2024 AFLW Draft Player Profiles including highlights

Pie 4 Life · Oct 24, 2024

Hey everyone,

Noticed this forum has been a little dead this year and given the draft is less than two months away, I thought I'd share with you highlights and details about the top prospects. I'll keep the OP for threadmarks and links to the full profiles, but will post summaries in each individual post.

I'll be doing draft profiles on each of the players with AFLW Draft Combine invites, as well as a handful of others outside that group. As always Rookie Me Central's AFLW Draft Guide is coming at the start of December. But I'll share the profiles I've done with the key information here and if you choose to read them in full then great

Pie 4 Life · Oct 24, 2024

Ash Centra

DOB: 02/06/2006
Height: 176cm
Position: Tall Utility (Primarily mid/forward)
Club: Gippsland Power
State: Victoria

>> FULL PROFILE <<

STRENGTHS:

Clean hands
Elite kicking
Vision
Decision making
Production
Composure
Aerial ability
Versatility

IMPROVEMENTS:

Speed
Set shot goalkicking

With Centra it is genuinely a case of where do you begin with her strengths? Her combination of clean hands and elite kicking is what sets her head and shoulders above the majority of players, and few would argue she is clearly the best Victorian prospect in this year's AFLW Draft.

Watching her highlights alone is enough to get a taste for what Centra is capable of, with a "bad game" not only few and far between, but still at a level that is higher than 90 per cent of other players. If you look at her two lowest production games at Talent League Girls, both come with excuses, not that Centra would ever use them.

In Round 3 against the Sydney Swans Academy, illness saw her have to stop after just over a quarter and three touches, while she was heavily tagged by Tasmania Devils in Round 11 when she still managed the 13 disposals at Shepley Oval. Taking out those two games, her next lowest disposal performance for the Power was 23 disposals against GWV Rebels in Round 15, and she still kicked two ripping goals.

Excluding the two bottom performances, Centra averaged 31.3 disposals per game at Coates Talent League Girls level, as well as 5.0 marks, 4.6 tackles and 3.5 inside 50s. While predominantly spending a 50/50 split between midfield and forward, there were times where Centra dropped into defence to be an intercepting force again as she had been in her bottom-age campaign.

A one-touch player both in the air and at ground level, Centra is a strong aerial player who can clunk some strong grabs even with contact coming her way. Off the deck, she can use a terrific low centre of gravity to swoop in collect the pill and spin out of a trouble. But unlike a lot of players who might pull out the party tricks for show, Centra can do all of that and still find a target in space and nail the kick under immense pressure.

Her vision is second to none, able to spot a needle in a haystack, and her split-second decision making is equally an incredible trait. Never flustered, Centra assesses the options in front of her like anyone, but does it at a rapid rate. Seldom will you ever see Centra hack kick from a stoppage or bomb away without looking. Each possession is calculated, and even in the odd occasion it does miss a target, usually there was merit to the decision.

Outside of her ball use, vision, composure and decision making, Centra is also an incredibly versatile player as shown by her career playing across all three lines. Coming through the Power pathway, Centra was always known as the player who could do magical things with ball in hand, but the main question mark was her understanding when not in possession.

At times she would look lackadasical to the lay person, but when digging deeper, it was more about still developing her understanding of off-ball work and positioning. That was what lead to the move to defence, and it naturally lifted her understanding of the game and reading of the play. It took her from a potential top prospect, to the leading Victorian one, and she remained so over the next 18 months.

While Centra's profile is among the best one can hope for, she too has areas that do not necessarily hold her back, but are further room for growth at times. The easier one to fix is her set shot goalkicking. For a star ball user who can pinpoint teammates in heavy traffic, it almost seems a little strange that when it comes to putting the ball through the big sticks with time on her side, she struggles.

However that is the case, with Centra leaving quite a few chances out there and while quite a few of her 17 behinds (to 18 goals) would have been from tough positions, she still missed a few that a player of her class should put away without any problems. That includes both close and medium range. It is an area that has come along a little because in her double bottom-age year, it was her Achilles heel as a forward, now it is more of a work in progress.

Aside from that, the other main element that Centra lacks compared to the modern-day star is speed, and while not slow, does not possess that explosive burst that so many midfielders come through the pathway with nowadays.

Though akin to Scott Pendlebury which is often attributed to "slowing time", Centra has the same trait, seemingly able to sidestep opponents and dance around them like they are not even there. When tackled, her composure and lightning quick decision making whips into action and she has the strength to still dispose of the ball cleanly.

Centra's agility is also very good, so while not having that breakaway speed, her skill to glide around and step through traffic allows her to not limit her in that regard. However it does open the door for opponents to place a heavy tag on her - as the Devils did at Talent League level - especially with a player who can match her strength and work rate. Expect her to learn plenty more tricks with how to deal with extra attention at the elite level, because a star of her quality will receive plenty.

Pie 4 Life · Oct 24, 2024

Havana Harris

DOB: 01/07/2006
Height: 182cm
Position: Key Utility (primarily ruck/midfield)
Club: Bond University / Gold Coast Suns Academy
State: Queensland

>> FULL PROFILE <<

STRENGTHS:

Vertical leap
Explosive speed
Strength
Versatility
Penetrating kick
Strength
Groundballs

IMPROVEMENTS:

Kicking precision
Endurance

PROFILE:

The crux of Havana Harris' game centres around her athleticism. Focusing in on her jumping, Harris is arguably - though there is little doubt she is - one of the best vertical players in the draft crop. She dominated Preseason Testing up in Queensland with a 70cm running vertical jump, a number that would have won her the test at the National Draft Combine had she tested.

Whether it is flying for a mark or going up in a ruck contest, Harris' vertical leap is hard to match unless her opponent is an equally tall and athletic player (such as Davies). The Bond University star's athletic profile does not stop there though, with an explosive burst that should not be possible for a player of her height. Once she wins the ball and sees space, she takes off in a split second, and there are few who could run her down.

Harris backs herself to take on anyone with her speed, and she has grown almost a full centimetre since the preseason, so now stands at 182cm. Whether she is in the ruck or playing midfield, she is a nightmare for the opposition because of her breakaway speed.

One of the subtle moments of the championships came when Queensland faced Western Australia and Harris won the ball in a contest against fellow top star Zippy Fish. While Fish is regarded as one of the fastest - if not the fastest - players going around, Harris gave her the glance over the shoulder and still took off, creating separation almost instantly and being able to get her kick away.

Her first five metres are as quick as anyone's and would have narrowly pipped Fish based off her preseason score, at the National Draft Combine. Each of the players who marginally shaded her time, are sub-180cm. While her agility is still outstanding for her size, she is able to evade opponents through her strength and even when tackled, has the size to lift the arms and get a clean handball away.

That strength comes in handy in one-on-one marking situations and you can only imagine that as a defender trying to play on an opponent who might not only beat you in a wrestle, but if given front position, any chance of defending her is over on the lead. Harris will often spend time down forward, which is a role she predominantly played in her early years while pinch-hitting in the ruck.

Last season she spent more time through the ruck, and gradually developed more midfield minutes, with that split exactly what happened in 2024. Watching her lineup on Shineah Goody at a centre bounce 12 months ago - with almost 20cm difference between them sums up what Harris is capable of, and will be capable of at the elite level.

At ground level, Harris is clean and able to win first or second possession balls, or take it out of the ruck and just burst away. That variety in her game, and versatility in her positioning, makes her so unpredictable to the opposition. For a player who is so good in the air, Harris won more than half of her touches at Coates Talent League Girls level and just under 50 per cent at the national carnival, in a groundball situation.

Her hands are clean and effective and is able to pinpoint a target, while her booming kick can easily travel 50m, quite often providing plenty of highlights on the run such as her game-icing major against Vic Country. Her ability to launch from long-range is a weapon of hers, but she is unselfish as well, always looking for better options inside 50 and trying to put it to her teammate's advantage.

With time and space, Harris can hit targets well, while her main improvement will come from her kicking precision around the ground but particularly when under pressure. Because her kick is so long and penetrating, the distance it creates in itself is such an advantage for her side. Quite often it will go to the right area, without being completely pinpoint.

In saying that, her kicking is not something anyone would consider a weakness as such, but more an area that can be refined. When able to launch on goal or take grass bounding down the field with time to assess her options, Harris can be very damaging and it will be when the booming kicks out of stoppages under pressure or just taking distance can be refined a little more that it would be a near-complete effort.

The other are of improvement which again is more just a way to further develop, comes in Harris' endurance. She can run out games and play across multiple roles, but can still further improve her endurance which was rated 'average' compared to her peers. It is not anything that will hold her back as she has proven she can consistently impact across four quarters, but improving it further will only make her better.

Pie 4 Life · Oct 24, 2024

Before I get too far in, is this all good Lore ? Put a lot of work into these (and believe the detail I'm posting here is quite a bit) so happy to share the bulk of the profiles here like above and if people choose to read more then fantastic.

Vacuous Space · Oct 24, 2024

Potentially stupid question - is Harris available to everyone?

Lore · Oct 24, 2024

Pie 4 Life said:
Before I get too far in, is this all good Lore ? Put a lot of work into these (and believe the detail I'm posting here is quite a bit) so happy to share the bulk of the profiles here like above and if people choose to read more then fantastic.

Looks good to me

Pie 4 Life · Oct 24, 2024

Vacuous Space said:
Potentially stupid question - is Harris available to everyone?

So funny story. The players rhemselves aren’t 100% sure but I spoke to Havana about it and she said she believes it’s the same rule as the father-daughter matching which is within 18 picks of the bid. However she also said she is keen to move interstate, and for GC to match, she has to sign a form to say she’s happy for them to match if need be. Incredibly only six clubs interviewed her at the Draft Combine figuring she wanted to be at GC but she’s actually keen to move away. However also wouldn’t be unhappy to stay too. Lilly Baker was the same, keen to move interstate for an experience.

Pie 4 Life · Oct 24, 2024

Zippy Fish

DOB: 04/06/2006
Height: 160cm
Position: Midfielder (can play half-back or wing)
Club: East Fremantle
State: Western Australia

>> FULL DRAFT PROFILE <<

STRENGTHS:

Speed
Athleticism
Kicking
Footy IQ
Impact-per-possession
Aerial ability
Vision
Big game player

IMPROVEMENTS:

Contested work
Strength

PROFILE:

As her name suggests, Zippy Fish has all the athletic traits that clubs love in a player. Her explosive speed, eye-catching agility and fantastic vertical leap make her the all-round package. She started her career as a running half-back at senior level, graduated up to a wing at times, then became a full-time onballer in 2024.

Fish's athletic traits alone would hold her in good stead and is deserving of being mentioned when discussing the first overall pick. Though she might not have the height of Havana Harris or Ash Centra, Fish has a great balance between the two, with the athletic and footballing traits that are dominant in each prospect respectively, neatly merged in the West Australian.

Her athleticism is evident to the eye, and her aerial ability for a 160cm player is almost a little ridiculous. She will clunk contested marks against taller opponents, fly for big grabs - even if she does not bring them down - and compete against most when given the space to leap. At ground level she is even more dangerous, because once the ball is in space, few could hold a candle to her pace.

Fish is regarded as one of the quickest players in this year's AFLW Draft crop, and clocking a sub-3.2-second 20m sprint is further evidence of her speed. She can pick up pace immediately once winning the ball and will often look for the one-two handball through traffic to get to the other side of a contest and breakdown the opposition defence.

At times she would explode out of the middle take a couple of bounces and launch from 50m for it to sail straight through the big sticks. When left unchecked all game, she completely dismantled teams in the WAFLW and while finding the going tougher at the national championships, worked her way into games after quieter first halves in her first two matches.

From a footballing perspective, Fish has all the tricks to hurt opposition sides both out of the middle and in transition. She can hit targets over short, medium and long distances, with her vision and decision making complimenting her execution. If not taking multiple bounces and taking grass, she is setting up teammates with release handballs, often in on-two situations.

By hand she is clean, and is as good of a second possession winner as there is in the draft crop. While she can win her own ball, the knock on her midfield craft comes in her contested work or being that first-possession winner. She is not the type of midfielder who will necessarily win the ball at the coalface and be feeding it out, rather being the one receiving from the get-and-go.

Fish's bread and butter is her ability to win handball receives and use her skill and speed combination to punish opposition teams. At the national championships, Fish won 52.5 per cent of her possessions from handball receives, the most of any player with more than one game to their name.

She will slot in well with a team who has established contested ball-winners but need that speed and class that Fish offers, with Collingwood and Carlton among the lower ranked Victorian sides, a state she has openly said she is eyeing off, while having three of the four northern teams also in her draft range.

Though she does not need to focus too heavily on building a contested game given her likely second-possession or outside role at the top level, it is an area that can round out her overall profile. She is also still light in frame and therefore can get bumped off the ball at times, though thrives on using her speed to mow down opponents.

Finally, Fish also has the ability to win the ball all over the ground and works hard both ways. Whether it is winning it out of defence, or going forward to find pockets of space and slot goals, the East Fremantle talent does it all.

Pie 4 Life · Oct 24, 2024

Sophie McKay

DOB: 27/04/2006
Height: 167cm
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Club: Sandringham Dragons
State: Victoria

>> FULL PROFILE <<

STRENGTHS:

Explosive speed
Physicality
Clearances
Scoreboard impact
Goal sense
Big game player

IMPROVEMENTS:

Defensive running
Endurance

PROFILE:

Sophie McKay is an eye-catching prospect with explosive speed - that would be Top 10 across the nation in tests - being her greatest asset. Her ability to win the ball in close and extract it using brute strength to breakaway helps her gain extra time, along with the ability to get her hands free and fire off a handball.

That explosiveness does not just apply to straight line running, with the Carlton father-daughter prospect testing incredibly well through the agility test too, and it shows with her knack to side-step opponents and change directions on a dime.

McKay's power and strength is also observed when flying for overhead grabs, doing so exceptionally well for a medium-sized player at 167cm. Her marking numbers do not jump off the page, but she positions herself well to clunk some big grabs for her size, and can do it both contested and when finding pockets of space inside 50.

McKay's point of difference to a lot of other players is her incredible offensive ability, not just in regular games, but on the biggest of stages. She often goes to another level when playing against the best of the best, and her better games have come in the Under 17 Futures match, AFLW Academy and Vic Metro colours.

Around the stoppages, McKay is a consistent extractor of the ball, and averaged 4.3 clearances at AFLW Under 18 Championships level, and 5.2 clearances per match for the Dragons. She can have ebbs and flows at times with her consistency in-game, but her most consistent outings have come in those bigger matches.

Right now McKay's endurance is an area that is her main focus, especially after a major injury. Her athletic profile is among the best going around, but her aerobic capacity is one element that can take her game to another level, and will assist in helping that in-game consistency. She covers the front half of the ground well, and often rests forward to have an impact on the scoreboard there, but can improve her running behind the ball.

McKay's biggest area of improvement is her defensive running, and the potential Top 10 prospect is self aware in that regard. She joked in the preseason that she "probably couldn’t think of being anything worse than being a backman" and that she needed to work on her two-way running. That is still a flaw in her game, but her incredible offensive attributes help negate the lack of defensive ones when she is up and about.

Going forward, McKay has those areas to work on, but both are very manageable within an AFLW program. The lifelong Carlton supporter is sure to cost the Blues a first rounder, but given she is right amongst the Top 10 prospects in the AFLW Draft, Carlton will have not problems paying up to bring her to IKON Park where she has spent most of her footballing life.

Pie 4 Life · Oct 24, 2024

Mackenzie Williams

DOB: 26/06/2006
Height: 171cm
Position: Tall Defender
Club: North Hobart/Tasmania Devils
State: Tasmania

>> FULL PROFILE <<

STRENGTHS:

Competitiveness
Reading the play
Intercept marking
One-on-ones
Penetrating kick
Consistency

IMPROVEMENTS:

Kicking precision
Endurance

PROFILE:

Mackenzie Williams is a player who has a well-rounded game with some clear strengths, and evident improvements that the talented Tasmanian has honed in on improving once at the top level. A tall defender who is perhaps slightly undersized compared to others at 171cm, Williams is ultra-competitive and can punch above her size thanks to her strength and one-on-one ability.

Williams is able to play both an offensive rebounding role from the back half of the ground just as easily as looking to negate an opposition defender. While unlikely to fill that number one defender role, she can certainly play as that third tall who has the smarts and understanding to peel off her opponent and give a chop out to her teammates, or float across to clunk some strong marks.

Even from the age of 15 it was evident Williams was a strong mark. She has averaged 3.8 marks across her 38 games in the Coates Talent League Girls and AFLW Under 18 Championships. She provides the defensive pressure both in the air and at ground level to force the ball to ground if she does not mark it, then often thumps the pill clear a mile down the ground.

Her ranging right foot kick can travel a good 50m from full-back, often able to clear the ball to the defensive side of the wing when kicking out, or past the zoning half-forwards from the opposition. The precision of said kicks could certainly improve, with that element of fundamentals being a key area of improvement for the defender. At times she can boot the ball for distance rather than accuracy, but on occasions that can pay off anyway. However, tightening up that aspect of her game will only make her a better player.

Athletically, Williams is not an explosive player, but she is powerful, and when she takes the ball on the move, can reach a decent top speed that is as much about power and strength as it is about speed. As a defender, her lower athletic profile does not hinder her game as she often dictates the way she moves whether it is kicking it out from full-back, or receiving the handball and kicking it long down the field.

A super competitive player wherever she plays and at any level, Williams is not afraid to scrap to win the ball in any situation. The Tasmanian reads the play incredible well, can clunk intercept marks and then consistently provide rebound out of the back half to start scoring chains turning defence into offence.

While her aerobic capacity is another element she is looking to work on in order to further impact for longer, Williams as a whole has a nice foundational base for clubs to look at going forward. Her stint playing midfield was one the Tasmanian enjoyed, and would like to pursue in the future, though a role as an intercepting and rebounding defender is where Williams will find herself to start at the top level.

Pie 4 Life · Oct 25, 2024

Tatyana Perry

DOB: 28/02/2006
Height: 170cm
Position: General Defender (can play wing/forward)
Club: Palmerston Magpies/NT Thunder
State: Northern Territory

STRENGTHS:

Speed
Clean hands
Ground balls
Skills
Run-and-carry
Leadership

IMPROVEMENTS:

Endurance
Strength

PROFILE:

Tatyana Perry has played a range of positions over the years, but in 2024, settled into a half-back role where her athleticism and skill comes to the fore. At the National Draft Combine earlier this month, Perry clocked a blistering 3.125-second 20-metre sprint time to hold off some absolute speedsters such as Zippy Fish for the top time.

She not only blitzed the sprint, but tested well in the vertical jumps with Top 10 finishes in both the standing and running tests. Overall, Perry was able to showcase that element of her game which she has utilised over the years, be it running off half-back or along a wing going forward in transition.

Her endurance is one area that when it comes to that off-ball work is still a work in progress. She has largely been strengthened by playing off half-back rather than through the middle, and aerobic capacity upon reaching the top level is never the biggest of concerns, and nothing a huge preseason leading into an elite system year cannot fix.

Aside from her endurance, the other main query on Perry's game comes from her strength and in turn, her one-on-ones. She is not likely to be a one-on-one defender, and rather be the player to receive the ball, explode away and hit targets further afield. Once again it is an area that with a big preseason can improve, but when you have the athletic gifts that Perry has, you take the extra speed for less strength.

When it comes to her footballing ability though, that is a different story. Perry is a naturally gifted player who has great skills, clean hands and footy smarts. She is not necessarily a massive accumulator, but her impact-per-possession is high and she makes good decisions with ball in hand. Coming off half-back, Perry sees the game in front of her and can buy herself time through her speed.

Her run-and-carry is a highlight in her game, often taking kickouts or being the first target from the kickout, then linking up through hand or foot to cut through the opposition's forward press. She can work up the ground and provide an option, or most likely stay a kick behind play to mop up, switch and find a target in space on the other side of the ground.

Her most notable show of her traits came in torrential rain against Western Jets at Craigieburn where Perry was able to pick up the ball like it was a perfectly dry day as everyone around her fumbled. She is mostly a one-touch player and then able to quickly dish off to open up avenues to score through her teammates, and is a facilitator turning defence into offence.

Those traits, coupled with her evident leadership by co-captaining Palmerston all add up to Perry being a promising player for the future. If she is able to have a big preseason or two heading into the AFLW, then watch out as she already has the weapons that can hurt opposition teams in transition.

Pie 4 Life · Oct 25, 2024

Esther Schirmer

DOB: 08/06/2006
Height: 177cm
Position: Tall Defender
Club: South Adelaide
State: South Australia

>> FULL DRAFT PROFILE <<

STRENGTHS:

Competitiveness
One-on-ones
Composure
Reading the play
Intercept marking
Consistency

IMPROVEMENTS:

Versatility
Vertical jump

PROFILE:

Esther Schirmer is an interesting AFLW Draft prospect in the fact that she may well be a complete point of difference to others in the draft crop. Her overall profile ticks a lot of boxes for what clubs want in a defender, and while not as flashy as others, is just ultra-reliable and a player that coaches love to turn to in order to nullify an opposition forward.

Schirmer has always been strong defensively, and matches up well one-on-one with opponents. Her underrated agility along with her reading of the play allows her to close down marking options quickly. She is a good height at 177cm, also enabling her to play on talls or smalls thanks to her mobility and strength.

While a lot of those traits are quite good, her true strengths lie in her understanding of the game and being able to remain composed while under immense pressure. When winning the ball, Schirmer rarely panics and assesses the situation well before disposing of the pill. Like any defender under pressure, she can make mistakes, but generally she is a neat and reliable ball user who can hit targets over short, medium or long distances.

In the air, Schirmer reads the play, gets into great positions and intercepts, and is not afraid to engage in a wrestle if required. She has no qualms about spoiling the ball and doing all the team one percenters which endears her to any coach she plays under. The knock on her athletic game would be her vertical leap and that is where she can get caught out if playing behind.

While Schirmer has the smarts and mobility to close down space on the lead, and if side-by-side the strength to knock her opponent off balance, once the forward has a gap and can leap at the ball, it is where the South Adelaide defender is less comfortable. Norwood opponent Kiana Lee got a hold of her a couple of times in the SANFLW Grand Final thanks to Lee's equal strength and smarts, but few opponents can say that about Schirmer.

As a whole, the defender has all the traits to play that lockdown or nullifying role really well. She does have the ability to run out of defence and use the ball safely to ensure maximum ball retention. While not explosive, she moves well, and her composure and smarts do the rest.

She has been pidgeonholed as that tall defender throughout her career, largely due to the fact she has been so good at that role. By being given the keys for more freedom out of defence, Schirmer has become a more versatile defender, but has still largely been locked into the singular positional role. That is not necessarily a bad thing, and is where Schirmer will play in the future, but is an element to note.

Overall, Schirmer's reading of the play, intercept marking - an element she has worked hard on over the last 18 months - and her sheer competitiveness to win every contest she faces, allows her to remain driven and focused. Her point of difference is being a nullifying defender first, and an offensive running one second, which will hold her in good stead for the future.

Vacuous Space · Oct 25, 2024

Pie 4 Life said:
So funny story. The players rhemselves aren’t 100% sure but I spoke to Havana about it and she said she believes it’s the same rule as the father-daughter matching which is within 18 picks of the bid. However she also said she is keen to move interstate, and for GC to match, she has to sign a form to say she’s happy for them to match if need be. Incredibly only six clubs interviewed her at the Draft Combine figuring she wanted to be at GC but she’s actually keen to move away. However also wouldn’t be unhappy to stay too. Lilly Baker was the same, keen to move interstate for an experience.

I wish it were more surprising that the AFL hasn't clearly communicated with the players. I'll be even less surprised if they just neglected to mention academies in their announcement of the national draft.

Callipygian · Oct 29, 2024

Geez it's frustrating not knowing what the draft rules are just 6-7 weeks or so out from the draft!! Would be good to know both the rules, and if any intel becomes available about whether potentially tied players will or will not be available - please post if you find out!

I also just had to look pretty hard to find the details of the key dates for the 2024 AFLW trade and draft. For those that are interested and struggling to find the info, here it is in short:

* the trade period will be 5-11 December

* the draft itself will be on 16 December

* from 4-11 December there will be a Restricted Free Agency period (RFA) and a Delisted Free Agency period

* there will be a further DFA period from about 12-14 December; and

* then a Supplemental Signing Period (SSP) straight after the draft from 17-18 December.

Here's my source: https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1189913/aflw-trade-and-draft-dates-locked-in-for-2024-season.

Callipygian · Oct 30, 2024

Great work Pie 4 Life !

Looking forward to your profiles on Rasheed and O'Hehir. Also Baba, Brisbane, Belloni, Mahony (I have an interest in talls this year) and all the rest.

Pie 4 Life · Oct 30, 2024

Callipygian said:
Great work Pie 4 Life !

Looking forward to your profiles on Rasheed and O'Hehir. Also Baba, Brisbane, Juneja, and Mahony and all the rest.

Yep I’ll add a few more later today and I’ll have everything up on the site in a couple of weeks as well as our annual draft guide.

Callipygian · Oct 30, 2024

Pie 4 Life said:
Yep I’ll add a few more later today and I’ll have everything up on the site in a couple of weeks as well as our annual draft guide.

Who is the "us" in "our annual draft guide"? Are you part of RMC?

Pie 4 Life · Oct 30, 2024

Callipygian said:
Who is the "us" in "our annual draft guide"? Are you part of RMC?

You could say that haha. Yeah I’m the guy who founded it.

Callipygian · Oct 30, 2024

Pie 4 Life said:
You could say that haha. Yeah I’m the guy who founded it.

Thanks. I haven't followed these threads on the main board enough to know that already. Good site, RMC.

Pie 4 Life · Nov 1, 2024

Holly Egan

DOB: 01/07/2006
Height: 176cm
Position: Tall Defender/Midfielder
Club: Murray Bushrangers
State: Vic Country

>> FULL DRAFT PROFILE <<

STRENGTHS:

Athleticism
Aerial ability
Intercept marking
Reading the play
Run-and-carry
Competitiveness

IMPROVEMENTS:

One-on-ones
Kicking precision

PROFILE:

Holly Egan is an exciting talent with great athleticism that catches the eye. Be it in the air, or tucking the ball under the arm and running down the field, Egan creates plenty of dare and dash for whatever side she plays for. Her competitive side comes out be it aerially or at ground level, though she is much more comfortable with the former.

Reading the play well and being able to pluck intercept marks from opposition forward forays underpins her game. The promising tall has the athleticism to play on key position players, or even general forwards, with the ability to run off as well as defend. Though one-on-one she can get exposed a little against bigger opponents, she does well when able to position herself and play her natural game.

She is best suited as a third-tall intercept defender who can chop out, float in and mark, then peel off and deliver down the ground. She loves to take the game on and will burst off half-back and keep the ball moving in transition.

When it comes to her kicking there are many layers to it. Her technique itself is great, it is about honing in on the precision of consistently hitting targets. She can nail short passes with ease, and there is nothing wrong stylistically, but being able to be more precise when looking to bite off those riskier kicks is an element that can further improve.

Aside from that though, she has a lot of elements in her game that will adapt at the top level. Egan's combination of athleticism and smarts - as well as natural leadership that comes with captaining a club in just her second Under 18s season - will all be big ticks for AFLW clubs. Her work throughout the course of the season has been consistent and she has done her job to a t.

Egan spoke preseason of her desire to play up forward as she has in the past for her junior football, though showed her defensive craft, as well as midfield ability. Being behind the ball suits her strengths and seems an ideal role, though having the ability to go inside and influence stoppages with a point of difference is also an important element in her profile.

She has the height and speed to trouble opposition midfielders, and if put forward can have many defenders for speed. She has almost been a victim of her own success down back, with her strong season in the back 50 cementing her place in that role for the future.

Pie 4 Life · Nov 1, 2024

Lou-Lou Field

DOB: 18/10/2006
Height: 167cm
Position: General Defender
Club: Western Jets
State: Vic Metro

>> FULL DRAFT PROFILE <<

STRENGTHS:

Reading the play
Positioning
Intercept marking
Penetrating kick
Footy IQ
Agility

IMPROVEMENTS:

One-on-ones
Endurance

PROFILE:

Lou-Lou Field has provided a calming influence on the Western Jets defence over the past three years since bursting onto the scene as a double bottom-ager on-field. She played in a premiership that year, and while her side has struggled more since, Field has done well to juggle her school (Geelong Grammar) and club commitments the past two seasons.

Without a doubt the greatest parts in her game centre around being behind the ball and reading the play like a book. Her understanding of where to be and how to position herself to best intercept is evident in the way she can peel off her opponent and either get front and centre, or time her leap to perfection. She does not necessarily provide a huge vertical jump like some more athletic defenders, but her timing is impeccable and quite often she will outmark others who can jump higher due to said timing.

More than a few times Field will be amongst a pack of players who outsize her - she stands at 167cm - but is able to jump at just the right moment to clunk the mark. Her hands are strong as well, which usually sees her pull the ball down confidently in one grab. Field is also able to get it done in both contested and uncontested situations.

The Western Jets skipper is a well-measured user of the football, with her penetrating left boot a hallmark of her game. At times when she goes for the high-risk, high-reward kick it can backfire, but she is so good at winning the ball back, she will often intercept a second or third time, or lay a crucial tackle. While looking a touch rusty when returning from injury for Vic Metro at the national championships, Field adapted well and was able to thwart a stack of forward forays from reigning champions South Australia in a high pressure first quarter.

Field does win a lot of touches from her intercept marking and also from taking kick outs thanks to her ability to thump the ball long down the ground clearing the immediate danger. Though left-side dominant, Field ensures she can get to her preferred foot as much as possible, and with a fantastic ability to evade opponents, she is no stranger to stepping around someone to gain extra metres and swing back onto her left.

For a player who made her name as a long kick from defence, only 25.6 per cent of her kicks at Coates Talent League Girls level were long, and she won almost half of her possessions (47.1 per cent) at groundlevel which again was quite impressive for a traditional aerial player.

Field does need to further develop her one-on-one ability and physicality that comes with that. She is so adept at peeling off and intercepting, or timing her jump right to mark, but when engaged in a wrestle, that is not as much her go. She will always compete, but against bigger bodies can be outmuscled, with her preference much more likely to jump and intercept.

A Collingwood fan, Field looks to emulate Nick Daicos when at half-back with his work rate and understanding of the game, while also wanting to build her endurance. Right now her aerobic capacity is an area that can be further improved, though given the interruptions throughout the last 18 months, she should just need a clean run and a full preseason to build it up.

Overall, Field might be limited to that one role of rebounding out of defence, but she has spent time in patches up the field. Her best position is being a third tall who can read the play superbly and send the ball back in transition, keeping speed on the ball at all times.

Pie 4 Life · Nov 1, 2024

Sierra Grieves

DOB: 18/05/2006
Height: 163cm
Position: Midfielder
Club: Western Jets
State: Vic Metro

>> FULL DRAFT PROFILE <<

STRENGTHS:

Production
Contested work
Defensive pressure
Consistency
Forward craft
Clearance ability
Footy IQ

IMPROVEMENTS:

Polish
Kicking under pressure

PROFILE:

If you are looking for a player with a high floor (their lowest point of production) then Sierra Grieves is the one that comes to mind. Even in her quieter outings, Grieves finds a way to impact, even if not for herself, but others. She makes her teammates better and walk taller around her, with that offensive and defensive balance of traits really coming to the fore.

The best way to describe Grieves is she has a well-rounded and deep group of strengths, and even her improvements are more tweaks than anything else. She does not have a major deficiency that impacts the way she plays, and quiet often her areas of improvement are based around tidying up her kicking or polishing up her play when under pressure.

From a footballing perspective, Grieves has a great understanding of the game. The Western Bulldogs supporter has shown she can play as a pressure forward, and then as an inside midfielder. Her hands on the inside are clean, she picks the right options and can execute well by hand when extracting the ball. Her clearance numbers speak for themselves, and she is arguably the number one clearance player in the draft.

Some people might point to her size - 163cm - as a potential drawback compared to the more bigger midfielders but that is somewhat of a misconception because she can play a similar role to Maddy Prespakis with her crash-and-bash style, while still having that extra leg speed to get her out of trouble. She is not explosive, but she does have a nice first few steps, and with her power can get her hands free to clear it to a teammate.

Athletically she rates above average across the board, with her agility particularly high. Though none of those areas are an elite trait as such, she just does everything well, like the majority of her game. Up forward, she has the smarts and craft to not only hit the scoreboard, but set up her teammates with deft passes or unselfish taps forward.

Coming into the year, Grieves' outside game was an area that could further improve. Yes, she was an elite inside ball-winner, and of course she could do damage when playing up forward. But the next possession after the stoppage was a way she could further develop, and develop she did. More than a few times she won the ball in one-two situations, took multiple bounces and ran down a wing before putting the ball inside 50, or even kicked a running goal from just inside 50 against South Australia.

By the end of the season, Grieves had rounded out her game to have most people in agreement that when it came to improvements, there was not a drastic change needed. She could polish up her game under pressure particularly by foot, but with time and space, or once she gets a proper look, she is effective over multiple distances.

As a whole, Grieves is what you call a 'safe' choice for any AFLW club. She is the one player you can lock in to leave no stone unturned in her determination to be the best players she could be. The one player you can almost guarantee will find her place and just play her role each and every week. For that kind of guaranteed consistency, she is an obvious first round choice.

Pie 4 Life · Nov 1, 2024

Tara Harrington

DOB: 24/03/2006
Height: 167cm
Position: Midfielder
Club: Bond University/Gold Coast Suns Academy
State: Queensland

>> FULL DRAFT PROFILE <<

STRENGTHS:

Clean hands
Contested work
Clearances
Defensive pressure
Class
Balance

IMPROVEMENTS:

Durability
Scoreboard impact

PROFILE:

Tara Harrington is a well-balanced player with a variety of offensive and defensive traits. On the inside, her hands are clean and she is generally a one-touch player who can win the contested ball and feed it out to her teammates consistently. Not afraid to put her body on the line, Harrington is quick to make decisions and has a great awareness of where her teammates are to dish off look-away handballs or quick kicks that even if not pinpoint, are effective.

If Harrington is given any sort of time or space, then that spells danger for the opposition. The talented midfielder has the speed and evasion to work out opponents and given her quick assessments of the options ahead of her, she will slice up any lagging defenders. That is both coming out of a centre stoppage, or around the ground where she gets on the move and looks to like up by hand or foot.

Outside the contest, Harrington is all class, and has a nice technique to hit targets down the field, and while she admits she can further get penetration on her kicks - having had setbacks due to the ankle injuries - will be able to get back on that job once fully fit again. Essentially for a player who might not start on-ball at the top level, Harrington is a wonderful outside player and arguably even more damaging given her smarts and skills.

But for a player who had more than seven clearances per game at Coates Talent League Girls level, it is hard to deny that a future on-ball is what lies ahead. She is just as strong defensively with her tackling and pressure acts, and is not afraid to lay a block or put her body on the line to help a teammate, which makes her the ultimate team player.

On pure ability, it is not farfetched to suggest she could have been knocking on the door of the top 10 with a full year, and she is clearly a first round prospect when fully fit. Her successive ankle injuries leave just the little question mark as to where she falls, but it should not be much further down the order. Getting her ankle right and maintaining that durability will be her main focus of improvement going forward.

Outside of that, the one area that she can further develop is in her goalkicking. A naturally defensive mid or player who is more of a facilitator, Harrington does not kick a lot of goals herself. It is not a major issue, but all the great midfielders do hit the scoreboard, especially when their teams are struggling to find an outlet. She has the capacity to do so, but it is just about getting it done and adding that weapon to her game.

As a whole, Harrington ticks so many boxes that make her a great prospect. It is a shame that she was limited to only half a dozen games this year and no national carnival games. Had she run out for Queensland, then the Maroons would have had that extra strength through the middle and been even more exciting. Regardless though, fans will get to see her in action for many years to come.

Callipygian · Nov 19, 2024

Pie 4 Life what's happened to RMC's AFLW draft rankings. There was a 'live' kind of list that kept getting updated but it seems to have been removed from the RMC website and the best we can do is view the August list. Is that right?

Thanks for all the draft profiles you've done. Please keep them coming. I'm particularly looking out for Molly O'Hehir and India Rasheed.

Pie 4 Life · Nov 19, 2024

Callipygian said:
Pie 4 Life what's happened to RMC's AFLW draft rankings. There was a 'live' kind of list that kept getting updated but it seems to have been removed from the RMC website and the best we can do is view the August list. Is that right?

Thanks for all the draft profiles you've done. Please keep them coming. I'm particularly looking out for Molly O'Hehir and India Rasheed.

There will be an updated listed posted next week once through the boys draft.

I'll also be publishing a lot more on here later in the week once through said boys draft. All profiles are on the site (as well as highlights) but I'll be putting them all here too.

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