Women's Footy AFLW Trade & Draft 2024

[Giant Strides]

Amelie Prosser-Shaw Draft Profile

Amelie Prosser-Shaw is an athletic tall with upside who can play inside, outside or up either end of the ground.

central.rookieme.com

Allies Girls / Tall Utility

#12 Amelie Prosser-Shaw​

Height: 175cm
D.O.B: 14-11-2006
Leagues: VFLW, Coates Talent League Girls, AFLW U18 Championships

STRENGTHS:

• Athleticism
• Speed-endurance mix
• Aerial ability
• Versatility
• Defensive pressure
• Upside

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Kicking precision
• Consistency

PROFILE:

With Amelie Prosser-Shaw the elements that set her apart from a lot of other similar players are her ability to be just as effective in the air as at ground level, applying enormous amounts of defensive pressure while taking some big grabs. Her marking is a clear strength and having had the experience up front, down back and on a wing, she is familiar with all parts of the ground and reading the play.

Her high level of speed and endurance - clocking a 3.28-second 20m sprint and 7:55 2km time trial - help her cover the ground for a long time and at a fast speed. She will always compete in the air, and you could add competitiveness as a major trait for the top-ager. That, along with her defensive pressure will ensure she wraps up opponents on the deck and can create turnovers through her pressure.

For the Giants Academy in 2024, Prosser-Shaw averaged 7.3 tackles from 18.7 disposals and 4.0 marks. Spending time around the clearances and on the outside, she won 3.3 for the three-game stint, while also having similar numbers for her rebounds. Her kicking efficiency - though penetrating and capable of being used on both sides of her body - let her down at times, though is an area that can be further improved going forward.

Her technique kicking looks efficient, it is just about the precision of hitting the targets more so than kicking to space with her penetrating boot. When she stepped up to VFLW level for the GWS Giants, Prosser-Shaw looked impressive off a wing, kicking a goal as well and more than at home against senior opponents. It shouldn't come as a surprise given her experience through the AFL Sydney, but the Giants young gun assimilated perfectly.

SUMMARY:

Amelie Prosser-Shaw is a really valuable mid-draft option with room for upside, but also having the readymade traits to have an impact now as she did at VFLW level. A member of the Giants Academy, expect GWS to take a real close look at her, but no doubt other AFLW clubs will be sniffing around to see if they can add an athletic tall utility to their list.

DRAFT RANGE: 25-50

 

[Giant Strides]

Allies Girls / Midfielder

#29 Ellie Hall​

Height: 174cm
D.O.B: 07-07-2006
Leagues: Coates Talent League Girls, AFLW U18 Championships

STRENGTHS:

• Kicking
• Aerial ability
• Endurance
• Contested work
• Defensive pressure
• Production

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Athleticism
• One-on-ones

PROFILE:

Not everyone wins an MVP at Under 16s level and seems to fly under the radar, but that was the case for talented tall Ellie Hall. The Giants Academy member was incredible two years ago at the National Development Championships, but an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear put a line through her 2023 season. Returning to the fold in 2024, she tore up the track dominating the preseason yo-yo testing, and repeated the effort in the 2km time trial at the recent State Draft Combine.

Hall is a fairly easy prospect to profile with some clear strengths and deficiencies in her game. Endurance is obviously a major strength of the Murray Bushrangers midfielder/defender, and her production - which saw her average 26.6 disposals, 5.6 marks and 6.4 tackles in 2024 - is among the best outside the top-end prospects. Hall herself deserves to be in the conversation for a top 30 spot, and should land not too far outside that range.

Her work inside the contest and accumulation is outstanding even though for an inside midfielder she does not win a stack of clearances. That is largely due to the fact Hall is not athletic and therefore does not possess the breakaway speed of others. That, along with her one-on-ones against athletic marking forwards can also be an improvement, but her defensive pressure at ground level is elite.

DRAFT RANGE: 30-50

 

[Giant Strides]

Allies Girls / Medium Forward

#9 Ashley Patton​

Height: 170cm
D.O.B: 26-09-2006
Leagues: Coates Talent League Girls, AFLW U18 Championships

STRENGTHS:

• Kicking
• Class
• Goal sense
• Evasion
• Footy IQ
• Upside

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Consistency
• Endurance

PROFILE:

On upside, Ash Patton has plenty of traits that will get AFLW clubs excited. Her use by foot in particular stands out on the field, with each touch often coming with a touch of class. She has predominantly played as a forward, and that high half-forward role is calling the Canberra local given her strengths and how she can impact games.

With ball in hand, Patton can be incredibly damaging, especially with any time and space. She scans the field and is a slippery customer when it comes to winning the ball and evading the opposition. She possesses some nice footy IQ - considering she has tried most spots in the past - and is able to either hit targets or put the ball into advantageous positions for her teammates.

When inside 50, Patton has the goal sense to make the most of her chances, and though through the AFLW Under 18 Championships those chances were limited due to the Allies struggling, she has shown over the course of the past 18 months that she knows where the goals are. Patton averaged a goal a game for the Giants across her three games last year and this year at Coates Talent League level.

However that consistency both within games and week to week is still a work in progress. It is not like her profile has any massive glaring weakness, but rather just building on her consistency, which will also come with a higher aerobic capacity. She tested okay in the 2km time trial at the State Draft Combine, but as she noted preseason, will need to improve to run with the best players at AFLW level.

Patton has only had a year to focus fully on her football despite playing it for over a decade. What she has to offer are a variety of weapons, particularly when in attacking transition. She can score herself or set others up, and that high half-forward role is really in vogue at the top level for the AFL Women's.

SUMMARY:

Ash Patton is a high upside prospect with the skills and smarts to make it at the top level. She has had limited top level experience compared to some others, but has still shown enough to suggest she can match it with the top group in this draft class. If she can continue to work on her endurance and therefore build her consistency, she will have sustained impact and fulfill the potential that she has showed over the course of the last couple of seasons.

DRAFT RANGE: 20-40

 

[Giant Strides]

A few more of the contenders for our #3 pick have writeups in here:

Father-daughter stars, Academy jets surge in super draft: Top 20 AFLW Power Rankings

Father-daughter stars, Academy jets surge in super draft: Top 20 AFLW Power Rankings

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Was assuming that we would just take one of the WA girls at pick 3 and would be happy with either O'Hehir or Fish. But according to Sarah Black from afl.com even if Fish is still available at pick 3 we won't take her which makes absolutely no sense.

O'Hehir is in demand at the pointy end. Publicly, Melbourne is weighing up either O'Hehir or Fish at pick two, and clubs are tying themselves in knots trying to work out which way it'll go. There's no chance O'Hehir will slip beyond GWS at three.

Melbourne at pick No.2 is a serious option, but Fish is unlikely to land in New South Wales, with GWS and Sydney holding picks three and four. Won't slip past Carlton at pick No.5.

Unfortunately for Belloni, her placement is set to be dictated by selections above her. GWS at three is an option if O'Hehir is no longer available, while Sydney (four), Carlton (five) and West Coast (six) will also be in the mix.

Sarah Black's 20 players to watch at the 2024 AFLW Draft

AFLW expert Sarah Black looks at some of the top prospects ahead of the AFLW Draft on Monday night

www.afl.com.au

 

[dlanod]

Was assuming that we would just take one of the WA girls at pick 3 and would be happy with either O'Hehir or Fish. But according to Sarah Black from afl.com even if Fish is still available at pick 3 we won't take her which makes absolutely no sense.

Sarah Black's 20 players to watch at the 2024 AFLW Draft

AFLW expert Sarah Black looks at some of the top prospects ahead of the AFLW Draft on Monday night

www.afl.com.au

If a player is noted to be skipped by both of a state's teams back to back it makes you go hmmmm...

 

[Giant Strides]

... guess she doesn't want to go interstate.

At least to NSW.

Shame, she would be perfect for us.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

If a player is noted to be skipped by both of a state's teams back to back it makes you go hmmmm...

 

[captainMyCaptain]

So just two picks tonight in pick 3 and 21

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Both Sarah Black from afl.com, and Eliza Reilly from Codesports has us going with Belloni if O’Hehir isn't available.
So hopefully Melbourne goes with Zippy if we are not going to select her which will allow us to get O’Hehir, who is a clear top 5 talent in this draft. But if we end up going with Belloni that would be a significant reach at pick 3.

 

[Giant Strides]

Both Sarah Black from afl.com, and Eliza Reilly from Codesports has us going with Belloni if O’Hehir isn't available.
So hopefully Melbourne goes with Zippy if we are not going to select her which will allow us to get O’Hehir, who is a clear top 5 talent in this draft. But if we end up going with Belloni that would be a significant reach at pick 3.

Yes, let's hope for that. We need the talent.

What are your thoughts on our second pick? Are we going to get any of the GWS Academy girls, or simply take best available? They are all rated later than our pick.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Yes, let's hope for that. We need the talent.

What are your thoughts on our second pick? Are we going to get any of the GWS Academy girls, or simply take best available? They are all rated later than our pick.

I suspect we will go local but personally would rather we went best available.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Riley Beveridge just said if we miss out on O’Hehir we will go Sara Howley and if that's the case I would be pretty happy with that.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Riley Beveridge just said if we miss out on O’Hehir we will go Sara Howley and if that's the case I would be pretty happy with that.

Thankfully Riley was on the money and Howley is a great selection

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[Joshawk23]

Interesting that swans took fish, seems like shes a flight risk

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Listening to Zippy talk after being selected by the swans its easy to see how she was seen as a flight risk.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Interesting that swans took fish, seems like shes a flight risk

Agree and given how her dad is coming over with her it's clear a move interstate is pretty overwhelming to her.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Another nice selection in Grace Martin and that's us done for the night and we made no local selections.

 

[Giant Strides]

Sara Howley Draft Profile

Sara Howley is an explosive midfielder who impacts games through her repeat contests and skills consistently and at a high production.

central.rookieme.com

SNAPSHOT: “A ball magnet with elite consistency, Howley boasts explosive speed and nice skills that allow her to impact both inside and outside the contest across multiple levels.”

Producing an incredible 2024 season that backed up her bottom-age campaign, Sara Howley has an accolade-filled trophy cabinet. With multiple Geelong Falcons best and fairests, Vic Country’s MVP, back-to-back All-Australian and Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Year honours, and both the league best and fairest and Rookie Me Central Medal last year, there is little she has not accomplished.

Howley is surprisingly a latecomer to football by many of her peer’s standards despite growing up in a footballing household. She supported Geelong throughout her life, though only took the on-field plunge at age 12. Having previously played both netball and athletics, she made the switch with some friends and never looked back.

One of the exclusive club that has spent four years in the Coates Talent League Girls system, Howley played two games as a triple bottom-ager in a side that would go on to reach the grand final. Though a far throw from the dominant ball-winning player she is today, Howley got a taste for what was to come.

As soon as she locked into the Geelong Falcons side, she never looked back, averaging 18.2 disposals, 3.7 marks and 3.7 rebounds per game, often mopping up behind the ball. Last year marked a move to a far more offensive role, where Howley blew up the stats sheet to averaged 32 touches, four marks, five tackles and 6.1 inside 50s per game, all while slotting 12 goals.

Playing all three Vic Country games as a bottom-ager, Howley earned All-Australian honours on the wing where she worked hard across the ground. She repeated that dose 12 months later in the recent national carnival, while winning Vic Country’s MVP in a star-studded midfield.

It came as no surprise that Howley, an AFLW Academy member as well, would earn a National Draft Combine invite, and loom as a potential Top 10 pick. One of the more pure midfielders – who has had a taste outside the middle – Howley is a reliable and consistent ball-winner who has a nice balance of smarts and speed.

STRENGTHS:

• Explosive speed
• Run-and-carry
• Production
• Footy IQ
• Consistency
• Kicking
• Offensive impact

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Defensive pressure
• Strength

PROFILE:

It is difficult to know where to start when it comes to Sara Howley and her strengths. From an athleticism perspective, Howley is explosively quick, while also having great awareness to evade opponents when in full flight. Though she does not test as well as someone with her explosive speed should, it goes to show that Howley gets up to top speed when already in motion rather than at a standing start over the first few metres.

Once she gets going, she is gone, and is clearly one of the quickest players in the draft crop, with her ability to transition from defence to offence in the blink of an eye - usually winning multiple possessions in the process - is sensational. A predominant second possession winner, Howley's gamestyle went to another level at the national carnival.

Though her dominant means of winning possession is via handball receives - as shown through the Coates Talent League Girls where she won 47.2 per cent of her possessions via the method and 34.7 per cent via groundballs - that all changed when she donned the 'Big V'. In a star-studded midfield, Howley played a huge team role often winning a fair chunk of first-possession football and getting more in at the coalface.

Her contested possession rate rose from 42.2 for the Falcons, to 55.8 per cent for Vic Country. Along with that, her groundballs and handball receive rates switched, instead winning 41.9 per cent of her possessions off the deck, and just 33.7 per cent by hand. While it might seem like a lot of numbers to comprehend, essentially, Howley won similar amount of touches at both levels, but showed her first-possession game at the national championships.

It helps that the talented midfielder is a smart footballer who uses the ball well. She can kick the ball long, but is predominantly one to chip kick on short, sharp angles and prioritise ball retention. She then buys time to run forward, receive it back then drive the ball long or release a teammate by hand after drawing an opponent.

Her offensive output is sensational, and even her defensive running - which at times was a little hit and miss over the last 18 months - improved throughout her top-age season. Howley's main areas of improvement lie in her strength and defensive pressure still, with her tackling numbers very solid across the board, but her intent can still got to another level, which will also help with greater strength, especially against bigger-bodied AFLW players.

As a whole, for production and consistency, few have been able to accomplish what Howley has over the past three seasons, and particularly two. Despite setting a high bar for herself off a glittering bottom-age campaign, Howley went to another level particularly in her gamestyle and looms as a good choice for a club in the Top 10.

SUMMARY:

Sara Howley is a wonderfully balanced player in terms of her athleticism and football smarts. She covers the ground well, uses the ball effectively and has explosive speed to win repeat possessions. Her game developed further in 2024, and though always around the Top 10 mark, the Falcons talent looms as a sure thing to be taken in the first dozen picks.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[Giant Strides]

Grace Martin Draft Profile

central.rookieme.com

SNAPSHOT: “Martin’s 2024 campaign was nothing short of sensational, identifying some of her more pressing weaknesses such as speed and decision making, and turning them into weapons to add to a really consistent all-round game.”

Each year the AFLW Draft has feel-good stories of players who have knuckled down and really identified their weaknesses or shortcomings as a bottom-ager, then honed in on improving them over the off-season. Grace Martin is one of those players, with the utility always been a really good player, but transformed into a genuine star in 2024.

Taking away any ego from her own self performance, Martin worked on the areas of her game she needed to, in order to not only compete, but to go above and beyond. By the end of her top-age season, the Woodville-West Torrens talent would become an All-Australian at AFLW Under 18s level and really show recruiters what she can do if given the chance.

Martin started her career at the popular SMOSH West Lakes and progressed into the Eagles’ squad under coach Narelle Smith. From early on, Martin was identified as a player with plenty of weapons such as her strength, kicking and groundballs, all while having a fierce defensive hardness to her game.

Over the last three seasons at SANFLW level, Martin has played as a forward, then midfielder, then defender, really being as versatile as possible. While the Eagles have struggled results wise, Martin has developed alongside the likes of Shineah Goody and Jemma Charity who both had starred through the junior ranks.

With both departing the club as permanent members – Goody to Port Adelaide, Charity to North Adelaide – Martin stepped up to become the top-age prospect to watch. Aside from an unfortunate concussion mid-year just as her form was heating up, Martin produced a really strong season at SANFLW level, averaging 16.5 disposals, 5.2 tackles, 3.5 clearances and 3.7 inside 50s.

From there, Martin backed it up by representing the Croweaters with terrific success, largely playing out of the backline, but also spending some time on-ball and impacting in scoring chains going forward. Though South Australia fell short of a third straight title, Martin caught the eye and became an All-Australian.

STRENGTHS:

• Contested work
• Groundballs
• Strength
• Versatility
• Clean skills
• Defensive pressure

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Four-quarter consistency
• Composure

PROFILE:

Grace Martin is a really well-balanced player who while not having necessarily elite traits compared to some others, her areas of improvement are also far less impactful to the way she plays than others. What some consider the 'floor' or minimum ability to contribute, Martin's is higher than most given her attitude and attributes she applies each and every time she goes out on the field.

Martin's versatility is definitely a major element of her game. She has successfully played as a forward, midfielder and defender, winning All-Australian honours in the latter despite being more well versed in the two former. Her kicking skills are very good and she makes good decisions when in time and space. By hand in close or around the ground, Martin can play a linking role, and while not explosive, the South Australian has significantly improved her speed.

On the latter point, Martin finished her bottom-age season with speed being the main question mark on her game. Working alongside Daniel Menzel at the Eagles, Martin built up her power through her legs to turn her speed from a weakness into a element that would not hold her back. She only needed to improve that little extra considering her strength that enables her to breakthrough tackles and get her hands free to dispose of the ball cleanly.

Martin herself sees her groundlevel work as her greatest strengths, taking the ball cleanly and without a backwards step in close. She attacks the contest hard, wins it and feeds it out to teammates or bombs the ball forward to clear the danger zone. While her composure in those situations is an area that can further improve, the majority of her game when in the midfield is well-rounded in the sense that she can win first or second possessions in scoring chains, and facilitate or distribute when going forward.

The other element of Martin's game that stands out is her defensive pressure. Her tackling numbers have risen each year in the SANFLW and while others might have crazier tackling stats, Martin is often the one getting to the ball first, or locking it up to reset at stoppages. Her courage both in the air and at ground level is undeniable, and she defines toughness with the way she plays.

Her decision making and footy IQ were areas she wanted to improve on entering her top-age season, and she turned them into borderline strengths if anything. With ball in hand - other than in congested situations - she uses the ball consistently well and is able to retain possession for her side with her decisions. Her work in analysing the game more throughly paid off.

While we touched on her composure with ball in hand, that is largely centred around when under pressure. In time once she has had the confidence to use her improved speed, she will be able to have that extra split second to dispose of it, and have the same impact with the pill as she does around the ground.

Off the top it was mentioned Martin does not have too many weaknesses that hold back her game and this is true. However four-quarter consistency is another area where the South Australian could further round out her game. In the national championships, she had two disposals to half-time against Vic Metro, before having an 18-disposal second half. In some SANFLW games she will often start in a blaze of glory and fade out, or pop up for a quarter or a half and be everywhere.

The above can be contributed to both being thrown around in different positions, but also will come with more experience and is nothing new to top-age prospects. Her best is very good, and while inside work can often go unrecognised at times, Martin is more than capable on the outside to impact as well.

SUMMARY:

Grace Martin is a really well-rounded player who can fill out on all three lines. In a talented South Australian squad, Martin found her niche at half-back and arguably played the same role that her former teammate Jemma Charity played 12 months earlier for the same All-Australian rewards. Martin’s performance floor is very high, and you know exactly what you are going to get. Her improvements have put her firmly in the draft frame and expect different clubs to have different opinions as to where her best role might lie.

 

[Joshawk23]

Another year and another no academy talents, we have 3 list spots, resign Newman draft Prosser Shaw and Patton, last year we had 2 girls leave in buttifant and mel staunton(MVP and giants female academy player of the year) whats with the disregard of the academy

 

[dlanod]

Another year and another no academy talents, we have 3 list spots, resign Newman draft Prosser Shaw and Patton, last year we had 2 girls leave in buttifant and mel staunton(MVP and giants female academy player of the year) whats with the disregard of the academy

What's with the academy not producing draftable talent would be more accurate.

It's a national draft now. The girls are up against players getting picked with top 20 picks. You don't pick academy players just because, unless you want to continue to be mired in mediocrity - but it does suggest the academy may require a review.

Having said that it'd be tough. Most of the best girls underage players come from the eastern suburbs, and from what I gather (secondhand) girls footy isn't as big a thing in the Riverina or Canberra who are really propping up our boys academy.

 

[Giant Strides]

AFL.COM.AU take on our draftees:

Bolters, sliders, steals: How did your club go in the AFLW Draft?

Who did your club pick up at Monday night's Telstra AFLW Draft? Gemma Bastiani takes a look at the comp's newest players

www.afl.com.au

Players selected: Sara Howley (pick No.4), Grace Martin (pick No.22)

A hard-nosed midfielder, Sara Howley will slot in nicely alongside the likes of Alyce Parker and Bec Beeson around the contest. On the radar of multiple clubs, it is Howley's clean hands and ability to transition from inside the contest to the outside that makes her so dangerous, and will complement the Giants' desire to run and carry the footy into attack. Meanwhile Grace Martin is the definition of a mid-sized utility. At 163cm, she can win plenty of the footy when playing through the midfield, but takes like a duck to water no matter where she is thrown on the field. She was among the best players when selected for the U23 All Stars side earlier in the year, and her versatility will be essential to the Giants' in-game flexibility.