSITION
RUCK/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
ONGOING DEVELOPER
McWilliam is one of those players who has a long CV in terms of her experience and adaptability across the nation. The Northern Territory local has played in the Top End, down south in the VFLW and now across in Western Australia, and being able to slot into various lineups and coaching styles. For the Black Ducks, McWilliam averaged 9.3 disposals and booted nine goals in 12 games. She provided a target inside 50 for the most part, and had three games where she kicked multiple goals. In the middle of the WAFLW season, McWilliam went on a tear where she booted seven goals in a four-week span, averaging 14.3
77
disposals and 4.5 marks in that time.McWilliam is a natural athlete with a strong vertical leap and is mobile around the ground. Though she is not the complete player yet, particularly at ground level, she did show an improvement in her tackling pressure in the second half of her WAFLW season. An improvement in her ground ball work and strength across the board will help given she is a lightly built forward. In saying that, she is always going to be a player that gets by with her size and ...
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2.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
HITOUTS
0.7 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
VERSATILITY
+
ATHLETICISM
+
VERTICAL LEAP
+
UPSIDE
+
WORK RATE
CONSISTENCY
AFLW FANTASY
47.2
IMPROVEMENTS -
0.8
-
STRENGTH 2023 WAFL WOMEN’S
77
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Olivia MORRIS SWANS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
11.0 NSW/ACT MARKS
HEIGHT
166 CM
D.O.B
06/09/2005
1.3
POSITION
MID
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Boasting an outstanding contested game, Morris is in many ways your stereotypical inside midfielder. She thrives on the contest, has a high work rate and outstanding endurance, and backs up her capable ball-winning skills with immense defensive pressure as well. A member of the Sydney Swans Academy, Morris is a fantastic inside player, and will be looking to add outside elements to her game. Every team needs a player who is willing to put their body on the line and get their hands to it first, and that is certainly Morris’ bread and butter. She is a first possession winner and ground ball specialist 78
78
HARD AT IT
FUNDAMENTALS
who may not always be a high production winner, but plays her role each and every game. For the Allies at the national carnival, Morris averaged 10.7 disposals and 6.0 tackles, and though heavily rotated with a stack of other midfielders, the New South Wales onballer held her own. She was the primary ball-winner alongside Asha Turner Funk for the Swans Academy earlier in the season, averaging 21.3 disposals with her 6.3 tackles per game, as well as 4.0 inside 50s.From an athletic standpoint, ...
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5.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
1.7 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
CONTESTED BALL
+
ENDIURANCE
+
WORK RATE
+
VERTICAL LEAP
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
AFLW FANTASY
56.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
SPEED
2.0
-
OUTSIDE GAME
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Eva O’DONNELL CLAREMONT
DISPOSALS
10.3
WESTERN AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
168 CM
D.O.B
28/12/2005
2.1
POSITION
WING/FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
EVASIVE DANGER
O’Donnell is an interesting prospect who has not had a great run at it in 2023. She has had her fair share of time off due to injury, playing just 11 WAFLW games in the past two years, and the one AFLW Under 18 Championships match. In that game, O’Donnell picked up 15 disposals, took three marks and had three inside 50s, looking lively across the ground against a strong South Australian outfit. A late December birth - O’Donnell is only four days away from being a bottom-ager - the nifty utility has plenty of upside for the future. She moves well and has outstanding endurance to cover the ground between the arcs. When she gets
79
FUNDAMENTALS
forward, she can have an impact, and applies enough defensive pressure to suggest she could play that role as well. Standing at 168cm - having grown a few centimetres over the last 12 months - O’Donnell is a medium size who can compete on taller opponents as well as smaller ones. Athletically, she ranks elite across the board, with perhaps her vertical jump (top five per cent in preseason) and endurance (top 15 per cent) among the more impressive areas considering her agility and speed is ...
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3.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
1.6 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
EVASION
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
FOOTY IQ
+
ENDURANCE
+
UPSIDE
DURABILITY
AFLW FANTASY
48.6
IMPROVEMENTS -
0.5
-
PRODUCTION 2023 WAFL WOMEN’S
79
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Holly O’FLAHERTY LIONS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
8.0
QUEENSLAND CONT. POSS %
HEIGHT
164 CM
D.O.B
20/06/2004
47.1
POSITION
MID/DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
RAW POTENTIAL
O’Flaherty enjoyed an impressive season with Wilston Grange last year, running out in 12 games and was named among the best nine times at QAFL Women’s level. Though she did not get the chance to run out for Queensland, that chance would come in 2023, where she played two games - against Allies and Vic Country - and got her moment on the national stage. Another big change in 2023 was O’Flaherty making the move to Aspley where she played five games, including three finals. Though her Hornets side fell short of a premiership, O’Flaherty was named among the best in Aspley’s defeat to Bond University. 80
80
O’Flaherty is not a huge production player, averaging 14.2 disposals in the QAFL Women’s, but at almost 50 per cent contested. Her defensive pressure is a strong feature of her game, and though she only had the 2.4 tackles per game at senior level, it came to the fore against opposition her own agae at the national championships. She laid 5.5 tackles per game from eight touches for Queensland, showing off her clean hands and balance through midfield. Able to play on both sides of midfield, O’Flaherty has a ...
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5.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
1.0 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
SPEED
+
CLEAN HANDS
+
BALANCE
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
WORK RATE
AFLW FANTASY
41.5
IMPROVEMENTS -
KICKING CONSISTENCY
1.0
-
PRODUCTION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
20-40
Anjelique RAISON EAST FREMANTLE
DISPOSALS
10.7 WESTERN AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
181 CM
D.O.B
07/09/2005
2.3
POSITION
UTIL
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
RARE VERSATILITY
Raison started her career at East Fremantle as a key forward, and has remained largely in that role throughout the best part of three seasons. She pinch-hit in the ruck to support fellow top-ager Georgie Cleaver, particularly when a number of talls departed the Sharks to play AFLW. Standing at 180cm, Raison has the height and the strength to impact up forward, and while others might be more athletic in ruck contests, she uses her body well through smart positioning and strength. That can be the case inside 50 as well, with Raison holding her position well when one-on-one, but also knowing when to lead
81
and accept a delivery inside 50. She has the footy IQ to sum up the situation and find space, as well as assess the overall play. When further afield, Raison can find the ball, and though she is not a high accumulator, when around the contest she is not afraid to crack in and win first possession touches. At the AFLW Under 18 Championships last year, Raison played at full-back, using her booming kick to full advantage be it kicking out, or being the first mark from the kickout. After spending that ...
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2.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
2.7 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
CONTESTED MARKING
+
VERSATILITY
+
KICKING
+
FOOTY IQ
+
STRENGTH
+
SCOREBOARD IMPACT
SPEED
AFLW FANTASY
53.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.0
-
ATHLETICISM
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
81
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-60
Jemma RAMSDALE DANDENONG STINGRAYS
DISPOSALS
14.5 VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
174 CM
D.O.B
07/05/2005
2.5
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
READING THE PLAY
Ramsdale exudes natural leadership and confidence in the way she goes about her football, and it shows in her one-on-one contests both in the air and at ground level. While she can find herself against more athletic defenders at times, the Stingrays defender’s ability to time the ball well to spoil or impact the contest. Off the ball is where Ramsdale does her best work. Simply because she sets up her team’s defence and is able to be accountable for her direct opponent, while still knowing when to peel off and help out another teammate. Her defensive pressure both one-onone and once the ball hits the deck 82
82
FUNDAMENTALS
is clear, and though occasionally she can give away the off free kick due to her ferociousness at tackling or frustration at losing a contest, it is still the attitude that clubs and coaches love to see. From an offensive point of view, Ramsdale is a handy interceptor who against just competes each and every time, and though she might not have a huge vertical leap, reads the ball better than most and uses her smarts and body positioning to more often than not, pull in a mark. That reading of the play enables her to be ...
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4.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
2.0 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
INTERCEPTING
+
FOOTY IQ
+
ONE-ON-ONES
+
LEADERSHIP
+
READING THE PLAY
+
COMPETITIVENESS
ATHLETICISM
AFLW FANTASY
60.5
IMPROVEMENTS -
4.0
-
KICKING CONSISTENCY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-60
Marnie ROBINSON SWANS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
10.7 NSW/ACT MARKS
HEIGHT
172 CM
D.O.B
08/06/2005
2.0
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
CONSISTENT DEFENDER
Robinson is a tough player who has a high level of drive and physicality in her game. She competes at every contest she goes to, even if undersized. Though not small at 172cm, Robinson can often find herself opposed to taller opponents, but will try and use her strength and competitive advantage to get on top.
From a defensive standpoint, she not only competes, but shows a strong level of physicality in her play, and works hard for second and third efforts. That work ethic, combined with her competitiveness makes her a valuable team-first player and one who will put her body on the line to win the footy.
A member of the AFLW Academy, Robinson was touted as one of the top Swans Academy prospects coming into 2023, and the defender remains so at the end of the season. Though others might have one elite trait, Robinson has a well-rounded game with plenty of draftable qualities to like.
From an offensive look, Robinson does provide some nice drive from defence, and though not a massive accumulator of the ball, is a player who can be tasked with both the kickouts, and as a ...
83
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4.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
1.3 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
AGILITY
+
WORK RATE
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
TOUGHNESS
+
FOOTY IQ
+
DEFENSIVE VERSATILITY
COMPOSURE
AFLW FANTASY
49.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.3
-
KICKING CONSISTENCY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
83
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Laura ROY
DISPOSALS
12.3
LIONS ACADEMY
QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
171 CM
D.O.B
16/08/2005
1.3
POSITION
UTIL
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
ALL-ROUND UTILITY
There are contested players, and then there is Laura Roy. At the AFLW Under 18 Championships, Roy had 40 possessions, of which 34 came in a contest - a ridiculous 85 per cent - at a disposal average of 12.3 per game. It is no surprise then, that Roy’s best attributes all involve her strength and pressure around the coalface. Roy is a player who will bring the heat, especially in a tackling sense, and hates losing one-on-ones. She averaged more than three tackles per match both for the Lions Academy in the Talent League, and Queensland at the national carnival. Her clearance work around the stoppages certainly stands 84
84
FUNDAMENTALS
out, and perhaps her main point of difference is her penetrating kick. She can kick a long distance, which allows her to play both in defence and attack. At 171cm, Roy has had jobs on talls and smalls, and while athletically and strength-wise she is better suited to the taller players, Roy is always going to compete. Her defensive pressure not just in tackle numbers, but by putting her body on the line and doing all the team things is what endears her to players and coaching staff alike.
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
3.3 STRENGTHS
SCORE ASSISTS
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
LEADERSHIP
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
VERSATILITY
+
PENETRATING KICK
+
STRENGTH
It is also what earned ...
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3.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
GROUND BALS
AFLW FANTASY
50.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.3
-
ENDURANCE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
25-40
Amber SCHUTTE GIPPSLAND POWER
DISPOSALS
9.3 VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
171 CM
D.O.B
13/12/2005
1.3
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
PENETRATING RIGHT BOOT
Schutte’s most draftable qualities lie in her athleticism. It was no surprise that she blitzed the AFLW Draft Combine, scoring a 90 on the Physical Performance Rating, the third highest of any player across the nation. Though often a rebounding defender who is accountable to her direct opponent, Schutte does have the potential to become more offensive in time. Throughout the year, Schutte has maintained a strong presence in the Gippsland defence, and while there have been some ups and downs, overall her production has remained steady. In 2023, Schutte averaged 17.1 disposals, 2.7 marks, 3.6 rebound 50s and 3.2 tackles,
85
FUNDAMENTALS
settling into a more defensive role after seven games in her debut bottom-age season. Statistically her best game came in Round 3 against GWV Rebels where she had 22 disposals, clunked seven marks and recorded seven rebound 50s. A rock on that day, and while she has largely been a 15-20 disposal player, there is the potential to further improve. Outside her obvious athleticism and speed, Schutte is quite good one-on-one, particularly using her strength and aerial ...
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4.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CONT. POSS %
66.7 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
SPEED
+
STRENGTH
+
ATHLETICISM
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
KICKING PENETRATION
OPPOSITE FOOT
AFLW FANTASY
46.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.7
-
KICKING UNDER PRESSURE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
85
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Jasmine SHEPHERD SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
DISPOSALS
11.1 VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
172 CM
D.O.B
07/10/2005
1.5
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Shepherd came into the season off the back of five games in her debut Dragons year, averaging 4.8 disposals as a bottom-ager. Flying under the radar, the defender came out with an impressive 17 disposals, two marks, six tackles and four rebound 50s in the opening Dragons match against Calder Cannons. She would only reach that feat once more - against the Devils in Round 9 - where she had four marks and three inside 50s to go with her 17 touches. Her production as a whole is on the low side, though playing the role she does off half-back, it is easy to see why it fluctuates. In season 2023, she lifted her averaged up to 86
86
FOOTY NOUS
FUNDAMENTALS
11.1 disposals, but for a player like Shepherd - whose next highest disposal count was 12 - it is not about the numbers, but rather the impact on matches. The Dragons defender has an impact both with ball-in-hand and without it, often being one of the loudest on field with teammates helping steer them into the right spots to set up in defence. As the season went on, the Dragons got better, and that was in no short part thanks to Shepherd and the group as a whole developing together and building cohesion. ...
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2.4
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
0.9 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
AERIAL ABILITY
+
READING THE PLAY
+
STRENGTH
+
IMPACT-PER-POSSESSION
+
FOOTY IQ
+
LEADERSHIP
ENDURANCE
AFLW FANTASY
41.5
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.1
-
ATHLETICISM
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-50
Georgia STUBS
DISPOSALS
14.0
EASTERN RANGES
VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
167 CM
D.O.B
16/07/2005
1.3
POSITION
MID/DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
EXPLOSIVE EYE-CATCHER
Stubs is a player that throughout the 2023 Talent League season, just kept popping up. She had some ups and downs both within the season and games themselves, but the evident development and thus upside for the future, certainly put her hat in the ring for an AFLW Draft chance. The 18-year-old went from being a role player to a prominent midfielder at Eastern, where she showed Vic Metro selectors enough to pick her for the national championships. After a quiet Round 3 - Eastern’s first game of the season - Stubs had a fairly consistent year, picking up 10 or more disposals in all bar one of her 13 other matches. Not a
87
FUNDAMENTALS
massive accumulator, Stubs does enough to get her hands on the ball, and most importantly has an influence. She is a player that loves to drive the ball forward, be it off half-back - where she started - or through the middle. Though Stubs did start off the halfback flank, she gradually forced her way into the midfield and became a key component in there, allowing others to test out their own versatility at the same time in other roles. From an athletic standpoint, Stubs is explosive and has a knack ...
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2.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
CLEARANCES
1.0 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
STOPPAGE CRAFT
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
WORK RATE
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
STRENGTH
GROUND BALLS
AFLW FANTASY
49.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.0
-
POLISH
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
87
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Jo SUNDERLAND GEELONG FALCONS
DISPOSALS
10.5
VIC COUNTRY MARKS
HEIGHT
165 CM
D.O.B
14/07/2005
3.0
POSITION
GEN DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
SAFE AS HOUSES
Sunderland is a player who has a really solid all-round base from which clubs can develop, with her natural footballing ability standing out. She is clean with the ball, good at reading the play and can intercept well, taking the ball from a danger zone to the safety net up the field. She has a high focus on retention and usually hits those short, sharp passes or finds a target in space to continue the transition. Sunderland burst onto the scene as a bottom-ager last year where she played the rebounding role out of full-back to perfection, averaging 17.4 disposals, 2.1 marks, 2.1 tackles and 5.8 tackles. The 88
88
FUNDAMENTALS
Geelong Falcons defender was almost always found with the ball driving out of defence, or switching options in the defensive 50 after assessing the downfield situation. With Sunderland, a club knows exactly what she provides. She is not going to be that damaging ball user through the corridor or will necessarily go on bursting multibounce runs, but she will be safe to distribute the ball down the ground. Athletically, Sunderland is just okay without being explosive, but she plays her role well. The top-ager has a good ...
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3.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
66.7 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
READING THE PLAY
+
INTERCEPTING
+
SKILLS
+
REBOUNDING
+
CONSISTENCY
+
ONE-ON-ONES
OFFENSIVE GAME
AFLW FANTASY
48.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
3.0
-
VERSATILITY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Amber SWAN
DISPOSALS
5.0
LIONS ACADEMY
QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
164 CM
D.O.B
17/03/2005
0.3
POSITION
MID
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
EVIDENT UPSIDE
Swan’s numbers throughout the 2023 season do not jump off the page, which just goes to show what the Queensland teenager offers on-field outside sheer statistics. Her speed on the inside or outside, coupled with a natural ability to go in hard and win the contested ball or feed it out to a teammate is what has endeared her to coaches and recruiters alike. Swan has played at Maroochydore across her teenage years and worked her way up to the Under 18s Lions Academy, and eventually the Maroons’ state side. An ankle injury did threaten to hamper her year, but fortunately for the topager, she was still able to play two
89
FUNDAMENTALS
Talent League Girls matches, as well as all three AFLW Under 18 Championships contests. For the Lions, she averaged 9.0 disposals, 4.5 tackles and 4.0 inside 50s, working hard at the coalface and pumping the ball inside 50. She showed when given that opportunity she can move the ball well and is not afraid to put her body on the line. When she stepped up to Queensland duties, she shared the midfield role and had the 5.0 disposals and 3.3 tackles per game as the Maroons went 2-1 across the carnival. ...
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3.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
73.3 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
SPEED
+
CLEARANCES
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
GROUND BALLS
+
CONTESTED WORK
+
UPSIDE
DECISION MAKING
AFLW FANTASY
24.0
IMPROVEMENTS -
0.7
-
PRODUCTION
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
89
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Jasmyn THOMPSON TASMANIA DEVILS
DISPOSALS
10.3
TASMANIA MARKS
HEIGHT
163 CM
D.O.B
29/10/2005
1.7
POSITION
MID
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT Unlike a lot of player earning Draft Combine invites, Thompson is in her first season with the Tasmania Devils, having previously played local football before making the jump. Across the course of the year, Thompson became a mainstay in the Devils’ lineup, averaging 10.5 disposals, 1.2 marks and 4.8 tackles across 13 games. Thompson has become good at adapting to different sides, having not only played for the Devils and Allies this year, but also a game with North Melbourne VFLW and two with her local club, Ulverstone. It was a far cry from her inclusion as an overager for the Tasmania South Under 16s in 2022, off the 90
90
ATHLETIC STAR
FUNDAMENTALS
back of a remarkably consistent year for Ulverstone kicking 10 goals in 15 games and being named in the best just as many times. Looking at her gamestyle, Thompson is a defensively-minded player with offensive capabilities. She is well-rounded with her endurance-speed mix, with her running capacity among the best in the country. She clocked up a time of seven minutes and 23 seconds in. the 2km time trial to finish third in the nation for the test at the Draft Combine.Outside her obvious athleticism, she is ...
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2.3
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
1.3 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
ENDURANCE
+
COMPETITIVENESS
+
SPEED
+
STRENGTH
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
UPSIDE
FOOTY IQ
AFLW FANTASY
43.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.3
-
COMPOSURE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
40-60
Asha TURNER-FUNK SWANS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
16.3
NSW/ACT MARKS
HEIGHT
167 CM
D.O.B
29/04/2004
3.7
POSITION
MID
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
TOUGH MIDFIELDER
Turner Funk is one of only a handful of over-age prospects who earned an AFLW Draft Combine invite in 2023. After showing promising signs last season, the balanced midfielder pieced together a strong season and showcased her traits, as well as some areas of improvement. Though she might not be a guarantee to be picked up, the over-ager has strengths that will ensure clubs keep close tabs on her. The Swans Academy midfielder is a clever player who uses the ball well by hand or foot, and can win it inside or outside. Her ability to read the ball off hands at the stoppages and then either dish off or weight
91
FUNDAMENTALS
a kick nicely to the outside was an area of her game that shone this season. Though not a massive ball-winner, Turner Funk can find her own ball and averaged over 16 disposals both for the Swans and Allies. For a midfielder, Turner Funk is quite strong in the air, averaging 3.7 marks per game at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. She uses her stronger frame well, and though she is 165cm, is capable overhead. Furthermore, her clean hands at ground level enable her to impact when ...
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5.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
59.2 STRENGTHS
CLEARANCES
+
BALANCED BALL-WINNING
+
FOOTY IQ
+
CLEARANCES
+
CONSISTENCY
+
KICKING
+
GROUND BALLS
ATHLETICISM
AFLW FANTASY
70.7
IMPROVEMENTS -
2.7
-
ENDURANCE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
91
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
30-60
Zara WALSH
DISPOSALS
10.0
STURT
SOUTH AUSTRALIA MARKS
HEIGHT
173 CM
D.O.B
12/03/2005
3.0
POSITION
TALL FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
SPEEDY FORWARD
Walsh was playing local level last year and made the decision to return to Sturt after being a Double Blues junior. The top-age talent quickly adapted to the SANFLW level, and was able to hold her place throughout the 2023 season. Though Walsh only kicked the two goals across her eight games, it was her mix of defensive pressure and creativity inside 50 that caught the eye. Only twice she hit the double-digit disposal mark, but her impact-per-possession was far greater, and she averaged a tackle for every kick. That form translated onto the national stage, where she slotted into a star-studded Croweaters 92
92
FUNDAMENTALS
forwardline and averaged 10.3 disposals, 3.0 marks, 3.0 tackles, 1.7 inside 50s and 1.0 goals per game. A good size at 173cm, Walsh has the speed that dazzles, with her first few steps often burning off an opponent with ease. Once goalside, Walsh is hard to stop, and it showed with the fast-paced nature of the national carnival, coupled with the dominance of South Australia, and Walsh kicked more goals - three in less games than the SANFLW. The additional space also played into her hands, as she ...
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2.0
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
1.7 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
EXPLOSIVE SPEED
+
FOOTY IQ
+
LEADING PATTERNS
+
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
+
FORWARD CRAFT
+
UPSIDE
GROUND BALLS
AFLW FANTASY
46.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
1.0
-
COMPOSURE
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Indiana WILLIAMS LIONS ACADEMY
DISPOSALS
6.0 QUEENSLAND MARKS
HEIGHT
173 CM
D.O.B
12/06/2005
0.3
POSITION
TALL DEF
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
STRONG DEFENDER
Williams was like most kids growing up, trying her hand at a variety of codes including triathlons, Oz-Tag, netball and Aussie rules football. In 2023, she settled into a key defensive role which is her number one position, but has been known to swing forward at times and provide a marking target inside 50. As an accountable defender, Williams often plays an unheralded role in shutting down an opponent, having to play on a mix of key position players and taller types. She is strong overhead, though is still developing her consistency when it comes to her contested marking. Without that interference, she can show safe hands and
93
distribute the ball out of defence. Not a massive accumulator of the ball, Williams takes a consistent approach to her game, with a highlevel endurance base that helps her wear down opponents. This is a throwback to her triathlon days, and along with her size and strength, looms as a formidable player to beat for opposing forwards. At 173cm, Williams is an inbetween size where she could match up on the stronger 180cm players, while also playing down on slightly smaller ...
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1.7
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
66.7 STRENGTHS
REBOUND 50S
+
STRENGTH
+
ENDURANCE
+
ONE-ON-ONE DEFENDING
+
DEFENSIVE ACCOUNTABILITY
+
MARKING
+
VERSATILITY
SPEED
AFLW FANTASY
23.3
IMPROVEMENTS -
0.3
-
AGILITY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
93
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE
LATE
Mia ZIELINSKI SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
DISPOSALS
9.3 VIC METRO MARKS
HEIGHT
174 CM
D.O.B
21/07/2005
2.5
POSITION
TALL FWD
TACKLES
KEY TRAIT
SET SHOT SPECIALIST
Zielinski can be an enjoyable player to watch, particularly for spectators of traditional Aussie rules football. Boasting velcro hands along with a powerful kick that could travel 50m, she is one of those players that teammates can rely on to put the ball through the big sticks. The Sandringham Dragons forward first came onto the scene in 2021 as a 15-year-old where she kicked four goals in three games, averaging 5.3 disposals and 1.3 marks. Though only young and raw then, the signs were there. Twelve months later, Zielinski kicked 11 goals in seven games at an averaged of 12.1 disposals and 2.9 marks. Those numbers were impressive 94
94
for a tall forward, and though her 2023 season took a little while to get going after starting in Round 5, Zielinski kicked back-to-back two-goal hauls, and then finished the year with two matches of three majors. The final game against the Western Jets was arguably her best, with 14 disposals and three goals, but also six tackles. Not known for her ground level work, Zielinksi had that game, along with an eight-tackle performance against the Dandenong Stingrays, showing a desire to improve. All her best work is ...
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2.9
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
FUNDAMENTALS
ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY
FOOTY IQ
INSIDE 50S
1.4 STRENGTHS
GOALS
+
CONTESTED MARKING
+
FORWARD CRAFT
+
SET SHOT GOALKICKING
+
STRENGTH
+
KICKING PENETRATION
AFLW FANTASY
53.4
IMPROVEMENTS -
ENDURANCE
1.4
-
ATHLETICISM
2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
W/ PETER + MICHAEL
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O R A N Y O F Y O U R FA V O U R I T E P O D C A S T P L AT F O R M S . 95
OTHERS TO KEEP IN MIND 96
A-Z
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
Charlotte Arie ADAMSON SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES SUNS ACADEMY
HEIGHT
167 194 CM CM D.O.B
22.22.25 18/06/2004 POSITION
MIDFIELDER MID/FWD
WESTERN AUSTRALIA QUEENSLAND
DRAFT RANGE
Charlotte Adamson hails from a soccer background and is eligible as a Cat-B rookie after spending her season at the Gold Coast Suns Academy. After an eye-catching game against Western Jets, Adamson put herself on the map to teams across the nation. A medium sized overager, Adamson earned a spot in the Queensland lineup, and while her form at times could be patchy, her upside was evident.Boasting a penetrating kick and a competitive attitude, she provided some nice run with ball-in-hand and did well extracting it from the contest. Adamson is still raw and developing elements of her game, but given what she showed in patches throughout the 2023 season, it is clear the cross-coder has the talent to take her game to the next level.
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
ROOKIE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
STRENGTH ATHLETICISM VERSATILITY FORWARD CRAFT PENETRATING KICK FORWARD CRAFT DEFENSIVE PRESSURE FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
CONSISTENCY ATHLETICISM RAW FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
Melissa Arie ANDERSON SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES SOUTH ADELAIDE
A natural inside midfielder with great versatility, Anderson has a powerful burst, and has the smarts to get goalside. though not a huge accumulator, she impacts games with big moments, and averaged a goal per game from 6.7 disposals at the national carnival. Highly rated internally, Anderson was viewed as the next best South Australian outside the AFLW Draft Combine invites, and with further time to hone her craft without injury interruptions, she could become a handy player.
MIDFIELDER MID/FWD
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
POWER ATHLETICISM VERSATILITY FORWARD CRAFT FOOTY IQ CRAFT FORWARD DEFENSIVECRAFT PRESSURE FORWARD
IMPROVEMENTS -
ATHLETICISM FOUR-QUARTER CONSISTENCY PRODUCTION FORWARD CRAFT
MARKS
6.7 1.5
2.3 1.5
INSIDE 50S
TACKLES
INSIDE 50S
6.0 58 2.0 58
2.0 58
2.0 58
GOALS
AFL FANTASY
TACKLES
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
97
POSITION
DISPOSALS
10.0 1.5 2.0 1.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
D.O.B
22.22.25 17/08/2005
WESTERN AUSTRALIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Mel Anderson finally got some continuity into her game after missing her bottom-age season due to injury. Though she started in the SANFL Development League, Anderson earned her chance in South Adelaide’s senior side from Round 5 and played the remainder of the season. There, Anderson averaged 8.3 disposals and kicked five goals, largely playing forward while rotating further afield.
MARKS
HEIGHT
173 194 CM CM
AFL FANTASY
63.3 1.5 58.0 1.5 2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
1.0 39.3 1.5 1.5 2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
97
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
Jess Arie BATES SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES COLLINGWOOD VFLW
HEIGHT
165 194 CM D.O.B
22.22.25 15/08/1995 POSITION
MIDFIELDER MID
WESTERN AUSTRALIA VICTORIA
Jess Bates remains one of the most consistent players outside the AFLW, and arguably perhaps the best one not on a current list. She has a stack of accolades she has built up over the years including a SANFL Women’s league best and fairest, then moving to Collingwood VFLW where she continued her dominance, winning a club best and fairest and Team of the Year honours again. Over the years, Bates has developed her game from being a defence-first tackling machine, to being a wellbalanced player across both offensive and defensive attributes. When looking at players who can provide depth and be ready to step up at any stage, few could be more prepared than Bates. She is strong around the clearances, wins the contested ball, feeds it out to teammates and then runs hard to receive it back. For Bates, the main improvement is continuing to add polish to her kicking, as she is often disposing of the ball under immense pressure with composure going hand-in-hand with that.
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
PRODUCTION ATHLETICISM DEFENSIVE PRESSURE FORWARD CRAFT CLEAN HANDS FORWARD CRAFT CONSISTENCY FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
KICKING CONSISTENCY ATHLETICISM
Tahlita Arie BUETHKE SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES NORWOOD
DISPOSALS
Continued work on tidying up her kicking is the next step, along with a greater scoreboard influence, having kicked just the three goals in 13 SANFL Women’s games. Still only 21 as of January, Buethke has developed quickly over the last few years and has transformed into one of the more damaging midfielders at state level.
MARKS
AFL PHOTOS
98
98
POSITION
MIDFIELDER MID
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
SPEED ATHLETICISM ENDURANCE FORWARD CRAFT CONSISTENCY FORWARD CRAFT RUN-AND-CARRY FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
KICKING CONSISTENCY ATHLETICISM SCOREBOARD IMPACT FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
26.6 2.1 1.5 1.5 TACKLES
D.O.B
22.22.25 23/01/2002
WESTERN AUSTRALIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Tahlita Buethke backed up her consistent 2022 season with an ultra-strong year at Norwood in her first season at the Redlegs since crossing from South Adelaide. Boasting a balance of speed and endurance, Buethke spent more time roaming around the ground rather than being a pure first possession winner, and it helped her impact more consistently. Her run and carry in particular stands out, and she won the Norwood best and fairest while making the SANFLW Team of the Year.
COMPOSURE FORWARD CRAFT
HEIGHT
167 194 CM CM
MARKS
17.5 1.5 3.2 1.5
CLEARANCES
TACKLES
INSIDE 50S
10.3 58 8.2 58
3.6 58
1.8 58
INSIDE 50S
REBOUND 50S
AFL FANTASY
AFL FANTASY
3.1 119.1 1.5 1.5 2023 VFL WOMENS
JOHN EMERY
2.2 1.5 70.2 1.5 2023 SANFL WOMENS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
Amy Arie CARISS-BRETT SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
HEIGHT
166 194 CM D.O.B
22.22.25 20/03/2005 POSITION
MIDFIELDER WING
WESTERN AUSTRALIA VIC METRO
Amy Cariss-Brett was touted as a player to watch by Oakleigh coaching staff at the start of the year, and throughout the season it was evident to see why. Though she was not always as consistent as some of her bigger games, the specialist winger showed her craft playing on the outside. Her positioning and ability to hold a strong line was notable, and she worked well with Sarah Poustie and then Jemma Rigoni at the Chargers to maintain a strong balance en route to a premiership. Cariss-Brett’s kicking could be anything from sublime to rushed, so ironing out that consistency, especially for an outside player is important, as well as lifting her production numbers. Still, Cariss-Brett has the upside and talent to develop further, and she could have a case as one of the most unlucky players not to receive an AFLW Draft Combine invite. Her best games were top shelf .
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
OUTSIDE GAME ATHLETICISM POSITIONING FORWARD CRAFT RUN-AND-CARRY FORWARD CRAFT FOOTY IQ CRAFT FORWARD
IMPROVEMENTS -
KICKING CONSISTENCY ATHLETICISM PRODUCTION FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
Steph Arie DEMEO SCHOENMAKER EASTERNPIONEERS RANGES BENDIGO
99
D.O.B
22.22.25 10/05/2005 POSITION
MIDFIELDER SML DEF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA VIC COUNTRY
DRAFT RANGE
Steph Demeo was a really handy player for Bendigo Pioneers this season, coming out of defence and providing some much needed composure with ball-in-hand. The 162cm defender is a natural footballer, with clean skills, exceptional hands at ground level, and great decision making. Her balance of offensive drive and defensive pressure also make her a two-way threat. Perhaps one of the more unlucky ones not to receive an AFLW Draft Combine invite, her omission is likely down to two key factors: one-on-ones and speed. She can get outbodied in marking contests, and does not have the pace of some others her size, so it would require a club to overlook these factors. However, Demeo is a player that teammates would be more than comfortable having the ball in her hands and on face value for all her traits, she can be a distributor or creator across the field.
MARKS
LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
CLEAN HANDS ATHLETICISM SKILLS FORWARD CRAFT DEFENSIVECRAFT PRESSURE FORWARD REBOUNDING FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
ONE-ON-ONES ATHLETICISM SPEED FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
11.0 1.5 1.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
HEIGHT
162 194 CM
MARKS
18.1 1.5 3.4 1.5
TACKLES
CLEARANCES
TACKLES
INSIDE 50S
2.0 58
1.0 58
5.1 58
1.6 58
INSIDE 50S
AFL FANTASY
REBOUND 50S
AFL FANTASY
1.5 38.5 1.5 2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
3.8 1.5 75.5 1.5 2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
99
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
Madison Arie DODD SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES SUBIACO
HEIGHT
167 194 CM CM D.O.B
22.22.25 11/03/2005 POSITION
MIDFIELDER UTIL
WESTERN AUSTRALIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Madison Dodd is one of those players who teammates love to run out alongside given her attack on the ball and opposition. She puts her body on the line consistently, applying plenty of defensive pressure, while thriving on the contested side of the game. Over the last 18 months, Dodd has perhaps lacked that bit of polish with her execution, and that is due to a lack of composure. However, she has a lot of footballing traits.Her kicking can be quite punchy and effective around the ground, and has developed throughout the season. Having a great grasp of the game, Dodd is able to play her role each and every game, and has slotted into positions on all three lines. That versatility is a massive tick for the Subiaco talent, who is arguably the top West Australian prospect outside the AFLW Draft Combine invitees.
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
CONTESTED ATHLETICISMWORK DEFENSIVE PRESSURE FORWARD CRAFT VERSATILITY FORWARD CRAFT FOOTY IQ CRAFT FORWARD
IMPROVEMENTS -
COMPOSURE ATHLETICISM
Nyakoat Arie DOJIOK SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES COLLINGWOOD VFLW
The knock on Dojiok is that she can lack composure and rush with ball-in-hand, because she often does the hard stuff of picking it up at speed, evading a couple of players but then just miscueing the kick. But her upside is obvious and her inclusion in the Under 23 All-Stars team is evidence of AFLW club interest.
MARKS
AFL PHOTOS
100
100
AFL FANTASY
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
AERIAL ABILITY ATHLETICISM ATHLETICISM FORWARD CRAFT SCOREBOARD IMPACT FORWARD CRAFT SPEED FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
KICKING ATHLETICISM COMPOSURE FORWARD CRAFT
MARKS
12.4 1.5 2.5 1.5
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
1.0 73.3 1.5 1.5
MIDFIELDER TALL FWD
DISPOSALS
4.3 58 55.6 58 GOALS
POSITION
WESTERN AUSTRALIA VICTORIA
In 2023, Dojiok had her most consistent year to-date, polling 10 votes in the Lambert-Pearce Medal and kicking 16 goals from 15 games.
15.0 1.5 4.3 1.5 TACKLES
D.O.B
22.22.25 07/01/2003
Nyakoat Dojiok is an ultra-athletic, high upside player who has proven herself at both ends of the ground across the last few years. A natural athlete with a great leap, fantastic speed and enormous room for growth, Dojiok has built on aspects of her game the past couple of years.
ENDURANCE FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
HEIGHT
175 194 CM
AFL PHOTOS
TACKLES
KICKS
4.1 58
7.5 58
GOALS
AFL FANTASY
1.1 62.5 1.5 1.5 2023 VFL WOMENS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
Emily Arie EAVES SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES WILLIAMSTOWN
HEIGHT
166 194 CM D.O.B
22.22.25 18/04/2001 POSITION
MIDFIELDER MID/DEF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA VICTORIA
Emily Eaves backed up a promising debut VFLW season with an even stronger second season at the Seagulls, earning Team of the Year honours in defence and featuring prominently in the league best and fairest. A natural contested ball-winner, Eaves adapted to the style well with the extra off-season and became a crucial member of Williamstown’s team. With her clearance and tackle numbers leaping off the page, she showed she could fill an immediate role at AFLW level.The former Swans Academy member is still working on her kicking consistency and is not as explosive as some other inside midfielders, but her consistency and continuity in 2023 will hold her in good stead. Her groundballs in particular went to another level in the VFLW, with more than eight per game, showing off her clean hands and ability to pick it off the deck consistently. Adding to that, the fact she spent time in defence also added another element to her bow having previously played forward.
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
CLEAN HANDS ATHLETICISM CLEARANCES FORWARD CRAFT CONTESTED WORK FORWARD CRAFT STRENGTH FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
EXPLOSIVENESS ATHLETICISM KICKING CONSISTENCY FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
Olivia Arie FOGARTY SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES AINSLIE
MIDFIELDER MID/FWD
DRAFT RANGE ROOKIE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
FOOTY IQ ATHLETICISM KICKING PENETRATION FORWARD CRAFT MARKING CRAFT FORWARD FORWARD CRAFT SET SHOT GOALKICKING
IMPROVEMENTS -
PHYSICALITY ATHLETICISM LIMITED EXPOSURE FORWARD CRAFT
MARKS
17.1 1.5
3.3 1.5
CONT POSS
CLEARANCES
INSIDE 50S
5.6 58 10.9 58
2.7 58
2.9 58
GOALS
AFL FANTASY
TACKLES
CLEARANCES
101
POSITION
DISPOSALS
15.2 1.1 1.5 1.5
WILLIAMSTOWN FC
D.O.B
22.22.25 02/07/1998
WESTERN AUSTRALIA NSW/ACT
Olivia Fogarty is a small forward/midfielder who is a recent convert from soccer to Aussie rules and is eligible as a Cat-B Rookie. Playing for Ainslie Football Club in AFL Canberra, Fogarty averaged around two goals per game in that competition, finishing with 17 for the season. She also tasted VFLW action or the Western Bulldogs in May, where she ran out for backto-back games.Across the two games, Fogarty averaged 12.5 disposals and 2.0 marks, holding her own against experienced opponents. Having missed parts of the season due to back and ankle injuries, Fogarty returned to finish off the AFL Canberra season and kick two goals and be among the best in Ainslie’s 59-point win over Belconnen Magpies.The 25-year-old 163cm draft hopeful was picked up as an AFLW train-on player for GWS GIANTS, with her forward craft - including her marking and set shot goalkicking - as well as her footy IQ and penetrating kick considered among her strengths.
MARKS
HEIGHT
163 194 CM
AFL FANTASY
4.7 1.5 60.8 1.5 2023 VFL WOMENS
FIONA MCQUEENIE
1.9 72.4 1.5 1.5 2023 AFL CANBERRA
101
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
Isobel Arie KUIPER SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES STURT
HEIGHT
171 194CM CM D.O.B
22.22.25 14/05/2001 POSITION
MIDFIELDER MID
WESTERN AUSTRALIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA
A natural inside midfielder, Isobel Kuiper remains one of the more consistently dominant inside midfielders at SANFL Women’s level. After tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) late in the season last year, Kuiper made a huge return to action and played a key role for Sturt in 2023. Always a brilliant contested ball-winner and clearance expert, Kuiper won Team of the Year honours yet again despite the delayed start to the year. Her final execution and polish on her touches are still a work in progress, but Kuiper’s strengths lie in her extraction ability. She makes players better around her, and is a superb first possession winner at stoppages. Defensively, she is a fierce tackler and two-way runner, with a high production rate that forces opposition teams to try and quell her at stoppages considering she is also on the taller side for a midfielder.
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
CONTESTED ATHLETICISMWORK CLEARANCES FORWARD CRAFT DEFENSIVE PRESSURE FORWARD CRAFT PRODUCTION FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
POLISH ATHLETICISM
Kaylea Arie KOBZAN SCHOENMAKER EASTERNBUSHRANGERS RANGES MURRAY
DISPOSALS
More of a third tall at AFLW level, Kobzan gives 100 per cent effort and leads by example. With areas to improve on such as her kicking consistency - despite having penetration - and endurance which could improve, she has a number of traits that will have caught AFLW clubs eyes.
MARKS
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
102
102
POSITION
MIDFIELDER TALL DEF
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
PENETRATING KICK ATHLETICISM AERIAL ABILITY FORWARD CRAFT INTERCEPTING FORWARD CRAFT DEFENSIVECRAFT CRAFT FORWARD
IMPROVEMENTS -
KICKING CONSISTENCY ATHLETICISM ENDURANCE FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
22.1 1.5 3.9 1.5 TACKLES
D.O.B
22.22.25 09/02/2005
WESTERN AUSTRALIA VIC COUNTRY
Kaylea Kobzan is a reliable defender with a raking left boot who has been able to get the job done for both Murray Bushrangers and Vic Country over the last few seasons. Though 2023 saw an up-and-down year for the defender, Kobzan still provided a presence in the air, mopped up time and time again for the Bushrangers, and even showed some promising signs up forward.She is strong one-on-one, has good defensive craft and will always compete in the air despite being a touch undersized against a key position player.
OUTSIDE GAME FORWARD CRAFT
HEIGHT
172 194 CM CM
MARKS
14.4 1.5 3.2 1.5
CLEARANCES
TACKLES
INSIDE 50S
8.3 58 6.4 58
2.2 58
1.1 58
INSIDE 50S
REBOUND 50S
AFL FANTASY
AFL FANTASY
2.4 1.5 100.0 1.5 2023 SANFL WOMENS
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
5.4 1.5 58.0 1.5 2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
Georgia Arie MADIGAN SCHOENMAKER EASTERNDISTRICT RANGES CENTRAL
HEIGHT
163 194 CM D.O.B
22.22.25 11/12/1999 POSITION
MIDFIELDER SML DEF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Georgia Madigan is a unique prospect available to the two South Australian teams in this year’s AFLW Draft. Highly rated internally at Central District for her outstanding defending, Madigan began to get plaudits for her work last season by making the SANFLW Team of the Year. There might be flashier players running around in defence, but few could top Madigan’s defensive work, especially one-on-one and consistency. She showed throughout a premiership year that she was willing to do all the team things in order to get her side across the line.The question mark for the 24-year-old is around the speed that some other defenders have, while also she is fousing in on developing her fundamentals further. But in an age where dangerous small forwards can win sides games, the 163cm defender could play a role. She is hard to beat and ultra-competitive, and showed against some quality opponents this year that she is capable of shutting out a forward while providing some drive from defence.
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
DEFENSIVE ACCOUNTABILITY ATHLETICISM
CONSISTENCY FORWARD CRAFT ONE-ON-ONES FORWARD CRAFT COMPETITIVENESS FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
FUNDAMENTALS ATHLETICISM EXPLOSVE CRAFT SPEED FORWARD
DISPOSALS
Ruby Arie MAHONY SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES SWAN DISTRICTS
From her production numbers to defensive pressure and sheer consistency, the Swan Districts and Bunbury star has not done much wrong over the past two seasons. While a VFLW contact means she is more of a future draft prospect, Mahony could impress at training or also have caught the eye of another AFLW club.
CORY SUTTON
DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY
103
AFL FANTASY
2.6 1.5 52.0 1.5 2023 SANFL WOMENS
MIDFIELDER MID
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
PRODUCTION ATHLETICISM CONSISTENCY FORWARD CRAFT WORK RATE FORWARD CRAFT DEFENSIVECRAFT PRESSURE FORWARD
IMPROVEMENTS -
KICKING ATHLETICISM SCOREBOARD IMPACT FORWARD CRAFT
MARKS
17.3 1.5 2.0 1.5
3.3 58 72.0 58 REBOUND 50S
POSITION
DISPOSALS
11.6 1.5 2.3 1.5 TACKLES
D.O.B
22.22.25 14/08/1999
WESTERN AUSTRALIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Bunbury talent Ruby Mahony went from strength to strength in 2023, picking up where she left off in 2022 to become a prolific ball-winner for Swan Districts and earned the Black Ducks’ McSherry Medal, going one better than her runner-up club best and fairest the year before. Also a WAFL Women’s Team of the Year representative and best on ground in the SWFL Grand Final, Mahony has signed on with Essendon VFLW in a bid to reach the next level.Mahony’s main improvement is in her kicking, with just about everything out done at a high level.
MARKS
HEIGHT
165 194 CM
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
TACKLES
INSIDE 50S
6.5 58
1.4 58
GOALS
AFL FANTASY
0.2 1.5 75.2 1.5 2023 WAFL WOMENS
103
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
Steph Arie O’BRIEN SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES SOUTHPORT
HEIGHT
177 194CM CM D.O.B
22.22.25 22/09/1993 POSITION
MIDFIELDER UTIL
WESTERN AUSTRALIA QUEENSLAND
Steph O’Brien might be one of the more unique prospects in the AFLW Draft. Her name has been in the draft frame the last couple of seasons since dominating the 2021 AFLW Draft Combine. There, she recorded a Queensland-high 3.28-second 20m sprint and 8.69-second agility test just pipping off Teagan Levi, impressive for a 177cm player.O’Brien is a unicorn of sorts, with her athleticism and size allowing her to play a number of roles. After a couple of ultra-consistent seasons, the Southport talent won the Emma Zielke Medal for QAFL Women’s league best and fairest, as well as best on ground in Queensland’s representative clash against Tasmania. While O’Brien is one of the oldest draft nominees at 30 years-old, she is still performing at a ridiculously high level and would be able to make an immediate impact at AFLW level.
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
PRODUCTION ATHLETICISM DEFENSIVE PRESSURE FORWARD CRAFT CONSISTENCY FORWARD CRAFT ATHLETICISM FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
KICKING CONSISTENCY ATHLETICISM UPSIDE FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
Charlotte Arie SIMPSON SCHOENMAKER EASTERNVFL RANGES GEELONG
AFL QUEENSLAND
104
104
POSITION
MIDFIELDER MID
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
CLEAN HANDS ATHLETICISM CLEARANCES FORWARD CRAFT CONTESTED WORK FORWARD CRAFT STRENGTHCRAFT FORWARD
IMPROVEMENTS -
ATHLETICISM ATHLETICISM KICKING CONSISTENCY FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
26.5 1.5 4.0 1.5 TACKLES
D.O.B
22.22.25 02/03/2004
WESTERN AUSTRALIA VICTORIA
Over-age midfielder Charlotte Simpson is now set to finally earn her shot at the AFL Women’s after being nominated by St Kilda as a father-daughter prospect. Eligible at both Geelong - where she has lived and played all her footy at the Falcons and Cats’ VFL - and the Saints, Simpson is a rock solid consistent inside midfielder who can also drift forward and be a marking target. Strong overhead and at ground level, she has continued to develop elements in her game, and was crucial for the Under 23 All-Stars against the AFLW Academy earlier this year.A natural inside midfielder, Simpson is adept around the clearances and throws herself into contests using her sheer strength to shrug off would-be tacklers. Though not overly athletic, the ballwinner plays to her strengths and is able to get it cleanly off the deck and feed it out, or power through opponents to get it inside 50. After a number of consistent years at Under 18s and state league, she is one who can come in and play an immediate role.
MARKS
HEIGHT
168 194 CM
MARKS
22.9 1.5 2.6 1.5
CLEARANCES
TACKLES
CLEARANCES
6.0 58 2.9 58
5.5 58
6.7 58
INSIDE 50S
INSIDE 50S
AFL FANTASY
AFL FANTASY
5.9 1.5 106.7 1.5 2023 QAFL WOMENS
ARJ GIESE
3.5 1.5 89.3 1.5 2023 VFL WOMENS
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
Amy Arie TRINDADE SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES CALDER CANNONS
HEIGHT
160 194 CM D.O.B
22.22.25 30/10/2005 POSITION
MIDFIELDER MID/FWD
WESTERN AUSTRALIA VIC METRO
Calder Cannons captain Amy Trindade started the season on fire with a two-goal performance against Sandringham Dragons to haul her team over the line. It turned out to be her best effort despite picking up an injury, though she regained form when she returned mid-sesaon and had seven consecutive games of double-digit disposals. With natural leadership and clever footy IQ, Trindade has gained interest from AFLW clubs for her versatility to play between midfield and forward. Good overhead and an ability to find space around the ground, Trindade is only small at 160cm, but knows where to go to have an impact on games. Speed will be the main concern for clubs going forward, with her explosiveness a work in progress, but her natural footballing is what holds her in good stead. A draft possibility, she could be one to watch with an extra year under her belt as well.
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
AERIAL ABILITY ATHLETICISM LEADERSHIP FORWARD CRAFT FOOTY IQ CRAFT FORWARD VERSATILITY FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
SPEED ATHLETICISM
Jemima Arie WRIGLEY SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES SOUTHERN SAINTS
DISPOSALS
On-field, Wrigley is a natural contested ball-winner who thrives on the inside with clean hands and a high level of defensive pressure. Boasting explosive speed to set herself apart from many other inside midfielders, Wrigley consistently applies 100 per cent effort to each and every game. Her form this season stacked up at VFLW level, and with her extraction ability and natural instincts, Wrigley remains a draftable prospect in 2023.
MARKS
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
105
POSITION
MIDFIELDER MID
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
EXPLOSIVE SPEED ATHLETICISM DEFENSIVECRAFT PRESSURE FORWARD CLEAN HANDS FORWARD CRAFT CONTESTED WORK FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
OUTSIDE GAME ATHLETICISM SCOREBOARD IMPACT FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
14.5 1.5 3.2 1.5 TACKLES
D.O.B
22.22.25 26/08/2000
WESTERN AUSTRALIA VICTORIA
Jemima Wrigley has enjoyed a football journey of consistency and resilience, playing 10 games in the VFL Women’s season this year for Southern Saints. Having come down from NSWACT after captaining Southern Power and being a member of the Sydney Swans Academy, Wrigley was named in the Southern Saints leadership group and came away with the Coaches Award from the season.
STRENGTHCRAFT FORWARD
HEIGHT
168 194 CM
MARKS
12.7 1.1 1.5 1.5
INSIDE 50S
TACKLES
CLEARANCES
2.5 58 2.0 58
7.2 58
4.0 58
REBOUND 50S
INSIDE 50S
AFL FANTASY
AFL FANTASY
1.7 63.3 1.5 1.5 2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS
AFL PHOTOS
2.3 1.5 63.6 1.5 2023 VFL WOMENS
105
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
Zoe Arie VENNING SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES WEST ADELAIDE
HEIGHT
168 194 CM D.O.B
22.22.25 04/11/2003 POSITION
MIDFIELDER MID
WESTERN AUSTRALIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Zoe Venning has been thereabouts in terms of draftability the last few seasons and remains among the ones to watch in the AFLW Draft. She has been outstandingly consistent, finishing runner-up in the SANFL Women’s League Best and Fairest to Piper Window last season. A natural ball-winner, her numbers again took a jump as she largely shouldered the midfield duties for West Adelaide as the Bloods suffered a terribly unlucky run with injuries. As tough as they come, capable on the inside and strong defensively, Venning has a well-round athletic base. She boasts a large tank to runout games, her contest-to-contest work is brilliant, and she does all the team things you would expect. Her main area of improvement - her kicking - which hasbeen the deficiency that has held her back from being drafted- remains the key focus, but it has been improving, along with having a greater impact on the outside and scoreboard.
FULL DRAFT PROFILE
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
CONTESTED ATHLETICISMWORK DEFENSIVE PRESSURE FORWARD CRAFT ENDURANCE FORWARD CRAFT PRODUCTION FORWARD CRAFT
IMPROVEMENTS -
KICKING ATHLETICISM
Courtney Arie ZAPPARA SCHOENMAKER EASTERN RANGES SWAN DISTRICTS
DISPOSALS
Critically, Zappara is still only 21 with a long career ahead of her. Though she could improve the defensive elements of her game - which is the one main deficiency - her offensive hurt factor is high.Her footy IQ and goal sense are outstanding, and with more time to further develop, she could become a really dangerous medium forward at the top level.
MARKS
23.3 1.5 4.5 1.5
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
106
106
D.O.B
22.22.25 04/04/2002 POSITION
MIDFIELDER GEN FWD
WESTERN AUSTRALIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Courtney Zappara had a breakout year for Swan Districts, storming to the top of the goalkicking charts in the WAFL Women’s competition and only just being pipped at the end by Adele Arnup. A pure goalkicking forward, Zappara had some massive games including a six-goal haul against West Perth and an inaccurate 4.5 against East Fremantle. Her consistency wavered in the second half of the season, but her natural football talent is undeniable.
SCOREBOARD IMPACT FORWARD CRAFT
HEIGHT
167 194 CM CM
DRAFT RANGE LATE LATE/ROOKIE
STRENGTHS + + + +
SCOREBOARD IMPACT ATHLETICISM GOAL SENSE FORWARD CRAFT FOOTY IQ CRAFT FORWARD FORWARD CRAFT CRAFT FORWARD
IMPROVEMENTS -
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE ATHLETICISM VERSATILITY FORWARD CRAFT
DISPOSALS
MARKS
9.8 1.5
2.3 1.5
TACKLES
CLEARANCES
TACKLES
INSIDE 50S
6.1 58
4.5 58
1.7 58
1.4 58
INSIDE 50S
AFL FANTASY
GOALS
AFL FANTASY
3.3 1.5 101.2 1.5 2023 SANFL - WOMENS
THE SPORTS PHOTO
1.6 50.6 1.5 1.5 2023 WAFL - WOMENS
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2023 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
D R A F T
G U I D E
2 3
POWER RANKINGS
In a unique edition of the Rookie Me Central Power Rankings, the final edition ahead of the AFLW Draft has a very different look. The eight players who were pre-listed with the respective four expansion clubs have been removed from the November rankings, meaning only those available to be selected in the December 18 draft remain. Without South Australian teammates, Lauren Young and Shineah Goody, Piper Window becomes the new number one, with the SANFL Women's League Best and Fairest winner a clear standout across 2023. Eastern Ranges dynamo Alyssia Pisano also moves up to number two, while Tasmanian small Brooke Barwick, Victorian tall Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner and Claremont speedster Ella Slocombe round out the top five. At the other end of the rankings, several names make their way into the Power Rankings such as the all-round talent in Keely Fullerton and Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Meg Robertson, both of whom bolt into the top 30. They are among a number of fresh faces who replace those pre-listed among the best 40 in this year's draft. As always, the Power Rankings is based off our own opinion and not a look at club-specific needs around certain picks. Regardless, there is an even spread of talent, particularly without the top-end players who were pre-listed. Here is our final top 40. 108
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01
02
03
04
05
PIPER
ALYSSIA
BROOKE
KRISTIE-LEE
ELLA
CLICK TO VIEW FULL PROFILES
WINDOW
PISANO
BARWICK
WESTON-TURNER
SLOCOMBE
06
07
08
09
10
ELAINE
GEORGIE
BROOKE
MIKAYLA
GEORGIA
GRIGG
CLEAVER
BOILEAU
WILLIAMSON CLARK
2023 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
POWER RANKINGS
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11
KAITLYN SRHOJ
21
SARAH GRUNDEN
31
JACINTA BALDWICK
12
JESS RENTSCH
22
BRYDE O'ROURKE
32
ALISSA BROOK
13
SIENNA MCMULLEN
23
MEG ROBERTSON
33
GEORGIA STUBS
14
SOPHIE PETERS
24
JEMMA RIGONI
34
LILY JORDAN
15
CLEO BUTTIFANT
25
JAIME HENRY
35
AMBER SCHUTTE
16
EVIE LONG
26
RANIA CROZIER
36
JEMMA RAMSDALE
17
CHLOE ADAMS
27
KEELY FULLERTON
37
ANJELIQUE RAISON
18
LILA KECK
28
ISABEL BACON
38
EMILY GOUGH
19
KAYLEY KAVANAGH
29
MEL STAUNTON
39
MACKENZIE FORD
20
KIARA BISCHA
30
KIERA WHILEY
40
JOSIE MCCABE 109
2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONS: SOUTH AUSTRALIA EBERT 04 LAELA N O RTH ADE LAI DE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA REMAINED UNDEFEATED FROM ITS THREE GAMES AT THE AFL WOMEN'S UNDER 18 CHAMPIONSHIPS TO CLAIM BACK-TO-BACK TITLES. THE CROWEATERS DEFEATED WESTERN AUSTRALIA, VIC METRO AND QUEENSLAND TO ACHIEVE THE FEAT.
17/04/2006 | 165CM | DEFENDER STATS: 6.7 DISPOSALS, 3.0 TACKLES Spent her time in defence often shutting down an opposition forward, but the bottom-ager got a good taste of national carnival action. Still a bottom-ager, Ebert will likely play higher up the field next year, and is capable of having a mix of offensive and defensive roles. She could also take over Whitcombe's role as the number one lockdown defender in 2024.
RASHEED 06 INDIA STU RT 29/11/2006 | 172CM | FORWARD
IN THIS ARTICLE, WE PROFILE EACH OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS AND HOW THEY WENT THROUGH THE CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM THE FULL SQUAD.
Was named an All-Australian after a superb carnival that saw her earn the South Australian MVP. Though a year younger - and only 33 days off being a double bottom-ager - there is plenty to like about the daughter of Roger. Her left foot is as deadly as anyone's and she showed she can not only hit the scoreboard - kicking the second most goals for her state - but also brought her defensive pressure, averaging more than six tackles including nine in the win over Queensland.
MORGAN 02 COBY N O RWO O D
PATTERSON 08 RUBY BALLARD 03 VIOLET G LEN ELG WE ST ADE LAI DE
23/12/2005 | 161CM | MIDFIELDER/FORWARD
14/11/2006 | 173CM | FORWARD
09/01/2006 | 168CM | WINGER/FORWARD
07/11/2006 | 155CM | FORWARD
STATS: 17.7 DISPOSALS, 1.3 MARKS, 6.0 TACKLES, 2.3 CLEARANCES, 2.3 INSIDE 50S, 1.0 REBOUND 50S, 1 GOAL
STATS: 11.0 DISPOSALS, 2.0 TACKLES, 2.0 INSIDE 50S (ONE GAME)
STATS: 14.7 DISPOSALS, 3.3 MARKS, 3.3 TACKLES, 2.3 INSIDE 50S, 1 GOAL
STATS: 10.7 DISPOSALS, 3.0 MARKS, 2.3 TACKLES, 2.0 INSIDE 50S, 2 GOALS, 2 BEHINDS
Spending the majority of her time through the midfield and mostly resting forward, Grigg had a pretty impressive carnival and was one of the more consistent South Australians as you would expect. Her tackling pressure was outstanding and she worked well in close, extracting it out to teammates and always playing the team role. Is among the top 10 players in the country and earned All-Australian honours.
A developing forward who has some fundamentals still to develop, Morgan held her own in the first game against Western Australia, and then being a bottom-ager could not crack back in. Though her technique is an area to work on, she showed she find the ball at a higher level working up the ground, and is a good size at 173cm. Has pace to burn as well.
Collingwood fans will be keeping a close eye on the bottom-ager who is the daughter of former Magpie, Stephen. She is a pressure-first player with a high running capacity and showed she can add forward to her inside-outside balance. Still slight, Patterson punches well above her weight division and is as tough as they come. One who will assume a key role at the championships next year.
Boasting another link to the top level, the sister of Crows' Abbie has some similar traits with her toughness and footy IQ in the forward half. She is only small at 155cm, but is perfect for a crumbing, pressure forward, with the work rate to push up the ground and deliver inside 50. She is clever at finding gaps inside 50, and converted two goals at the championships, playing her role.
GRIGG 01 ELAINE CEN TRA L D I ST RI CT
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STATS: 22.3 DISPOSALS, 4.3 MARKS, 6.3 TACKLES, 1.3 CLEARANCES, 3.3 INSIDE 50S, 4 GOALS, 4 BEHINDS
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2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONS: SOUTH AUSTRALIA GOODY 09 SHINEAH WWT EAG LES
SCHOLZ 12 POPPY G LEN ELG
WINDOW 13 PIPER G LEN ELG
BROOKSBY 14 MOLLY N O RWO O D
08/11/2005 | 162CM | MIDFIELDER
31/12/2006 | 179CM | KEY DEFENDER/RUCK
30/07/2005 | 167CM | FORWARD/MIDFIELDER
18/07/2005 | 172CM | DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER
STATS: 24.6 DISPOSALS, 4.3 MARKS, 3.0 TACKLES, 5.3 CLEARANCES, 3.0 INSIDE 50S, 1.7 REBOUND 50S, 1 BEHIND
STATS: 14.7 DISPOSALS, 3.7 MARKS, 3.0 TACKLES, 6.3 HITOUTS, 1.3 CLEARANCES, 2.0 REBOUND 50S
STATS: 17.3 DISPOSALS, 3.3 MARKS, 6.0 TACKLES, 3.7 CLEARANCES, 3.7 INSIDE 50S, 1 GOAL
STATS: 17.3 DISPOSALS, 3.0 MARKS, 4.0 TACKLES, 3.0 CLEARANCES, 3.3 INSIDE 50S, 1.7 REBOUND 50S
Another lock for the All-Australian team, Goody’s numbers immediately jump off the page with 24.6 disposals, 5.3 clearances and 3.0 inside 50s. Last year she was the standout choice, and this year she was just as impressive with some others stepping up in big way. Absolute class and will have no problems stepping up to the elite level.
The ultimate utility will come in hot demand next year, as the sister of recently drafted Power ruck, Matilda forges her own journey in 2024. No doubt her sights will be set on joining her sister at Alberton, but she is equally a talented netballer. Playing mostly as an intercepting defender, while chopping out on in the ruck, Scholz can play on a wing or forward, and is the definition of the heavily used recent footballing term, 'unicorn'.
The South Australian skipper has had a massive year and she was again a tough, contested player throughout the championships. With a lot of midfielders to rotate on-ball, Window spent time forward as she did at SANFL level. Though she only kicked the one goal, she brought the tackling pressure and was able to impact on the inside and outside. Though she has had some bigger games, her second match against Vic Metro in particular was outstanding.
After injury interruptions in the preseason, Brooksby really stepped up and showed her class at the national carnival. She is the best opposite foot kick that one could hope for, and her kicking skills are so rare. Averaging more than 17 disposals, she rated elite in two of her three games for her kicking efficiency, and she had a mix of play playing off high half-back, kicking out and also pushing into the midfield. Brooksby is the player you want the ball in the hands of if you are a forward.
EVANS 10 JASMINE CEN T RA L D I ST RI CT 05/02/2006 | 165CM | WING STATS: 16.0 DISPOSALS, 3.0 MARKS, 2.0 MARKS, 4.3 INSIDE 50S, 1.0 REBOUND 50S, 1 GOAL The bottom-ager is one of the most impressive draft bolters for next year, having not had exposure to senior level prior to this year. Taking that next step and fulfilling a key role on the wing and rotating forward for the South Australians, Evans is that outstanding kick who can distribute, but also hit the scoreboard. Helped win Central District a few games too. She will potentially fly under the radar next year but has the talent to be a first round prospect.
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SOPHIE EATON CEN T RA L D I ST RI CT
23/04/2007 | 169CM | FORWARD/WING STATS: 8.0 DISPOSALS, 1.5 TACKLES, 1.0 CLEARANCES, 1.5 INSIDE 50S, 1 GOAL (TWO GAMES) As the youngest player in the team, Eaton showed some promising signs against older opponents and had some time up the field to go with her inside 50 moments. She is an incredibly gifted player, and already has an Under 16s MVP and All-Australian gong to her name, and expect her to be the Rasheed of next year who has a massive impact as a bottom-ager. Class personified and can play just about any role.
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2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONS: SOUTH AUSTRALIA 15
JACINDA SCHUNSELAAR SOUTH ADELAIDE
06/04/2005 | 180CM | RUCK
02/09/2005 | 167CM | WING
STATS: 8.3 DISPOSALS, 1.0 MARKS, 3.7 TACKLES, 16.0 HITOUTS, 2.3 CLEARANCES
STATS: 15.7 DISPOSALS, 5.0 MARKS, 1.0 CLEARANCE, 1.7 INSIDE 50S, 1.0 REBOUND 50S
An athletic ruck who spent her time primarily at development level, Schunselaar has some traits that will catch the eye. She can jump and works hard around the ground, while able to impact at ground level. Her aerial ability and consistency are still areas of improvement, but with the lack of available rucks in some states, she might be a good candidate for non-South Australian clubs to look at as a long-term prospect.
Ifould had an incredible game against Vic Metro, was very hand against Western Australia, and quieter against Queensland. All in all, Ifould had a carnival indicative of most wingers, with a mixed bag. She has a great running capacity, finds space well and with time and space can do some damage by foot. There are areas to work on and she is definitely an outside player, but showed at times for South Adelaide she can get her hands dirty. Another player which might see clubs outside South Australia consider.
ANDERSON 16 MELISSA SOUTH ADELAIDE 17/08/2005 | 173CM | FORWARD STATS: 6.3 DISPOSALS, 2.0 MARKS, 2.0 TACKLES, 2.0 INSIDE 50S, 3 GOALS, 1 BEHIND It is tough to gain the inside minutes you need when the South Australian squad is as deep as it is, but Anderson still took her opportunity in the tri-colours with both hands. She played almost exclusively forward - though played a key role in the midfield for the trial game against the Under 23s - where her statistics do not do justice to her impact. She kicked a goal in each of the three games, with her, Young and Rasheed the only South Australian players to do so.
BROOK 19 ALISSA SOUTH ADELAIDE 23/05/2005 | 176CM | DEFENDER STATS: 6.0 DISPOSALS, 1.0 MARKS, 2.7 TACKLES A raw, developing defender, Brook has come on in a short space of time and though she is not a high production player, she is comfortable in that defensive role. Able to get into the right positions and intercept, or at least bring the ball to ground, Brook stepped up to SANFLW level later in the year and held her own, with her athleticism in particular her vertical leap - catching the eye. A potential draft chance and another tall for clubs across the nation to consider.
WALSH 20 ZARA SOUTH ADELAIDE
MARTIN 22 GRACE WWT EAGLES
BOILEAU 27 BROOKE SOUTH ADELAIDE
08/06/2006 | 177CM | DEFENDER
12/03/2005 | 172CM | FORWARD
01/09/2006 | 162CM | FORWARD/MIDFIELDER
28/01/2005 | 170CM | MIDFIELDER
STATS: 8.0 DISPOSALS, 1.7 MARKS, 2.3 TACKLES, 1.3 REBOUND 50S
STATS: 10.0 DISPOSALS, 3.0 MARKS, 3.0 TACKLES, 1.7 INSIDE 50S, 3 GOALS, 1 BEHIND
STATS: 10.0 DISPOSALS, 2.0 MARKS, 3.0 TACKLES, 2.0 INSIDE 50S, 1 BEHIND (ONE GAME)
STATS: 21.3 DISPOSALS, 2.7 MARKS, 5.0 TACKLES, 4.7 CLEARANCES, 3.7 INSIDE 50S, 1 GOAL, 1 BEHIND
Another defender who just plays her role, Schirmer has some athletic traits that suggest she can have a more offensively-minded role next year, but she does her due diligence with her opponent. Possessing great closing speed and a natural competitive nature, Schirmer backed up her SANFLW Team of the Year effort with a solid all-round championships. Her role is not usually one that causes fanfare, but coaches love her effort and ability to shut down her opponent.
Did her draft chances no harm by playing her role in attack and kicking three goals in three games, including two in the final match against Queensland. Boasting elite speed and being able to burn off opponents on the lead, Walsh is creative in the forward half of the ground and has that upside that clubs love. At 172cm, she can take a strong mark, but also do the crumbing, and once she gets goalside, it is game over for any opponent.
The bottom-ager fronted up against Western Australia in the first game and was okay, but ultimately had to make way for some other bottom-agers for game two. She has some class and can hit the scoreboard as she did for the Eagles in the SANFLW, but is developing other aspects of her game. Only small, Martin will likely be that clever forward inside 50 who can rotate into the middle.
Winning the third most disposals of any player in the South Australian team, the inside midfielder was rock solid consistent yet again. Her 2023 season has hardly had a dip, and she became the prominent inside midfielder alongside Goody. After missing out on playing last year, Boileau has made up for lost time and her numbers of 21.3 disposals, 5.0 tackles, 4.7 clearances and 3.7 inside 50s.
SCHIRMER 17 ESTHER SOUTH ADELAIDE
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IFOULD 18 HOLLY SOUTH ADELAIDE
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2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONS: SOUTH AUSTRALIA WHITCOMBE 28 LILY SOUTH ADELAIDE
CHARITY 32 JEMMA WWT EAGLES
RIGGS 39 CHARLOTTE CENTRAL DISTRICT
02/03/2005 | 173CM | DEFENDER
06/06/2006 | 170CM | DEFENDER
02/11/2006 | 179CM | DEFENDER
STATS: 6.7 DISPOSALS, 1.3 MARKS, 1.7 REBOUND 50S
STATS: 16.3 DISPOSALS, 4.7 MARKS, 2.3 TACKLES, 1.0 INSIDE 50S, 4.0 REBOUND 50S, 1 BEHIND
STATS: 7.3 DISPOSALS, 2.0 MARKS, 3.1 TACKLES, 3.0 REBOUND 50S
Missing out in her double bottom-age year despite being named in the squad due to the strength of the squad, Charity stepped straight in from game one and played all three this year. Though known for her work up the other end with the Eagles, Charity showcased her versatility playing as a defender, and both intercepted and distributed from defence. She was one of the more consistent defenders this tournament and has really bolstered her draft stocks for 2024.
Coming off an ankle injury in the SANFLW Grand Final, Riggs was rested for the Under 23s friendly, but returned to play a full carnival. Though not having massive games, she still had some great movements, with strong hands overhead, and then getting her hands dirty at ground level. A key position player who will be among the best in 2024, and incredibly versatile, with an ability to play on all three lines.
Whitcombe continued her thankless, but important role as a lockdown defender. She often had some big tasks on some quality forwards and kept them quiet, while being that calm and composed user in the defensive 50. She might not come with the frills that others possess, but she does not make too many mistakes, and is ultra competitive one-on-one. The top-ager looks comfortable inside the defensive 50.
BOYD 30 LUCY WEST ADELAIDE 12/10/2006 | 172CM | FORWARD STATS: 4.5 DISPOSALS, 1.0 MARKS, 4.0 TACKLES, 4.0 HITOUTS, 2 GOALS, 2 BEHINDS (TWO GAMES) After missing the first game against Western Australia, Boyd returned via the Under 23s friendly, then played in the last two carnival matches. After looking a little rusty against Vic Metro, Boyd was more dangerous against Queensland, kicking 2.1 as a key target inside 50. Capable of playing at both ends, she has another year of development to go, and will be one to watch next year.
YOUNG 31 LAUREN WEST ADELAIDE 16/09/2005 | 178CM | FORWARD STATS: 17.3 DISPOSALS, 7.0 MARKS, 3.0 TACKLES, 2.3 INSIDE 50S, 9 GOALS, 3 BEHINDS Averaging three goals per game - including hauls of five and three in her first two games - Young also handed off many more when she could have filled her boots with some ridiculous numbers. Despite missing last year due to injury, the top draft talent has not missed a beat and was the spearhead of the South Australian attack.
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2023 AFLW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS MVPs ALLIES
QUEENSLAND
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Marnie ROBINSON
Havana HARRIS
India RASHEED
Robinson is a reliable defender and skipper of the Allies who worked hard throughout the national carnival to be an intercepting talent in the back 50. She is a player with nice natural footballing skills and an all-round game for a rebounding back.
The bottom-age tall is arguably the top pick in next year’s draft, having played ruck, forward and even as a midfielder, showcasing her versatility. Strong overhead with unique explosive speed for a 182cm player, Harris is the prototype athlete for the future, with plenty of footballing nous thrown in there too.
Rasheed showed her midfield craft, then went forward and also hit the scoreboard, with Rasheed not far behind Harris in calculations for next year. Boasting an elite left foot and incredible vision, she has always been a star at SANFL Women’s level and by adding a midfield string to her bow, looks to be dangerous on multiple fronts.
VIC COUNTRY
VIC METRO
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
AFL PHOTOS
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Ash CENTRA
Kayley KAVANAGH
Evie COWCHER
Centra took her game to another level at the national championships, playing as a strong marking forward. Having spent the majority of the year for Gippsland Power as a defender with stints through the middle and up forward. She is tall, athletic, and has great aerial ability, while being clean at ground level and doing a lot of damage inside 50.
The Calder Cannons midfielder could not have done much more than she has this year, ticking box after box with steady consistency through both the Coates Talent League and AFLW Under 18 Championships. Her defensive traits are outstanding, she covers the ground well and has no issues getting into ball-winning positions, particularly around the stoppages.
The youngest player to win a state MVP since Lauren Young at the 2021 AFLW Under 19 Championships, Cowcher is not eligible for another two and a half seasons. Strong overhead and boasting a powerful kick, she recovers well at ground level and is someone who reads the ball well inside the defensive 50. One of a number of West Australian stars at Under 16s level.
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2023 ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM The 2023 AFL Women's Under 18 All-Australian Team featured 23 players from across the six competing state sides represented. In this article we take a look at those players and what they offer out on the field.
DEFENDERS BACK POCKET
MIDFIELDERS HALF-BACK FLANK
WING
RUCK
LAURA STONE
VIC METRO | 22/11/2005 | 169CM
KAITLYN SRHOJ
HAVANA HARRIS
ALLIES | 08/06/2005 | 172CM
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | 10/07/2005 | 175CM
QUEENSLAND | 01/07/2006 | 181CM
The Swans Academy member captained the Allies in what was a tough series as the combined side from NSW/ACT, Tasmania and Northern Territory went down in all three games. Robinson was a constant in defence all tournament and was rewarded for her leadership and consistency with an All-Australian nod.
Though she only played the two games, Stone showed her class rolling between half-back and the midfield. Winning Vic Metro's Best and Fairest, Stone's carnival ended early due to injury, but she still notched up an average of over 20 disposals per game showcasing her explosive speed and ball-winning abilities.
The AFLW Academy member can play both inside or outside, but was largely utilised for her run in the West Australian side. An MVP of her side in last year's Under 17 Futures match, Srhoj has plenty of improvement for the future and looms as one of the most sought after West Australian prospects in this year's draft.
The top pick for next year's AFLW Draft at this stage, Harris earned the overall MVP for the carnival to go with her Queensland MVP. The 181cm utility played ruck, forward and even midfield such is her impact around the ground, with explosive speed and strength overhead making her a nightmare for opponents. A star of the future, Harris has the capacity to do things that no one her size should be capable of doing.
FULL-BACK
CENTRE HALF-BACK
CENTRE
RUCK ROVER
MARNIE ROBINSON
POPPY SCHOLZ
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | 31/12/2006 | 179CM
SHINEAH GOODY
PIPER WINDOW [CAPTAIN]
QUEENSLAND | 15/04/2005 | 171CM
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | 08/11/2005 | 162CM
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | 30/07/2005 | 167CM
One of the most impressive draft bolters of the carnival, Bischa's performance on some of the best forwards across the league caught the eye. Keeping Lauren Young to one goal and when she was directly opposed to Ash Centra, none, Bischa showed her competitive edge to be a strong lockdown defender who can provide some rebound as well.
The ultimate utility in the group, Scholz has shown she can play in literally any position making her a unique choice in next year's draft. The younger sister of Port Adelaide recruit, Matilda, Poppy brings her own brand to the table with outstanding athletic traits and the knack to play both offensive and defensive roles.
It is hard to deny Goody's consistency over multiple years, with the reigning MVP having another carnival deserving of All-Australian honours. The second highest ball winner and equal top clearance player for the tournament, Goody's ability to slow time and make the right decisions really stand out, as does her speed and strength for her size.
The South Australian skipper was coming off a huge year in the SANFLW, winning the league best and fairest there, and she backed it up at the national carnival with All-Australian honours. Her defensive pressure and inside game was strong, and she even spent time forward, in what was a consistent carnival for the young star. Window was also named captain of the side.
BACK POCKET
HALF-BACK FLANK
WING
ROVER
EVIE COWCHER
ZIPPY FISH
SARA HOWLEY
AVA USHER
VIC COUNTRY | 29/01/2006 | 173CM
QUEENSLAND | 11/08/2007 | 162CM
Recording an impressive 17 disposals per game, Cowcher is the second youngest player in the All-Australian team. Much like her role with Peel Thunder, Cowcher plays an aggressive brand of football and is incredible in the air, while providing a stack of offensive drive from the back half of the ground. Cowcher was also Western Australia's MVP for the series.
An ultra-skilful defender/midfielder, Fish is one of the most potent ball users across the side. Clocking up a 20m sprint time of 3.14 seconds in the preseason, Fish is a player with enormous upside. Though only small in stature at 160cm, she can play inside or outside, and once she takes off, she is hard to catch. A top prospect for next year.
In terms of sheer numbers, few can hold a candle to Howley who has been able to dominate the stats sheet just about every time she goes out on field. Recording more disposals than anyone else at the championships, she also pulled in a stack of marks, tackles, clearances and inside 50s, and was the only player to average four or more of those statistics.
Boasting an unrivalled highlights package, the double bottom-ager was the youngest player named in the All-Australian team. Only turning 16 in August - eight days after Cowcher - Usher showed her incredible strength, explosive speed and impact across two matches. The Gold Coast Suns will be delighted to see her progress and she looms as the standout pick from the 2007 crop at this stage.
KIARA BISCHA
WESTERN AUSTRALIA | 03/08/2007 | 173CM
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA | 04/06/2006 | 160CM
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20 23 ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM AFWL U18S
ALL-AUSTRALIAN
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FORWARDS HALF-FORWARD FLANK
FORWARD POCKET
ASH CENTRA
EMMA MCDONALD
VIC COUNTRY | 02/06/2006 | 174CM
VIC METRO | 18/04/2006 | 180CM
The Vic Country MVP was near-unstoppable at her best and played back up forward after spending the majority of the Coates Talent League Girls season in defence for Gippsland Power. Fantastic overhead, and capable of doing the impossible, Centra looked ever dangerous inside 50 and is arguably the best kick in the entire team in terms of short, medium or long distances.
The standout bottom-ager from those in their debut Talent League seasons, McDonald has gone from strength to strength in 2023. She not only caught attention with her athleticism and contested marking in the Talent League, but transferred that to the national carnival with five goals helping Vic Metro over the line against the Allies. McDonald also had the highest goal average and second most goals in the carnival.
CENTRE HALF-FORWARD
FULL-FORWARD
DEKOTA BARON
LAUREN YOUNG
QUEENSLAND | 03/01/2007 | 178CM
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | 16/09/2005 | 178CM
The oldest of the 2007-born stars in the team, Baron was a threat close to goal for Queensland, kicking five goals across her two games. She was rotated from the team for game one, but made her mark from then-on, with 17 disposals and four marks per game an incredible feat. She even had stints in the ruck and looms as a player who will be a key forward to watch in the coming years.
Once it was clear Young was to play forward, it was evident she would be locked into the full-forward spot of the All-Australian team. Kicking nine goals more than any other player - at the national carnival saw a fantastic tournament from the top pick in this year's draft crop, making a successful return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Averaging seven marks to go with 17.3 disposals is just mindboggling too.
HALF-FORWARD FLANK
FORWARD POCKET
INDIA RASHEED
ELAINE GRIGG
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | 29/11/2006 | 172CM
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | 23/12/2005 | 161CM
Rotating between forward and midfield, the talented South Australian bottom-ager was able to impact each game she played and finished up with the South Australian MVP for the carnival. Boasting an elite left boot and inane goal sense to kick some incredible majors, Rasheed is one who will have a fair highlights reel by the time she is drafted.
Grigg was one of those players who was too consistent not to make it into the All-Australian team, but due to the strength of the midfield, was slotted into a pocket. She only kicked the one goal in the tournament, but provided plenty of run and carry and outstanding defensive pressure. A natural winger/half-forward, Grigg has played inside at SANFLW level and is one with plenty of upside.
2023 ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM INTERCHANGE
2023 AFLW UNDER 18s
MIDFIELDER
DEFENDER
BROOKE BOILEAU
JEMMA CHARITY
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | 28/01/2005 | 170CM
The South Adelaide top-ager's sensational year rolled on and is one of the feel-good stories of 2023. After missing out on making the Croweaters' squad in 2022, she worked hard on her game and secured the spot in 2023. Not resting on her laurels, Boileau became one of the highest production players, with the third most disposals and clearances across the carnival to justify herself as a first round prospect.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA | 06/06/2006 | 170CM
Another really versatile player, Charity spent the 2023 SANFL Women's season as a midfielder/forward and was able to showcase her fantastic contested marking. Good overhead, clean at ground level and possessing a wonderful kick, Charity was moved to defence for the national carnival and it paid dividends. The bottom-ager was the preferred player to kick out and thrived in the role.
MIDFIELDER
MIDFIELDER
KAYLEY KAVANAGH
MIKAYLA WILLIAMSON
VIC METRO | 06/07/2006 | 169CM
Similar to Boileau, Kavanagh has been a terrific story of 2023, never dropping below 20 disposals at Coates Talent League level, and then standing up at the national carnival to win Vic Metro's MVP. She had the equal most clearances with Goody and brought her trademark defensive pressure which caught the eye.
DEFENDER
VIC COUNTRY | 08/05/2005 | 174CM
Co-captaining Vic Country, the Dandenong Stingrays speedster elevated her draft chances with a consistent carnival. Standing at 174cm, Williamson is a good height for a midfielder, and she has that explosive speed out of the stoppage. Her execution has been refined over time and has allowed her to have more impact on games and well deserving of this accolade.
ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM B
Marnie ROBINSON
Kiara BISCHA
Evie COWCHER
ALLIES
QUEENSLAND
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
HB
Laura STONE
Poppy SCHOLZ
Zippy FISH
VIC METRO
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
C
Kaitlyn SRHOJ
Shineah GOODY
Sara HOWLEY
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
VIC COUNTRY
HF
Ash CENTRA
Dekota BARON
India RASHEED
VIC COUNTRY
QUEENSLAND
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
F
Emma MCDONALD
Lauren YOUNG
Elaine GRIGG
VIC METRO
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
R
Havana HARRIS
Piper WINDOW
Ava USHER
QUEENSLAND
SOUTH AUSTRALIA (C)
QUEENSLAND
Brooke BOILEAU
Kayley KAVANAGH
Molly O'HEHIR
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
VIC METRO
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Jemma CHARITY
Mikayla WILLIAMSON
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
VIC COUNTRY
MOLLY O'HEHIR WESTERN AUSTRALIA | 24/05/2006 | 176CM
O'Hehir is one of the top bottom-agers for the Sandgropers and has shown traits over the past two seasons that are evident of a player who will be a star in the future. With explosive speed, good hands and a reliable kick, O'Hehir is a good size at 176cm as well, and been trailed across all three lines. An incredible upside player.
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INT
INT
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S E PTE MB E R 13 2023
SARA HOWLEY WINS RMC MEDAL GEELONG Falcons bottom-ager Sara Howley has taken home the 2023 Rookie Me Central Medal, judged the best player across the Coates Talent League Girls season. Howley was awarded the medal following her side’s preliminary final loss to Eastern Ranges, with the talented midfielder leading from the halfway point of the year and never looking back. Howley polled a massive 45 votes from 12 games, as she picked up 30 or more disposals in all bar two of her regular season games, including two hauls of 40 touches in Rounds 7 and 9. Also kicking an average of a goal per game in the year, Howley showed her ability to play more inside, while covering the ground well to win the ball in both the offensive and defensive thirds. “It’s an absolute honour,” Howley said upon receiving the medal. “Obviously I’m very happy with how I went individually, but most importantly the team, I absolutely couldn’t have done it without those girls supporting me every week.” A full interview with Howley from the day, as well as player highlights will
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FINAL LEADERBOARD
VOTES
01
SARA HOWLEY
45
02
ASH CENTRA
37
03
KAYLEY KAVANAGH
35
be coming out in the near future.
04
SIENNA GRIEVES
31
A Vic County representative, Howley finished eight votes clear of fellow bottom-ager and Vic Country MVP, Ash Centra (37 votes). Calder Cannons’ Kayley Kavanagh finished third with 35 votes, finishing the year strong in polling as she only played the 10 games.
05
CHLOE ADAMS
30
06
MILLIE LANG
29
06
GEORGIA CLARK
29
08
LAURA STONE
27
08
ZOE HARGREAVES
27
10
LUCIA PAINTER
24
Howley’s Geelong Falcons teammate and skipper, Chloe Adams hit the 30-vote mark with a best on ground display in the final round of the regular season to finish fifth, one vote behind Western Jets’ Sierra Grieves. Tasmania Devils’ Georgia Clark and GWV Rebels’ Millie Lang (29 votes each) and Eastern Ranges’ Laura Stone and Northern Knights’ Zoe Hargreaves (27 each) also polled well. Bendigo Pioneers’ Lucia Painter rounded out the top 10 vote-getters with 24 for the season, an incredible effort considering she played just eight games. In terms of other players who polled the most votes for their club, Oakleigh Chargers’ Emma McDonald (23 votes), Sandringham Dragons’ Sophie McKay (21) and Dandenong Stingrays’ Mikayla Williamson (20) all featured in the top 15. Murray Bushrangers’ Kaylea Kobzan polled nine votes to be the highest Bushranger this season.
CLUB LEADERS
VOTES
LUCIA PAINTER
24
KAYLEY KAVANAGH
35
MIKAYLA WILLIAMSON
20
LAURA STONE
27
SARA HOWLEY
45
ASH CENTRA
37
MILLIE LANG
29
KAYLEA KOBZAN
9
ZOE HARGREAVES
27
EMMA MCDONALD
23
SOPHIE MCKAY
21
GEORGIA CLARK
29
SIERRA GRIEVES
31
20 23
TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR TEAM OF THE YEAR
20 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL 23 TALENT LEAGUE
TEAM YEAR
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OF THE
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RMC TALENT LEAGUE
2023 TEAM OF THE YEAR
D R A F T
G U I D E
2 3
OUR 2023 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL
BACKS
HALF-BACKS
CENTRES
TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF
LOU-LOU FIELD
ASH CENTRA
MIKAYLA WILLIAMSON
The bottom-age talent is already well experienced at Talent League level, having been involved with the Jets program as a triple bottom-ager. Boasting a damaging left foot and a capacity to beat her opponent one-on-one in the air or at ground level, she looms as one of the top Victorian defenders for next year.
Already having a Vic Country MVP under her belt, Centra makes our Team of the Year for a second successive season. After playing forward in her double bottom-age year, Centra found her home in defence, with her strong hands, elite kick and strong decision making among a wide array of weapons in her game.
Vic Country's co-captain and All-Australian, Williamson had a slight delay to the Talent League season, but once she hit her straps she never looked back. Her explosive pace, dare to run, and balance of offensive and defensive traits make her a valuable utility, earning her a spot on the wing.
SIENNA TALLARITI
MILLIE LANG
Often undersized against taller forwards, Tallariti has some outstanding hands, reads the play brilliantly and rarely makes a mistake by foot. Though trialled through both the midfield and up forward, she has found her position in defence, and has been a consistent rebounding machine for the Chargers.
An easy lock for the Team of the Year centre half-back role due to the fact she played there full-time all year for the Rebels. Often having to take the big jobs while providing intercepting ability, Lang is a full-on offensive player with an outstanding left foot. She can also use her right, and her work rate is impressive.
MACKENZIE WILLIAMS
LAURA STONE
Completing the full-back line of bottom-agers, Williams is a natural ball-winner who loves to mop up and take grass wherever she can. With a booming kick she can put to good use, and a natural competitiveness in the air and at ground level, she is a top Tasmanian talent for 2024.
The oldest player in the defence, Stone is the only top-ager amongst the back six. She has explosive speed, good hands and can play on all three lines. Having started as a defender and played time there this season, she slots in at half-back, though will be a midfielder long-term at AFLW level.
THE YEAR HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. THE 24 PLAYERS SELECTED - AS WELL AS THREE EMERGENCIES HAS BEEN LOCKED IN WITH THE TOP FOUR SIDES COMBINING FOR 13 OF THOSE REPRESENTATIVES.
WESTERN JETS
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
The Rookie Me Central Team of the Year focuses on purely Talent League performances. Based around our Team of the Weeks each round, the 24-player squad features 12 of the 13 full-time clubs. Geelong Falcons topped all-comers with four representatives, while Eastern Ranges, Oakleigh Chargers, Dandenong Stingrays shared the load with three each. Calder Cannons, Tasmania Devils and Western Jets also had multiple players in the side. The remaining five players were spread across the other talent pathways, with Murray Bushrangers being the only team not represented on this occasion. 120
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TASMANIA DEVILS
GIPPSLAND POWER
GWV REBELS
EASTERN RANGES
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
KAYLEY KAVANAGH CALDER CANNONS (VC)
Picking up the most Team of the Week nominations from a top-age perspective, Kavanagh was another easy choice for the centre position. Though she started the year as a pure inside midfielder, Kavanagh has improved her outside game and is now well balanced and having outstanding impact across the field. Kavanagh earned the vice-captaincy for her incredible consistency and eight nominations.
ZOE HARGREAVES NORTHERN KNIGHTS
Capable of playing in a number of positions, Hargreaves finds herself on a wing due to the three locks on-ball. She is another bottom-ager who has some outstanding pace, and is able to take the game on. With high-level defensive pressure too, the elder of the Hargreaves sisters enjoyed a huge debut Talent League season.
2023 RMC TALENT LEAGUE TEAM OF THE YEAR HALF-FORWARDS SIERRA GRIEVES WESTERN JETS
It might have been funny to think of Grieves at half-forward early in the season, as the natural inside midfielder had the ball on a string. But to increase her versatility, she was thrown into attack and arguably lifted her impact on games via the scoreboard. An all-round ultra strong season from the bottom-ager.
GEORGIA CLARK TASMANIA DEVILS
It was a big year for Clark who started like a house on fire, and though the going was tough at times through Allies and then when forward in some Devils losses, she is still one of the best forwards in this year's draft. With velcro hands and a reliable set shot for goal, she is a hard-running tall forward.
SOPHIE MCKAY
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS Another dual position player, McKay has rolled between midfield and forward this year, able to rest inside 50 and hit the scoreboard. A standout player at the stoppages, McKay has that touch of class about her and won the Under 17 Futures MVP for a 30-disposal game. The eligible Carlton father-daughter prospect is one to watch next year.
FORWARDS ALYSSIA PISANO EASTERN RANGES
At her best, there are few who could do more damage to an opposition team. Pisano's work around goal is unmatched, and her ability to turn nothing into something off a split second or
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half-step was on show throughout 2023. Though some inaccuracy plagued her late, she is still a premier small forward and a top 10 talent.
SOPHIE BUTTERWORTH DANDENONG STINGRAYS
Finishing second in the overall leading goalkicker award, Butterworth kicked bags of goals for fun this season, with 30 goals in 13 regular season games. After not scoring a goal in Round 1, Butterworth kicked a major in every other regular season game, including a bag of five and three hauls of four.
CHANTAL MASON GEELONG FALCONS
The only player to kick more goals than Butterworth in season 2023 was Mason, who went on a ridiculous purple patch mid-season. Taking advantage of a good run of games where the Falcons took control, Mason slammed home 21 goals in four games to finish with 31 in 13 matches. She also kicked a total of five goals across her two finals.
RUCKS ELLI SYMONDS
DANDENONG STINGRAYS Symonds was an easy ruck selection, notching up six Team of the Week nominations, the most of any player in the position comfortably. Enjoying a terrific season, Symonds showcased her athleticism and ability to win the ball, as well as go forward and hit the scoreboard. The bottom-ager's follow-up work particularly caught the eye.
SARA HOWLEY
GEELONG FALCONS (C) This year's Talent League Girls Team of the Year captain, Howley has a wonderfully consistent
year, picking up 30 or more disposals in 10 of her 12 regular season games. Polling 45 votes to win the Rookie Me Central Medal as our best player for the season, Howley made it into a remarkable 11 Team of the Weeks, with only her Round 3 performance not earning her a spot. A well-deserved gong off the back of an incredible season.
CHLOE ADAMS GEELONG FALCONS
Howley's teammate and Falcons skipper, Adams also had a strong year, earning co-captaincy for Vic Country. Not taking a backwards step on the field, Adams has a well-balanced game from offensive to defensive traits, and is as courageous as they come. She earned seven Team of the Week nominations throughout the year.
INTERCHANGE EMMA MCDONALD OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
JADE MCLAY
CALDER CANNONS The sole 2007-born talent in the team, McLay came in and had an immediate impact for the Cannons, utlilised in a variety of roles. Capable of playing defence, offence, as a big-bodied midfielder or even as a ruck, McLay is the ultimate utility and she will form a great partnership with Chloe Baker-West over the coming seasons.
MEKAH MORRISSY GEELONG FALCONS
Another specialist winger who performed strongly enough to secure a bench spot off the back of six Team of the Week nominations, Morrissy has plenty of potential for next season. Though still finding her consistency, she has the running capacity and ability to get forward and set up scoring chances.
LUCIA PAINTER BENDIGO PIONEERS
Enjoying an outstanding debut season, McDonald burst onto the scene as a raw key forward and ended it as an All-Australian and noted goalkicker. She kicked 13 goals from 10 games but it was her work rate up the field, strong hands and tackling pressure for a tall that set her aside and she stands up as one of the top tall prospects for next year.
Playing the least amount of games of any player in the side, Painter's year unfortunately finished early following injury. In that time, Painter averaged 24.1 disposals, 3.4 marks, 4.4 inside 50s, 3.3 rebound 50s and a whopping 7.9 tackles showing just how crucial she was for the Pioneers. Like Howley, Painter only missed out on one Team of the Week nomination.
HAYLEY MCLAUGHLIN
SARAH POUSTIE
EASTERN RANGES
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
A hard-running winger, McLaughlin did not put a foot wrong all season, earning a well-deserved spot on the interchange. She covers the ground well, can impact by hand or foot in transition, and works hard to provide defensive pressure and mop up off half-back. The dual sportsperson has been a consistent winger.
The bench seems to be filled with outside runners, though Poustie has also spent time on-ball as well as her starting wing role. Earning a Vic Metro spot, the bottom-ager is very strong overhead for her size, a neat kick and runs well between the arcs to have an influence on games.
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2023
D R A F T
G U I D E
2 3
COATES TALENT LEAGUE
TEAM OF THE YEAR B
HB
C
HF
F
R
INT
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FULL TEAM OF THE YEAR SQUAD
Lou-Lou FIELD
Sienna TALLARITI
Mackenzie WILLIAMS
WESTERN JETS
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
TASMANIA DEVILS
Ash CENTRA
Millie LANG
Laura STONE
GIPPSLAND POWER
GWV REBELS
EASTERN RANGES
Mikayla WILLIAMSON Kayley KAVANAGH
Zoe HARGREAVES
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
CALDER CANNONS (VC)
NORTHERN KNIGHTS
Sierra GRIEVES
Georgia CLARK
Sophie MCKAY
WESTERN JETS
TASMANIA DEVILS
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
Alyssia PISANO
Sophie BUTTERWORTH Chantal MASON
EASTERN RANGES
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
GEELONG FALCONS
Elli SYMONDS
Sara HOWLEY
Chloe ADAMS
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
GEELONG FALCONS (C)
GEELONG FALCONS
Emma MCDONALD
Hayley MCLAUGHLIN
Jade MCLAY
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
EASTERN RANGES
CALDER CANNONS
Mekah MORRISSY
Lou PAINTER
Sarah POUSTIE
GEELONG FALCONS
BENDIGO PIONEERS
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
Lucia PAINTER
Maddison ALBRECHT Kayley KAVANAGH Jade MCLAY
Sophie BUTTERWORTH Jemma RAMSDALE Jemma REYNOLDS Meg ROBERTSON Elli SYMONDS Mikayla WILLIAMSON
Grace BABA Grace BELLONI Hayley MCLAUGHLIN Tayla MCMILLAN Alyssia PISANO Laura STONE
Chloe ADAMS Sara HOWLEY Chantal MASON Mekah MORRISSY
Ash CENTRA Jasmine SOWDEN Ella STODDART
Isabella DAVIES Lily JORDAN Millie LANG Claire MAHONY Jessica RENTSCH
Kaylea KOBZAN Alice VOSS
Zoe HARGREAVES Ava JORDAN Hannah SCOTT
Chloe BOWN Lucy CRONIN Maggie MAHONY Emma MCDONALD Sarah POUSTIE Sienna TALLARITI
Isabel BACON Daisy FLOCKART Emily GOUGH Sophie MCKAY
Candice BELBIN Georgia CLARK Mackenzie WILLIAMS
Lou-Lou FIELD Sierra GRIEVES
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2023 AFLW DRAFT COMBINE INVITEES NORTHERN-TERRITORY
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
VIC METRO
Kyanne CAMPBELL (Pioneer) Tsharni GRAHAM (Palmerston Magpies) Annabel KIEVIT (Waratah) Cassie MCWILLIAM (Swan Districts)
Brooke BOILEAU (South Adelaide) Alissa BROOK (South Adelaide) Molly BROOKSBY (Norwood) Shineah GOODY (WWT Eagles) Elaine GRIGG (Central District) Holly IFOULD (South Adelaide) Zara WALSH (Sturt) Piper WINDOW (Glenelg) Lauren YOUNG (West Adelaide)
Isabel BACON (Sandringham Dragons) Ava CAMPBELl (Eastern Ranges) Lucille CRONIN (Oakleigh Chargers) Annabelle EMBELTON (Sandringham Dragons) Amy GAYLOR (Calder Cannons) Emily GOUGH (Sandringham Dragons) Sarah GRUNDEN (Calder Cannons) Lara HAUSEGGER (Oakleigh Chargers) Tamara HENRY (Western Jets) Jacinta HOSE (Eastern Ranges) Ava JORDAN (Northern Knights) Kayley KAVANAGH (Calder Cannons) Hayley MCLAUGHLIN (Eastern Ranges) Alyssia PISANO (Eastern Ranges) Jemma RIGONI (Oakleigh Chargers) Jasmine SHEPHERD (Sandringham Dragons) Laura STONE (Eastern Ranges) Georgia STUBS (Eastern Ranges) Jess VUKIC (Eastern Ranges) Kristie-Lee WESTON-TURNER (Western Jets) Kiera WHILEY (Western Jets) Mia ZIELINSKI (Sandringham Dragons)
NSW-ACT Serina BAUKES (UTS Bats) Kendra BLATTMAN (Sydney University) Cleo BUTTIFANT (Ainslie/Turvey Park) Holly COOPER (Manly Warringah) Sophia DE CASTELLA (Ainslie) Gabrielle EATON (Southern Power) Oiivia MORRIS (Pennant Hills) Marnie ROBINSON (UTS Bats) Melanie STAUNTON (East Coast Eagles) Asha TURNER-FUNK (Manly Warringah)
QUEENSLAND Jacinta BALDWICK (Coorparoo) Kiara BISCHA (Bond University) Rania CROZIER (Aspley) Lilu HUNG (Aspley) Tshinta KENDALL (Bond University) Evie LONG (Sandgate) Josie MCCABE (Bond University) Sienna MCMULLEN (Bond University) Sophie PETERS (Maroochydore) Laura ROY (University of Queensland) Amber SWAN (Maroochydore) Indiana WILLIAMS (Maroochydore)
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TASMANIA Brooke BARWICK (Glenorchy) Georgia CLARK (Glenorchy) Mackenzie FORD (Kingborough) Tunisha KIKOAK (Old Scotch Collegians) Jasmyn THOMPSON (Ulverstone)
VIC COUNTRY Chloe ADAMS (Geelong Falcons) Sophie BUTTERWORTH (Dandenong Stingrays) Tyla CRABTREE (GWV Rebels) Keely FULLERTON (Bendigo Pioneers) Lily JORDAN (GWV Rebels) Lila KECK (Bendigo Pioneers) Bianca LYNE (Dandenong Stingrays) Chantal MASON (Geelong Falcons) Bryde O'ROURKE (Bendigo Pioneers) Jemma RAMSDALE (Dandenong Stingrays) Jessica RENTSCH (GWV Rebels) Meg ROBERTSON (Dandenong Stingrays) Amber SCHUTTE (Gippsland Power) Johanna SUNDERLAND (Geelong Falcons) Mikayla WILLIAMSON (Dandenong Stingrays)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA Georgie CLEAVER (East Fremantle) Liliana GRASSENIS (West Perth) Jaime HENRY (Swan Districts) Mylee LEITCH (East Fremantle) Eva O'DONNELL (Claremont) Anjelique RAISON (East Fremantle) Ella SLOCOMBE (Claremont) Kaitlyn SRHOJ (Peel Thunder)
ROOKIE
ME
0056
TOP 5
COMBINE RESULTS
20M SPRINT
STATE
SECS
AGILITY
STATE
SECS
Laura STONE
VM
3.080
Mylee LEITCH
WA
8.321
Georgia STUBS
VM
3.122
Mikayla WILLIAMSON
VC
8.328
Amber SCHUTTE
VC
3.125
Piper WINDOW
SA
8.450
Isabel BACON
VM
3.164
Holly COOPER
NSW-ACT 8.491
Jemma RIGONI
VM
3.179
Laura STONE
VM
8.516
STATE
CM
2KM TIME TRIAL
STATE
MINS:SECS
Amy GAYLOR
VM
74
Mikayla WILLIAMSON
VC
7:09
Shineah GOODY
SA
74
Bianca LYNE
VC
7:21
Tshinta KENDALL
QLD
73
Jasmyn THOMPSON
TAS
7:23
Alissa BROOK
SA
72
Evie LONG
QLD
7:25
Cleo BUTTIFANT
NSW-ACT 72
Lila KECK
VC
7:41
VERTICAL JUMP
STATE
CM
Amy GAYLOR
VM
62
Tamara HENRY
VM
60
Amber SCHUTTE
VC
60
Mikayla WILLIAMSON VC
59
Holly COOPER
NSW-ACT
58
Alissa BROOK
SA
58
bc0000
RUNNING VERTICAL
Laura Stone blitzed the AFLW Draft Combine by clocking up a 3.08-second 20m sprint, the second fastest time in history. A well-rounded athlete who was pre-listed by Hawthorn, Stone featured highly across the tests, including fifth in the agility.
NATIONAL
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TOP 10 AFLW DRAFT COMBINE PLAYERS BY PPR SCORE PLAYER
CLUB
STATE
POSITION
HOLLY COOPER
SWANS ACADEMY
NSW-ACT
MIDFIELDER/FORWARD
95
KRISTIE-LEE WESTON-TURNER
WESTERN JETS
VICTORIA
TALL FORWARD
93
AMBER SCHUTTE
GIPPSLAND POWER
VICTORIA
MEDIUM DEFENDER
90
AMY GAYLOR
CALDER CANNONS
VICTORIA
MIDFIELDER
88
MIKAYLA WILLIAMSON
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
VICTORIA
MIDFIELDER
88
SYDNEY Swans Academy top-ager Holly Cooper was statistically the top athlete at the AFLW Draft Combine, scoring a near-perfect performance across the indoor athletic tests. Of the 70 athletes who tested, Cooper scored an 95 physical performance rating (PPR), to be the top ranked talent across the board for the jumps, sprint and agility testing.
ALISSA BROOK
SOUTH ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
TALL DEFENDER
86
LAURA STONE
EASTERN RANGES
VICTORIA
MIDFIELDER/DEFENDER
86
GEORGIA STUBS
EASTERN RANGES
VICTORIA
MIDFIELDER/DEFENDER
83
TAMARA HENRY
WESTERN JETS
VICTORIA
FORWARD/MIDFIELDER
81
EVIE LONG
LIONS ACADEMY
QUEENSLAND
WING/FORWARD
81
The PPR is formulated looking at all the indoor tests conducted at the AFLW Draft Combine, including standing and running vertical jumps, 20m sprint and agility test. Each athlete's score is then rated as either 'Elite', 'Excellent', 'Very Good', 'Good', 'Average' or 'Growth area', and then calculated to form a total out of 100.
JEMMA RIGONI
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
VICTORIA
TALL UTILITY
81
MEG ROBERTSON
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
VICTORIA
MIDFIELDER/FORWARD
81
PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE RATING
95
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RATING
PERCENTILE
ELITE
TOP 2%
EXCELLENT
TOP 15%
VERY GOOD
TOP 30%
GOOD
TOP 45%
AVERAGE
TOP 55%
GROWTH AREA
<45%
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Cooper was dominant across the board, and compared to all of the Draft Combine invitees from across the country, scored 'elite' in her standing and running vertical jumps and her 20m sprint, while also recording an 'excellent' in her agility test. The Swans Academy member narrowly pipped Western Jets tall Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, who scored an outstanding 93. Like Cooper, she scored elite on her standing vertical jump and 20m sprint, as well as her running vertical off her right foot. Weston-Turner's running vertical jump off her left foot was 'excellent' with her agility test rated 'very good'. Rounding out the podium of performers was Gippsland Power defender Amber Schutte who finished with a PPR score of 90, off the back of an elite standing jump and 20m sprint, excellent running jumps and a very good agility score. Not far behind were AFLW Academy members and speedy midfielders, Amy Gaylor and Mikayla Williamson who both finished with a score of 88. Gaylor's standing vertical jump and running vertical jump off her preferred left were both elite, as was her 20m sprint. Williamson's agility test and standing vertical jump were elite, with the rest being excellent.
PPR SCORE
The first South Australian appears in the rankings at equal sixth, with South Adelaide's Alissa Brook joining Vic Metro best and fairest and Eastern Ranges talent Laura Stone on 86. Stone's Ranges and Metro teammate Georgia Stubs snuck in eighth with a score of 83, while four players recorded 81 to round out equal ninth. Three Victorians in Tamara Henry, Jemma Rigoni and Meg Robertson achieved that feat, alongside the top ranked Queenslander, Evie Long. As with any count, once outside the top 10, large groups of players recorded the same score. Among the next group of 79 scorers were the top Tasmanian in Mackenzie Ford, and West Australian duo, Georgie Cleaver and Ella Slocombe. Sandringham Dragons' Isabel Bacon, GIANTS Academy members Cleo Buttifant and Sophia de Castella, and Eastern Ranges forward Alyssia Pisano were the others to hit those heights. The top ranked Northern Territory talent was just behind in Annabel Kievit (76) alongside the likes of Shineah Goody, Mylee Leitch, Bryde O'Rourke and Indiana Williams. Oakleigh Chargers' Lucy Cronin (74) also rated highly with trio Chloe Adams, Keely Fullerton and Kayley Kavanagh all on 71.
PLAYER FOCUS
SHINEAH GOODY REIGNING Most Valuable Player (MVP) Shineah Goody was simply incredible in her return to the tri-colours in the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships opener against Western Australia. Goody racked up 10 more disposals than anyone else on the ground, while running at a remarkable 83 per cent disposal efficiency. In an undisputed best on ground performance, Goody put on a clinic and showed why she is one of the best young talents in the country and a class above her peers with her clean hands and ball use.
FIRST QUARTER Shineah Goody won her first touch at half-back in the third minute of the match, fending off opponent Ella Slocombe and producing a lovely kick under pressure to the wing. It would spark a number of pinpoint passes to her midfield teammates, as well as a couple of clearances in the opening 10 minutes. Piper Window and Jasmine Evans were both beneficiaries of Goody’s magic and were able to set up scoring opportunities inside 50s themselves. As Lauren Young took the headlines for the first term with 2.2 to her name, Goody went about her business unassumingly, able to handball clear on the wing to Elaine Grigg despite the Eagles talent being run down in a tackle. With three minutes remaining in the quarter, Goody was awarded a free kick for having her arms chopped in a defensive
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marking contest, and produced another outstanding kick to Jemma Charity, bringing up her sixth touch of the opening term.
SECOND QUARTER Goody did not wait long to make her mark on the second term with the first clearance out of the middle, bursting away and then handballing to Window at centre half-forward, though Window was tackled, Goody arrived on the scene for backup. Two minutes in, Goody won a free kick for in the back on the wing and just delivered a lovely right foot kick to the leading Young. In the sixth minute of the term, Goody burst out of the back of the stoppage, fended off Madison Dodd, drew an opponent and handballed to a teammate. Then went the ball hit the deck, she soccered it away, but was unfortunately pinged under the last touch rule out of bounds. To finish off the term, Goody took another great mark at half-back and kicked well down the ground, then won two more handballs running hard inside 50 in the dying stages.
THIRD QUARTER By the premiership quarter, Goody was pulling out all the tricks in the kit bag, and producing a marvellous array of skills that few others could produce. Her first kick was a long kick inside 50 in the opening few seconds, then went on a bursting run to hit up the one-on-one contest between Young and Mackenzie Webb inside 50. She mopped up the ball at ground level in the middle not long after with a clean handball,
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
then had a neat kick towards Window going forward at the five-minute mark. Despite standing at 162cm, Goody has incredible core strength and an underrated vertical leap, and that showed with a huge – but fair – bump on the talented Zippy Fish – whose skillset lends itself to being the Goody of next year’s draft crop. She went on to mark at centre half-forward and deliver to Melissa Anderson in space inside 50, then in defence took a ridiculous high-flying grab, and by three quarter time had brought her disposal tally up to 22.
FOURTH QUARTER While many other players might be tiring from the intensity of the contest, Goody just looked like she could keep going indefinitely. She had a lovely clearance running out of the middle in the second minute of the contest to hit up Window leading out, then gave off to her state captain again after having to quickly handball under pressure. She would continue to accumulate the ball with a nice one-two at half-forward just working harder than anyone else on the transition play. Goody was penalised for a dangerous tackle at the seven-minute mark in what was unlucky for the talented top-ager. She finished off her incredible day out with another couple of kicks, though had a rare turnover in the final few minutes after a goal-saving mark on the goal line. With another eight disposals in the final term, it meant Goody had tallies of six, eight, eight and eight across the respective four quarters in a remarkable show of consistency.
STATS
VS WESTERN AUSTRALIA
DISPOSALS
EFFICIENCY %
CONTESTED %
MARKS
30
83
41
7
TACKLES
CLEARANCES
INSIDE 50s
REBOUND 50s
4
6
4
3
CLOSING THOUGHTS Shineah Goody cemented her place as the only major contender to the top pick spot alongside friend Lauren Young. The pair are both incredible players and so very different, so it was no surprise to see both head to Port Adelaide as pre-listed signing. Goody was simply sublime for the Croweaters, and showed her ability to go to another level, even against the best from across the country. 127
“ECSTATIC” TALLARITI JUST “DOING MY PART” THERE was no particular focus in stepping up on grand final day, other than taking home the premiership cup, but for Oakleigh Chargers defender Sienna Tallariti, it was a performance to remember. Since moving into defence this season after starting in attack and rolling through the midfield at times, Tallariti has produced a number of impressive performances, but none more so than her epic effort at Ikon Park.
I MEAN WHAT CAN I SAY? I FEEL GREAT. IT’S BEEN A HARD SEASON, IT’S BEEN LONG BUT TO COME OUT WITH THE WIN, I FEEL ECSTATIC RIGHT NOW.
“I mean what can I say? I feel great,” Tallariti told Rookie Me Central post-match. “It’s been a hard season, it’s been long but to come out with the win, I feel ecstatic right now.” Tallariti amassed 32 disposals and 12 marks – season-highs – as well as laying five tackles and having six rebound 50s in the Chargers’ hard-fought seven-point win over Eastern Ranges. She led a defence that was threatened in the last quarter, but alongside the likes of skipper Lara Hausegger, Lucy Cronin, Charlotte Brewer and Chloe Thorn, stood tall. Despite putting in a best on ground performance with those remarkable numbers, Tallariti said she only had the one goal in mind. “I just came out here doing my part,” Tallariti said. “I didn’t care about best on or anything, I just wanted that win. Put my best foot forward and the rest of the teammates did too.” The highs of winning a grand final seem a far cry a week ago from where Tallariti had to come from the field after copping a knee in the back during Oakleigh’s preliminary final. She only played just under a half in that match, but despite needing to go off to get scans, the Chargers’ defender was confident she was never going to miss the grand final. 128
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“No (I didn’t have any fears of missing), I put the padding on, nothing was stopping me from playing,” Tallariti said. “But the strength and conditioning team got me back on and I was good to go.” One of many contributors in the premiership team, Tallariti said the key was “being hard from the start”. “I think centre clearances are really important, just being on them, pressure,” she said. “Then just getting the ball to ground if it’s in the air and working it effectively up the ground.”
The performance might have been one out of the box, but the Chargers bottom-ager has been considered among the top-end group of players for next year. She already earned a Vic Metro spot this season – though in her first of two games copped a knock and had to come off – as well as a place in the Under 17s Futures match where she held her own in defence. “It’s a great experience, I learnt a lot from the coaches there from all the different districts,” Tallariti said. “It’s great to meet all those new people too to just develop myself.”
As for looking ahead to next year – her draft year – Tallariti said she was looking forward to a big preseason to be in the best shape possible for 2024. “Working on a lot of my fitness, aerobic and anaerobic, and be back in preseason in two month’s time,” she said. The players will now enjoy a well-earned break, with some of the top-age representatives set to test themselves at upcoming Draft Combines, while the under-age prospects prepare for a big off-season and see whether Oakleigh can go back-to-back next season.
Q SOPHIE, TALK US THROUGH YOUR FOOTBALL JOURNEY?
SP: I started playing in Under 13s, and I had just some friends playing in junior. I grew up playing soccer and I just started playing Under 13s and have played ever since and have come up to the Academy at Brisbane Lions. Q YOU IMPRESSED SO MUCH YOU WERE INVITED TO THE AFLW ACADEMY, WHAT HAS THAT EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE?
ONE of Queensland’s top AFL Women’s draft prospects in 2023, Brisbane Lions Academy and Queensland midfielder Sophie Peters is a name to remember for Lions fans. A natural winger who can also play on the inside, Peters has come through the pathway playing at Maroochydore in the QAFL Women’s competition, and earning a spot in the AFL Women’s Academy. At 164cm, the 18-year-old has shown her skill with ball-in-hand and her ability to transition the ball quickly through run and carry. Peters averaged 11 disposals, one mark, three tackles and booted two goals across three games at the national carnival. Rookie Me Central spoke to the talented midfielder in the lead-up to Queensland’s first national carnival game against South Australia.
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Q HOW HAS THE EXPERIENCE BEING A PART OF THE BRISBANE LIONS ACADEMY?
SP: It’s pretty good. We’ve had some good coaches this year, especially the AFLW girls coming to help out as our coaching which has been really great. They’ve definitely set the standard with how they want the Academy to be run, so it’s great. Q OUTSIDE OF FOOTY, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO STUDY?
SP: It’s been pretty cool. There’s been some unreal experiences that we’ve been able to do and pretty good game to play at Marvel which is a great opportunity.
SP: I’m currently studying occupational therapy at uni.
Q SPEAKING OF THE MATCH AT MARVEL STADIUM AGAINST
TALENT LEAGUE THIS YEAR FOR THE LIONS ACADEMY, WHAT
THE UNDER 23 ALL-STARS, HOW DID YOU FIND THAT STANDARD
WAS THAT LIKE?
COMPARED TO THE STATE LEAGUE?
SP: It’s been really great. We were lucky to come away with three wins, but it’s definitely good to go down and verse the Vic teams and come away with wins against them, but it’s been a great Academy run this year.
SP: It’s definitely a much higher standard just because everyone brings their own intensity and it all adds up. The training environment is pretty great. Q THROUGH THE ACADEMY, ARE THERE ANY PLAYERS FROM INTERSTATE YOU’VE BONDED WITH OVER THE JOURNEY?
SP: I definitely have to say the girls from Tassie, I think a few of us Queensland girls have become closer with the Tassie girls, and it’s good to train with girls from all around the country and learn how they train. It definitely helps me with my game.
Q YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO PLAY THREE MATCHES IN THE
Q WHAT DO YOU SEE AS SOME OF THE STRENGTHS IN YOUR GAME?
SP: I definitely have to say my run and carry and bursting out of contests as well as my tackling pressure. Q WHAT ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS YOU’RE LOOKING TO MAKE?
Q YOU HAVE PLAYED FOR MAROOCHYDORE IN THE QAFL
SP: My contested groundballs and kicking on the run into space.
WOMEN’S WHICH HAS BEEN A RICH SOURCE OF AFL WOMEN’S
Q ARE YOU A BRISBANE SUPPORTER?
PLAYERS OF LATE, WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE PLAYING
SP: Yeah I am a Brisbane supporter.
ALONGSIDE THOSE PLAYERS? Q WHICH PLAYERS DO YOU LOOK UP TO AT AFLW LEVEL?
SP: I think it’s cool to see them come through the pathway especially at my own club and get drafted, it definitely shows it’s possible to come from the Sunny Coast into a Brisbane Lions team. It’s been cool to play with some of them as well.
SP: In the Brisbane Lions definitely have to say Jade Ellenger or Orla (O’Dwyer) and Lily Poss (Lily Postlethwaite) just coming back from two injuries it’s been great to see her play.
Q WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED POSITION, ON THE WING OR
Q GOALS FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON?
PLAYING INSIDE?
SP: I prefer the wing, but I’m happy to play inside mid or I like rolling up forward as well which is fun.
SP: My main goal would be to get drafted at the end of the year, but I reckon just have a pretty good national carnival and put my best foot forward and hope for the best. 129
PLAYER FOCUS
INDIA RASHEED STANDOUT bottom-age prospect India Rasheed was simply sensational in South Australia’s big win over Vic Metro. In what was the Croweaters’ second victory of the 2023 AFLW Under 18 Championships, Rasheed rotated between midfield and attack, doing plenty of damage both through her delivery and scoreboard impact.
FIRST QUARTER India Rasheed started her day with quick hands inside 50, winning the ball cleanly and getting it out to a teammate. Soon enough she won it again and put it into space for her teammates to take full advantage of, and when it came back out, the Sturt utility laid a fierce tackle at half-forward. At the seven-minute mark, Rasheed had a lovely clearance off her preferred left to her Double Blues teammate Zara Walsh, ultimately leading to a Lauren Young goal. At the nine-minute mark, Rasheed hit a pinpoint pass to Violet Patterson from half-back to the wing and finished the quarter with seven disposals. 130
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SECOND QUARTER Rasheed opened her account in the second term with a nice pickup off the deck four minutes into the quarter, which saw her spin around and drive the ball inside 50. Unfortunately, Vic Metro defender Ava Campbell outworked her opponent to intercept the ball. At the six-minute mark of the term, Rasheed tried to kick forward, was smothered, won it back at half-forward and was dragged down but delivered the perfect kick to Young who converted a goal out of it. Winning another touch a few minutes later at half-forward, her kick inside 50 was unfortunately turned over, but soon she would mark on the forward side of the centre. She handballed off to the running Brooke Boileau who would pump it inside 50 to the danger zone. Capping off her term, Rasheed won a free kick on the wing and kicked down the ground to a contest where she would end the half at an impressive 15 disposals.
THIRD QUARTER The talented forward was yet to hit the scoreboard, but that was about to change as four minutes into the premiership quarter, Rasheed roved the ball off hands and cleverly snapped it around her body to snag a goal. A few minutes later, she marked at the top of 50, wheeled onto her
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
left and delivered a bullet pass into Ruby Ballard but the ball slipped through her fingers. Rasheed almost kicked a second goal at the nine-minute mark of the quarter when deep in the forward pocket. She got a handball away and then ran forward to receive it, snapping around her body from an almost identical spot as the earlier goal but it was touched off the boot. Her final touch of the term was a neat handball to a teammate when she moved into the middle, finishing the third quarter with a game-high 23 disposals.
FOURTH QUARTER Rasheed effectively played exclusively forward in the final term, so was did not always have many chances when further afield, but she applied good pressure when around the ball. In the 14th minute of the term, she received a handball going inside 50 and went towards Boyd in the pocket who was spoiled, then followed up to win the ground ball. From that groundball, Rasheed spun onto her left again in a familiar sight and it never looked like missing. She split the big sticks for her second goal of the game. She was not done impacting the scoreboard yet though taking a strong mark 60m out and delivering a powerful kick towards Young just out from goal. It came off hands, but the delivery intent was superb.
STATS
VS VIC METRO
DISPOSALS
EFFICIENCY %
CONTESTED %
MARKS
27
55
76
5
TACKLES
INSIDE 50s
GOALS
6
5
2
CLOSING THOUGHTS India Rasheed is among the potential pick one contenders next year in an incredibly strong draft crop. She can play forward or in the midfield and has that elite left boot that can do so much damage. Able to compete in the air or at ground level, Rasheed is an immensely talented youngster who will be a player to watch for years to come.
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2023 AFLW DRAFT BOLTERS
Isabel BACON
Brooke BOILEAU
Cleo BUTTIFANT
Holly COOPER
DOB
11/04/2005
DOB
28/01/2005
DOB
03/05/2005
DOB
23/02/2005
HEIGHT
172CM
HEIGHT
169CM
HEIGHT
174CM
HEIGHT
164CM
POSITION
MIDFIELDER/DEFENDER
POSITION
MIDFIELDER
POSITION
TA L L D E F E N D E R
POSITION
M I D F I E L D E R / F O R WA R D
CLUB
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
CLUB
SOUTH ADELAIDE
CLUB
GIANTS ACADEMY
CLUB
S WA N S AC A D E M Y
STATE
VICTORIA
STATE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
STATE
N S W-AC T
STATE
N S W-AC T
Isabel Bacon is an explosive midfielder who completed her first season with the Sandringham Dragons. Coming from a wide variety of different sports, Bacon rose through the ranks to represent Vic Metro at the national carnival.
Brooke Boileau overcame missing out on a spot in the South Australian state squad as a bottom-ager to work hard throughout the off-season and become her state's big improver. A standout inside midfielder, Boileau was fantastic on the inside, very clean and strong.
A true AFLW Draft bolter in every sense of the word, Buttifant was an accomplished touch player prior to taking the chance on Aussie rules. With explosive speed for a tall, Buttifant impressed for the GIANTS Academy in the Talent League before stepping up to represent the Allies.
The best athlete in the AFLW Draft, Holly Cooper dominated the post-season Draft Combine, scoring a 95 overall in the player performance rating. Her season with the Swans Academy and Allies caught the eye as she quickly moved up the draft boards.
Boasting some outstanding athletic traits and fantastic aggression at the ball and ball carrier, Bacon has a lot of upside for the future as she continues to learn more fundamentals within the game.
Her improved testing across her agility and 2km time trial speaks to her hard work over the off-season, and with some tweaks to her game in terms of her composure and outside game, Boileau can take the next step.
Strong overhead, able to read the play well and take off on a dime, Buttifant is still developing areas of her game and always learning, but has a terrific athletic base to build off.
Few could doubt her athleticism, but her impact-per-possession is also very good, with her ability to get forward and impact, or on the outside, is crucial. Cooper was pre-listed by Sydney ahead of the draft.
DRAFT RANGE 132
132
20-40
DRAFT RANGE
10-20
DRAFT RANGE
10-25
DRAFT RANGE
20-35
2023 AFLW DRAFT BOLTERS
Sarah GRUNDEN
Kayley KAVANAGH
Evie LONG
Ella SLOCOMBE
DOB
25/02/2005
DOB
06/07/2005
DOB
22/08/2005
DOB
06/12/2005
HEIGHT
168CM
HEIGHT
169CM
HEIGHT
174CM
HEIGHT
165CM
POSITION
F O R WA R D
POSITION
MIDFIELDER
POSITION
W I N G / F O R WA R D
POSITION
M I D F I E L D E R / F O R WA R D
CLUB
CALDER CANNONS
CLUB
CALDER CANNONS
CLUB
LIONS ACADEMY
CLUB
CLAREMONT
STATE
VICTORIA
STATE
VICTORIA
STATE
QUEENSLAND
STATE
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
A high-impact forward with plenty of game sense, Sarah Grunden had an eye-catching first fortnight to really put her name on AFLW Draft radars. The Calder Cannons medium talent is clever inside 50 with her kicking and vision among her greatest strengths. Though she is working on the consistency element of her game, Grunden has plenty of tricks and traits that standout on the field and can influence matches in transition or on the scoreboard.
DRAFT RANGE 133
20-40
Kayley Kavanagh started the season as a ball-winning inside midfielder, but following an incredible 2023, finished the year as Vic Metro's MVP and an All-Australian. Kavanagh worked hard on her outside game to add extra stringst to her bow, and quickly pushed herself up into top 30 contention. Kavanagh might be tidying up some elements of her game, but from a consistent production perspective, few have performed better throughout the year.
DRAFT RANGE
15-40
Overcoming a series of concussions in the past, Evie Long showed her true talent at the national carnival, quickly becoming an eye-catching player rotating from a wing to inside 50. At 174cm, Long is a good size to be a marking target, and is ultra athletic, able to move across the ground well. As she builds up more continuity and consistency, she will only get better, and her exposed form at the AFLW Under 18 Championships shows she has what it takes.
DRAFT RANGE
15-30
An elite athlete with a deadly pinpoint pass, Slocombe is in contention to be the first West Australian off the board. Able to play through the middle or up forward, Slocombe can hit the scoreboard, or burst from a stoppage and nail a kick inside 50. A powerful player with an array of weapons to do damage in transition, Slocombe is a high-upside player to go with her readymade talent. Watch out for her to make a splash at the top level with her footballing talent evident.
DRAFT RANGE
TOP 20 133
BLUES FAN BARWICK'S
POSITIVE OUTLOOK
KEEPS SMALL STRONG MISSING your entire top-age year due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury might be a reason to drift into negative thought patterns, but for Tasmanian Brooke Barwick, she has kept her focus on the positives. The AFLW Academy and top 10 talent tore her ACL during the preseason, forcing her to the sidelines throughout 2023, but it has not dampened her spirits. The 158cm midfielder said she was feeling “really good” with how her knee was progressing. “Obviously wasn’t the best start but I think it just was to make sure I switched my mindset into positive, not negative,” Barwick said at the AFLW Draft Combine. “Not let it destroy my year and how I go about it. It’s been going really well, running and jumping now and hitting all the targets that I should be.” Barwick was unable to test at the Combine, but has been working hard on both her physical and mental fitness in the lead-up to the December 18 draft. “It can be such a challenging time leading into the draft and not really having that reassurance on where to go, so it’s making sure that I’m really organised in my physical fitness and mentally as well, just so I’m not overwhelmed and stressful leading up to the draft,” Barwick said. Throughout this year, Barwick took up a coaching role with the Tasmania Devils, assisting her teammates and learning as well as teaching to add a different string to her bow. 134
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“It’s been great actually,” she said. “I think it will really helped me coming back into the game, really learning and implementing so many skills and also how to play the game as well. “Having that coaching role really helped me going forward and I think it’s a really good thing to get into because not many players will start learning about this until after their career so it’s just a hopefully one-up for when I return.” Barwick admitted it was difficult at times having to watch from the bench rather than be out there physically impacting contests, but she rode the wave of support for the Devils who reached the Talent League Girls finals series. “Obviously it can be upsetting but like I said, just having that mindset to switch back into the positive and be really happy for them,” she said. “I was so supportive of the girls and made sure I had a little bit of the input, especially in the midfield. “That’s just having that previous experience from there. I think just making sure I really get around them and help them at quarter time and all that going through in the final.” Given the competition for spots on-ball at the elite level, Barwick is fully prepared to play in another role. Given her strengths that include defensive pressure as well as outstanding skill, she could easily slot into a small forward position at AFLW level. “I think definitely trying to become a midfielder in the comp now is quite challenging, there’s
so many good midfielders out there,” Barwick said. “I think just starting and pushing my way through if I just start as a small forward role and I think I really want to be a very versatile player and really earn my spot. I’d love to start as a small forward and work my way into the midfield.”
“I think being a Carlton supporter since I was a child really makes me look up to them highly and yeah I’d love to play there,” Barwick said. “Their team is going really well at the moment after having a bit of a switch in their playing style, so it would be an absolute dream to play for Carlton.”
Tasmania does not have its own elite level team yet, so for players hailing from the Apple Isle, relocation is a non-negotiable. The Devils players can nominate a state of preference, and though Barwick is “very open at the moment” and was definitely keen to take up “whatever opportunity comes my way”, Victoria was an option.
Remaining open-minded with her potential destination, Barwick said she enjoyed the process of talking to AFLW club recruiters as it was as much getting to know about the club as it was for the club to know about the draft prospect.
The Carlton fan said she would “absolutely” love to end up at Princes Park, and has enjoyed watching them develop throughout the season.
“It’s been great, all the club’s are very comfortable to talk with, and if you’re just yourself then everything will be fine,” she said. “I think having the great insight of a club and learning more about them is really great to go forward and see what you’re getting yourself into.”
PORT ADELAIDE IS ON THE VERGE OF A MASSIVE RISE UP THE AFLW LADDER AFTER SECURING THE BEST TWO PLAYERS, AND THREE OF THE TOP SEVEN PRIOR TO THE DRAFT IN A HUGE COUP FOR THE CLUB. PETER WILLIAMS
CHIEF EDITIOR @ ROOKIE ME CENTRAL 135
WILL 2024 BE THE FIRST AFLW SUPER DRAFT? WHO IS LEADING THE WAY?
COULD 2024 be the first ever AFL Women’s Super Draft? It is question that will no doubt be discussed amongst clubs and pertinent draft watchers alike, and at this stage, all the signs are pointing to ‘yes’. But what exactly makes a Super Draft? What does it mean, and what can we expect?
The balance of power lies across four of the main states, and already a couple have been awarded MVPs of their states as bottom-agers. The remainders are well on their way as well. Though far from set in stone, the top pick at this stage would be Havana Harris. The Gold Coast Academy tall is 180cm, but explosive like few before her, and she not only can play as a ruck and key forward, but also a midfielder. That versatility combined with her athleticism makes her the frontrunner in an admittedly stacked field. Gippsland Power’s Ash Centra is an elite kick and decision maker with ball-in-hand, and it will be a theme of the top players in next year’s draft. Boasting a penetrating boot and able to play anywhere, she is superb in the air, clean at ground level and is able to dominate at any level.
WHAT IS A SUPER DRAFT? A Super Draft is often the term used to describe a draft crop that as a whole that is not only rich in top-end talent, but also has depth of value. Each year there will always be future stars, as well as bargain picks, but heading into the following season, one often knows roughly the top 20 – give or take – even if they end up sliding up or down depending on injuries and season form.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Put simply, the talent available is phenomenal. Not just at the top-end, but the depth as well. When constructing the annual players to watch for the next year, usually there is a group of ‘locks’ and then the ‘projects’ or ‘maybes’. Effectively, a ‘lock’ is a player that is clearly among the best players going around, they have 136
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shown it for some time and a general consensus among clubs would have that player in the top group of talents. A ‘project’ or ‘maybe’ are the players who have shown talent – not always consistently – or have traits that with the right development could elevate their games into the ‘lock’ category.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? To put it in perspective, 12 months ago when creating the 23 to Watch in 2023, there were 16 ‘locks’ from that group of 23. It meant going about trying to find the remaining seven, which is usually a tough task given the evenness of
the draft crop. When adding in the ‘projects’ or ‘maybes’ the list came to 26, so only three narrowly missed out. In 2024, in trying to do the same exercise on the latest Game Sense Podcast, the group of players who would have been either ‘locks’, ‘projects’ or ‘maybes’ came to 36. That is, 36 players who could be considered among the top 24 next year. Ultimately, it means 12 of those will not make it into the final 24 to Watch in 2024 list. But what it does mean is that the draft crop is even and at a high standard, which makes it clear to fans who clubs may opt to more heavily focus on the draft following Season 9 than ever before.
Two others right in contention are midfielder/forward India Rasheed and defender/midfielder Zippy Fish. Like Centra, both are sublime ball users. Rasheed has a potent left foot, is strong overhead and has a nice burst to get out of stoppages. Progressing from being an X-factor up forward, she produced some outstanding midfield performances to win South Australia’s MVP. Fish is smaller than her contemporaries at around 160cm, but clocked a time of 3.14 seconds in the 20m sprint in the preseason. That was easily the fastest of any player across the country, so with her ability to hit targets at full tilt and win it on the inside and outside, she is the best of the sub-170cm players. She’s already a Lou Knitter Medallist for best on ground in the WAFLW Grand Final as well.
WHO ARE THE NEXT BEST? Not far behind Centra are a couple of Vic Country bottom-agers in Bendigo Pioneers’ Lucia Painter and Geelong Falcons’ Sara Howley. Painter had her season derailed due to injury, but won Vic Country’s Under 16s MVP – in the same team as Centra – and can play on all three lines. Howley is a natural ball-winner who has shown she can play inside or outside. Carlton fans will enjoy hearing that the other midfielder in that top-end Victorian group is father-daughter eligible Sophie McKay. Smooth-moving and as classy as she is tough, McKay is one who will lead the Vic Metro midfield next season. No doubt she will combined with Oakleigh Chargers key forward Emma McDonald, who has booted seven goals in two games as a
bottom-ager at this national carnival, and is the other prominent Metro bottom-ager. Across the nation, Central District’s Georgia McKee is one who has not been forgotten despite an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. An incredible Under 16s year, McKee missed all of 2022, but boasts elite athleticism and skill which makes her right up there in terms of top talents. In Queensland, Tara Harrington will become a full-time midfielder in 2024 and be hot on Harris’ heels in terms of the top-end talent in the Sunshine State. Also up north, Northern Territory’s Tatyana Perry is arguably the most promising talent so far out of the Top End. In the west, Molly O’Hehir continues to build, and while she is clearly and incredible player now, still has room to grow her game.
POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN There appears to be a great mix of talls and smalls across the board, with Victoria boasting nine of the 24, while South Australia (six), Western Australia (four), Queensland (three) and Allies (two) round out the 24. There is still much to play out and with the final AFLW Under 18s match, the Under 17s All-Stars Futures clash and finals series across three states still to be played out, it is not locked in. But there are at least 10 tall or key position players who measure in at 175cm or above, giving clubs plenty of variety for next season.
SUMMARY The 2024 AFL Women’s Draft looms as the first Super Draft in the competition’s history. Over the years there have been plenty of talented players stepping up to the top level and making an impact early. For next year’s crop, the anticipation and depth of the group as a whole is one to savour, and in both top-end talent and depth, it will be one that tops all before it.
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PLAYER FOCUS WAFLW GRAND FINAL
ZIPPY FISH FIRST QUARTER It took only seconds for Fish to get involved in the game, starting in the middle and soccering it off the deck to her own advantage, before following up to get a handball away well driving it forward for the first inside 50. Less than a minute later she marked just outside the 50 and set a pinpoint pass to Chloe Reilly at the top of the goalsquare to set up the opening goal of the day. After applying good pressure through the middle in the opening minutes, Fish won the ball and dished off a clean handball in the middle at the seven-minute mark, but her best was to come later in the term. At the 13-minute mark, she won the ball at speed and sidestepped an opponent. The traffic was a little too dense and her kick was smothered, but she then backed up with a tackle, winning a free kick. With that free kick, Fish delivered another elite pass to Georgie Cleaver‘s advantage on the lead. Her final attempt at a touch was in the 15th minute, when Fish flew for a mark at half-back to intercept, but could not quite take it through contact. Her competitiveness in the air despite being a lighter body was admirable.
SECOND QUARTER In the fourth minute of the term, Fish won the ball and was able to stand up in a tackle, getting the handball away cleanly. She would spend some time helping out in 138
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defence, kicking out of the defensive 50 off the left, albeit in a rare scrappy style. At half-forward, Fish had a number of touches midway through the quarter, with a deep kick going inside 50 off a handball receive – which was intercepted – and then a quick kick along the ground forward which proved effective. In the 11th minute, Fish won it and burst away, though was run-down and force to handball away quickly. Just 30 seconds later she put her body on the line and was crunched between two players. After a break, she came on and found the ball at a stoppage but was immediately dispossessed on the edge of half-time.
THIRD QUARTER Finding her first touch in the back pocket off a stoppage, Fish was tackled but still got the handball away again, showing her clean and quick hands under pressure. In the seventh minute of the term, she marked at half-back and delivered a piercing ball down the ground. Already having a couple of courageous attempts, Fish had another in a marking contest, going back with the flight, then won it off a spill and again produced an elite long kick to Reilly on the wing off a step. In the 11th minute of the term, she won the ball at half-forward and then at the next stoppage won it again to dish off to Larissa Versaci for a kick inside 50. Almost hitting the scoreboard herself, Fish had an opportunity at the 14 and a half
EAST FREMANTLE
minute mark of the term, bursting from a stoppage and having to chuck it on her non-preferred left, before running onto it. She had a little more time than she thought though and blazed away with a flying shot that just went wide while Mylee Leitch was alone in the goalsquare.
FOURTH QUARTER Though Fish might have missed the opportunity late in the third term, she would quickly set up a goal to Leitch, winning it via hand off Anjelique Raison from a forward stoppage, throwing it on the left to snap around her body and hit up Leitch in front in the goalsquare. Her teammate would play on and kick the match-winning goal. In the fourth minute, Fish marked at half-forward, played on by sidestepping her opponent then kicking to the space in the forward pocket. Shortly after, she went for a mark, could not hold it, but followed up with a handball. She won it back for a second effort and handballed away as she was bumped. An opponent accidentally soccered the ball out of bounds, and she also had the last touch which she kicked long down the ground. After coming off for a break, she returned to the ground midway through the quarter and almost won a touch at a stoppage on the wing but it cruelly bounced away from her. In the 13th minute, she read the tap off hands brilliantly in defence and bombed it long out of the danger zone. She did that again in the final minute, able to kick 40m on her non-preferred in her last touch of the game.
VIA WAFL
STATS
VS CLAREMONT
DISPOSALS
MARKS
TACKLES
INSIDE 50s
26
3
7
4
CLOSING THOUGHTS Zippy Fish produced an outstanding performance on the biggest stage. She was indisputably the best on ground and showed why she is one of the top AFLW Draft prospects for next year. With speed and skill, Fish has a wide array of weapons at her disposal and is a headache – and will be a headache for years to come – for any opposition coach. Though she is only small compared to some midfielders, she holds her own and is as courageous as they come. While Western Australia has a lot of gifted players in next year’s crop, Fish has well and truly elevated herself up above the rest
PLAYER FOCUS ROGERS CUP GRAND FINAL
KAITLYN ROPER PRODUCING a four-quarter performance in West Perth’s Rogers Cup Grand Final win over South Fremantle, Falcons’ midfielder Kaitlyn Roper was among the standouts on the day.
FIRST QUARTER Kaitlyn Roper won a quick handball early in the match, and it was quickly evident she was primed for a big game. In what would turn out to be the Falcons’ only score of the first term, and for most of the first half, Roper got off a quick handball to a teammate, ran onto it again, sidestepped an opponent going inside 50 and had a flying shot that went past the waiting defender but unluckily was to the left of the goal post. Forcing a turnover in midfield not long after due to her pressure, Roper kept tracking the ball around the ground en route to an eight-disposal first term. She could not quite pick the ball up off the deck at one point, but when she did, showed that power to sidestep another opponent and kick inside 50. While the kick itself was turned over, she gained plenty of meterage from it. Holding her ground well in the middle, the West Perth bottom-ager took a strong one-on-one mark in the middle and delivered a low kick out in front of a teammate inside 50. Then, when dropping back into defence, Roper took an intercept mark and
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was able to deliver cleanly to half-back. Unfortunately she was outmarked by the more athletic Alira Fotu in the pocket late, but no score came of it.
SECOND QUARTER Roper’s first appearance in the second term with the ball came in defence, where she dropped back to help out, and mopped up kicking long down the ground. She worked her way up to the wing shortly after where she was able to take a two-grab mark and get it away cleanly. A lot of Roper’s touches came in the back half of the ground, winning it again at half-back and running away, then holding a good line in the middle when the Falcons were forward, getting a handball away under pressure. Her ability to stand up in a tackle and still dispose of the ball cleanly was feature. The midfielder laid a tackle of her own at half-forward 10 minutes into the term to lock it up, then won another couple of touches later in the term in the defensive 50, with one turning over but another finding the target. By the half-time siren, Roper had 13 disposals to her name.
THIRD QUARTER Yet again, Roper’s first sighting with ball-in-hand early int he third was via a mark in defence and she executed a neat, effective short kick. Midway through the term, she implemented a switch in play, and then followed up to win it again and handball to space in front of her while under pressure.
WEST PERTH
Late in the term, Roper cracked in hard at half-back showed great strength to handball while being tackled. From there she kept following the ball and broke through with the last play of the third quarter. Winning it again at half-forward this time, Roper sidestepped an opponent and shrugged off a would-be tackler to lay a well-weighted pass to Chloe Shearing. In what would be the last kick of the term, Shearing delivered and the Falcons cut the deficit to just two points at the final break.
FOURTH QUARTER This time Roper won her first touch in the middle, grabbing it at ground level and shovelling out a handball with strength, before backing up with a big tackle of her own. In the third minute of the quarter, she was a little fumbly at half-back, but when she won it, she produced another sidestep on her opponent to kick down the ground along the wing. It unfortunately bounced out for the last touch rule against, but gained the Falcons distance. At half-back, Roper got into the right position to win it but it just slipped out of her hands at the last second and she was tackled. In the seventh minute, the bottom-ager intercepted the ball in the middle reading it well., charged forward using a fend-off on the way and kicked long inside 50 to a contest. Capping off an impressive all-round performance, Roper won the ball at a contest in the final few minutes, powered away and got a handball clear in the middle. She utilised her strength as she had all game, and held a good line for the remainder of the frantic last few minutes as the Falcons hit the front with three minutes to go, and ultimately held on.
BRIAN CONDUIT
STATS
VS SOUTH FREMANTLE
DISPOSALS
EFFICIENCY %
MARKS
TACKLES
25
62
7
5
CLOSING THOUGHTS Kaitlyn Roper is a bottom-age prospect who gained great experience in the West Perth League side as a defender in 2022, finishing fourth in the best and fairest. She took her game to another level in 2023, going back to Rogers Cup for the season and winning the club best and fairest. Possessing great power and strength, as well as clean hands and a high-level of defensive pressure, the next step for Roper is to become more consistently clean at ground level, and build up her speed further. 139
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT
PLAYERS TO
Zoe BESANKO
Ash CENTRA
Jasmine EVANS
Lou-Lou FIELD
25/05/2006 | 178CM | TALL FORWARD/RUCK DANDENONG STINGRAYS/VIC COUNTRY
02/06/2006 | 174CM | TALL UTILITY GIPPSLAND POWER/VIC COUNTRY
05/02/2006 | 165CM | MIDFIELDER/FORWARD CENTRAL DISTRICT/SOUTH AUSTRALIA
18/10/2006 | 167CM | MEDIUM DEFENDER WESTERN JETS/VIC METRO
Besanko is a naturally gifted athlete with a terrific leap and great burst speed when inside 50 making her a tricky player to matchup on for any defender. Boasting some nice hands and ability to provide ground level defensive pressure, she has that terrific offensive-defensive balance. There are some fundamentals she is working on such as her conversion, but her upside is very evident in the way she plays.
A genuine pick one contender, Centra is neck-and-neck with Harris for the top selection in next year's draft at this stage. She boasts elite footskills that are regarded as the best in Vic Country's program - male and female - and is so composed under pressure. Centra has played on all three lines, is strong overhead and her decision making particularly when it comes to her field kicking, is off the charts.
Every club needs a matchwinner and Evans has proven time and time again that she steps up in big moments. She kicked the winning goal against Norwood earlier this year to win the game, and got Central District back on track to win a come-from-behind flag with a massive third term. Elite skills and an ability to play inside, outside or up forward, she came from the clouds to be a star this year.
Given the strength of the AFLW Draft crop next year, there were always going to be unlucky omissions from the AFLW Academy. Field is our top-ranked player outside that group, with her potent left foot kick, ability to intercept and her reading of the play among her best attributes. In her sole Vic Metro game, Field starred in defence and looms as a key player in a highly sought after role.
Zippy FISH
Sierra GRIEVES
Zoe HARGREAVES
Tara HARRINGTON
04/06/2006 | 160CM | MIDFIELDER/DEFENDER EAST FREMANTLE/WESTERN AUSTRALIA
18/05/2006 | 164CM | MIDFIELDER/FORWARD WESTERN JETS/VIC METRO
03/06/2006 | 171CM | MIDFIELDER NORTHERN KNIGHTS/VIC METRO
24/03/2006 | 166CM | MIDFIELDER/DEFENDER SUNS ACADEMY/QUEENSLAND
Zippy by name and Zippy by nature, Fish is one of the fastest players across the country. Her explosive speed and overall athleticism automatically has her among the best in the draft crop, but her elite skills and decision making just rounds out her game. She is smaller than the other top pick contenders, but just as talented, winning the Lou Knitter Medal for best on ground in the 2023 WAFLW Grand Final.
One of most consistent accumulators in next year's draft crop, Grieves brings her own ball to most games. She regularly racked up 30-plus disposals, and was unlucky to only pick up the one game with Vic Metro. She is a fierce tackler and showed in the second half of the season she can play forward and have an impact with her extraction and strength in close outstanding for a player of her size.
The other player outside the AFLW Academy we have picked to be in the list, Hargreaves screams upside and coming off her first season, she gained a match for Vic Metro and was simply dominant for the Northern Knights at the backend of the year. Her athleticism, particularly powerful burst, makes her stand out, while she just makes things happen forward of centre. An exciting talent.
Poise and skill underpin Harrington's gamestyle with the medium midfielder also capable of running off half-back. She makes terrific decisions with ball-in-hand and picks off those high-risk, high-reward passes into the corridor more often than not. Though one who may fly under the radar due to teammate Havana Harris' pick one potential, she is a very top-end talent in her own right.
Sara HOWLEY
Millie LANG
Emma MCDONALD
Sophie MCKAY
29/01/2006 | 173CM | MIDFIELDER GEELONG FALCONS/VIC COUNTRY
06/11/2006 | 177CM | TALL DEFENDER GWV REBELS/VIC COUNTRY
18/04/2006 | 180CM | KEY FORWARD OAKLEIGH CHARGERS/VIC METRO
27/04/2006 | 168CM | MIDFIELDER/FORWARD SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS/VIC METRO
The highest production player out of the bottom-agers this year, Howley is an incredible ball-winner. Racking up touches for fun throughout the 2023 Talent League season, she also earned All-Australian honours for Vic Country. With speed to burn and an ability to get forward and hit the scoreboard herself, the 2023 Rookie Me Central Medallist is among the top half-dozen picks for next year.
Coming off a standout performance in the Herald Sun Shield as a 16-year-old, Lang stepped up to Talent League level with ease and quickly established herself as a key player in the GWV Rebels' defence. Strong overhead with a potent left boot - while being capable of using her right - she is one who can play on a range of defenders, but will be a highly sought after tall defender next year.
Recruiters would have been rubbing their hands together with glee when McDonald popped up for Oakleigh Chargers over the first month of the Talent League season. She has outstanding athletic traits, great contested marking ability and a reliable set shot for goal which she showed during a four-goal outing against the Allies. The best pure key defender in next year's draft has enormous upside as well.
The top-ranked father-daughter prospect in next year's AFLW Draft will cost Carlton a pretty penny. McKay, the daughter of 244-gamer Andrew and sister of current Blue Abbie, had a strong bottom-age season that only got better. She earned best afield honours in the Under 17 Futures match and is clean by hand and a terrific extractor. McKay also averaged a goal a game for the Dragons.
Georgia MCKEE
Molly O'HEHIR
Lucia PAINTER
Tatyana PERRY
24/04/2006 | 160CM | SMALL FORWARD CENTRAL DISTRICT/SOUTH AUSTRALIA
24/05/2006 | 176CM | TALL UTILITY SOUTH FREMANTLE/WESTERN AUSTRALIA
23/02/2006 | 174CM | UTILITY BENDIGO PIONEERS/VIC COUNTRY
PALMERSTON MAGPIES/NORTHERN TERRITORY
Unfortunately an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear would rule the talented McKee out of any on-field action in 2023, but the small is just as gifted as any other player in the draft crop. Her ground level work is sublime, her skill and goal sense is outstanding, and she can win games off her own boot as she did against West Adelaide in 2021. A fit and firing McKee is a showstopper and her highlights reel is insane.
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TOP 24 IN 2024
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In terms of upside, few have as much scope as O'Hehir who ticks just about every box. Standing at 176cm with outstanding athleticism, explosive speed and a natural football nous which allows her to play on any line, she is a prestigious talent. If the South Fremantle young gun can put it altogether in 2024, she will be competing with the best, and could settle inside, outside or off a flank such is her versatility.
After an impressive start to the Talent League season, Painter's year came to an abrupt halt due to an ankle injury. Though that was a setback, she showed enough over the last 18 months to earn a spot in the AFLW Academy with a well-rounded game. Painter can play on all three lines, is powerful and strong overhead and at ground level, also winning Vic Country's Under 17s MVP in 2022.
28/02/2006 | 170CM | WING/DEFENDER Quite possibly the most talented AFLW Draft prospect to come out of the Northern Territory, Perry is very much a top 10 hope given her hurt factor. She can play off a wing or in defence, with her elite skills and composure setting her aside. She has great evasive techniques and glides across the ground, with more time up the field likely to beckon in 2024. The 17-year-old is already co-captain at Palmerston Magpies.
20 4 2 P O T IN24
W A T C H NP EL AX YT E R S T O W A T C H N E X T
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT
PLAYERS TO
India RASHEED 29/11/2006 | 172CM | FORWARD/MIDFIELDER STURT/SOUTH AUSTRALIA Another pick one contender, Rasheed is the daughter of international tennis coach Roger, but has quickly made her own name. Kicking freakish goals time and time again, Rasheed is a barometer for Sturt with her hurt factor and ability to play both forward and midfield a crucial element to her game. In a stacked side, she won South Australia's MVP at the national carnival playing a mix of both roles. An elite user.
Charlotte RIGGS
Sienna TALLARITI
02/11/2006 | 178CM | TALL DEFENDER CENTRAL DISTRICT/SOUTH AUSTRALIA
10/07/2006 | 168CM | MEDIUM DEFENDER OAKLEIGH CHARGERS/VIC METRO
An incredible third Central District prospect in the top 24, Riggs is a fantastic athlete who has made her name as an intercepting defender. Though capable of rolling into the ruck or even going forward, her contested marking and reading of the play are among her best traits, and though still developing elements of her game, the 178cm young gun looms as a top-end tall for 2024.
Tallariti started the year as a forward who spent time in the midfield, and ended it as a prolific intercept defender. Though not a tall as such standing at 168cm, the Oakleigh Chargers defender is strong for her size and very capable overhead. She possesses an elite kick and makes good decisions, remaining calm under pressure. Tallariti capped off her year with best on ground in the Talent League Grand Final.
Poppy SCHOLZ
Mackenzie WILLIAMS
31/12/2006 | 179CM | TALL UTILITY GLENELG/SOUTH AUSTRALIA
26/06/2006 | 172CM | MEDIUM DEFENDER TASMANIA DEVILS/TASMANIA
Just one day off being a bottom-ager next year, Scholz is the younger sister of Port Adelaide star Matilda, and is tracking in a similar vein. Though yet to lock down an exact role having been played back, forward, midfield and ruck, the 179cm 'unicorn' is one who will have plenty of suitors. She is strong overhead and can get it done at ground level as well, reading the play wherever she goes.
Williams first featured as a double bottom-ager for the Allies at the AFLW Under 18 Championships in 2022, where she held her own as a rebounding defender. She played that role to perfection again in 2023, and her booming kick, along with her strength both in the air and at ground level really shines. Williams has some fundamentals to improve, but is rock solid in her consistency.
Elli SYMONDS
Claudia WRIGHT
07/10/2006 | 177CM | RUCK/FORWARD DANDENONG STINGRAYS/VIC COUNTRY
30/10/2006 | 171CM | MEDIUM FORWARD CLAREMONT/WESTERN AUSTRALIA
A breakout performance in just her second game where she racked up 23 disposals, clunked five marks, laid six tackles and kicked a goal, Symonds is a high production ruck/forward. She is incredibly athletic and aggressive, and can provide a target inside 50. She thrived as the season went on and will form a one-two punch with Zoe Besanko in the Stingrays' and Vic Country ruck and forwardlines.
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The Claremont talent had limited opportunities to impress, with injury putting a line through her season, only returning in August. She managed to play the last AFLW Under 18 Championships match and then Under 17s Futures clash to earn AFLW Academy honours. Blessed with eye-catching athleticism and a knack to do the incredible, Wright has outstanding hurt factor that makes her one of the top prospects.
AL
RM CENTR
S I R R HA Havana HARRIS
01/07/2006 | 182CM | KEY POSITION UTILITY SUNS ACADEMY / QUEENSLAND Our choice for pick one in a loaded field, Harris is a unique player in so many ways. Standing at above 180cm, she has explosive speed, and can play anywhere on the ground. Her footy IQ is high, she is terrific overhead or at ground level and earned both the AFLW Under 18 Championships' Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, as well as best on ground in Bond University's QAFL Women's premiership. Having plied her trade as a forward to start with, Harris progressed into the ruck for the Gold Coast Suns Academy and Queensland, before incredibly lining up on the 162cm Shineah Goody at the first centre bounce for the Maroons. At her size and speed, she is near-impossible to stop, and the sight of her taking a multiple-bounce run down the wing is remarkable. One of the many reasons she is Rookie Me Central's top pick for 2024 at this stage.
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