Draft Central’s 2020 Top 50 AFLW Players: #10 – Olivia Purcell
WITH the AFL Women’s 2020 season officially come to a close now the awards are done and dusted, Draft Central looks back on our Top 50 Players of season 2020. This countdown purely looks at the 2020 season so does not look at past performances and will not include injured stars such Erin Phillips or Chelsea Randall.
In this edition, we enter the top 10 in our count, with a rising star of the competition who took her game to the next level in 2020 to slot in among the elites.
#10 OLIVIA PURCELL
6 GAMES AVE: 20.2 disposals, 1.8 marks, 3.2 tackles, 5 clearances, 2 rebound 50s, 2.5 inside 50s, 0.6 goals (4)
Geelong may have taken a step back from its 2019 finals berth with a 2-4 effort in 2020, but that did little to stop many young Cats from making a huge step in their development. At the forefront was Purcell, who backed up an impressive debut campaign where she finished second in Geelong’s best and fairest, to go one better this year in earning top honours.
Arguably Geelong’s leading midfielder, Purcell was a standout in all six of the Cats’ AFL Women’s outings, working both ways from the middle of the park and particularly impressing going forward. Having led the club for disposals, metres gained, contested possessions, clearances, score involvements and inside 50s, Purcell capped off her big season by being named at half-forward in the All Australian side.
The 19-year-old has somewhat been underrated given the talent of her draft crop – see Madison Prespakis and closer to home, Nina Morrison – but that is no more. After managing a season-high 27 disposals in Round 1 against the competition’s best side, Purcell did not drop below 16 disposals in her six games to be the only Cat to average over 20 overall, while also finding the goals in half of those appearances.
A real driver of the ball from the stoppages, Purcell has broken the shell of a more defensive midfield role in her first year, to become the prime ball winner in Geelong’s side. Her work rate is still phenomenal on either side though, making a bonafide star of the competition and one who may well project into the top five in future.
Paterson excited for new challenges at Port Adelaide
WEST AUSTRALIAN midfielder Lily Paterson will move across the country to join Port Adelaide after being taken with their first pick of the 2024 AFLW Draft. The 18-year-old joins a number of Port Adelaide players who originated in Western Australia, such as Gemma Houghton, Abbey Dowrick and Jasmin Stewart. With players on the list having […]
Effects of the nationalisation of the AFLW Draft: a case study ft. GWS
THE 2024 AFL Women’s Draft was a historic one for the competition, with the first truly national draft taking place. With the way that the draft has been run in the past and the varying strengths of the various state competitions across the country, this change to a truly national draft has obviously some clubs […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: Western Bulldogs
FILLING out some key position needs at the 2024 AFLW Draft while picking a couple of Oakleigh Chargers premiership players proved to be the strategy for the Western Bulldogs. The Dogs managed to grab a much needed forward target to partner up with Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, as well as an experienced ruck, and gut-running midfielder. >> […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: West Coast
WEST Coast capitalised on a truly National AFLW Draft by picking up four players outside of Western Australia. Two Victorians and two South Australians made their way to the blue and gold, with strength and pressure key elements for the Eagles at this year’s AFLW Draft. >> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Recap DRAFT HAUL […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: Sydney
WITH a large gap between its first and second selections, Sydney opted for a trio of familiar faces with its last three picks after grabbing one of the fastest players in the AFLW Draft at Pick 5. >> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Recap DRAFT HAUL National Draft: 5. Zippy Fish55. Amelia Martin58. Caitlin Reid59. […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: St Kilda
AFTER trading out its first round selection on AFLW Trade Deadline Day, St Kilda headed into the AFLW Draft with the three selections, and just one inside the Top 50. They secured an athletic tall out of the Dandenong Stingrays, as well as an ultimate utility, and and ex-Gold Coast Suns top 20 pick. >> […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: Richmond
BEEFING up its power and inside midfield, Richmond added some serious talent to its young brigade with two first round picks, before drafting the player it failed to secure during the AFLW Trade Period, with the selection it likely offered up to begin with anyway. >> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Recap DRAFT HAUL National […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: Port Adelaide
IT WAS another active AFLW Draft for Port Adelaide, with the South Australian side adding five top-age players across four states to its list. By doing so, the Power filled a variety of positional needs and look to continue their rise up the ladder in 2025. >> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Recap DRAFT HAUL […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: North Melbourne
NORTH Melbourne traded out of the first round in the 2024 AFL Women’s Draft but somehow still grabbed a top talent with Pick 36, before turning its attention to an Irishwoman to add to the Roos’ strong Gaelic flavour at the club. >> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Recap DRAFT HAUL National Draft: 36. Claire […]
