IN a new series focusing on the up and coming AFL Women’s Draft hopefuls, we take a look at some names who would be among their respective states’ top draft prospects for the 2020 AFL Women’s Draft.

Next under the microscope is Gold Coast Suns Academy talent, Daisy D’Arcy who showed some really promising signs in her middle-age year last year for Queensland at the AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships, then lit up the track at the state pre-season testing event. However she has a massive decision to make with FOUR – not a typo – sports she has reached state level within a pathway system.

Daisy D’Arcy (Gold Coast Suns Academy/Queensland)

Height: 163cm
Position: Utility
Strengths: Footy smarts, skills, decision making, versatility, consistency

2019 Under 18 National Championships stats: 3 games | 9.3 disposals | 0.7 marks | 2.0 tackles | 1.0 rebounds | 1 goal

So much is spoken about players who have a decision to make as a dual sport athlete at an elite level. Many players come through playing a couple of sports and really dominating and then are forced to give it up. Not many come through and seem to be among the best in their state at three sports let alone four. That is exactly the case with Gold Coast Suns Academy member and Queensland talent, Daisy D’Arcy. The 163cm player has reached state level in not only Australian rules football, but rugby, soccer and cricket as well. From all reports up in Townsville where she resides, D’Arcy has a smorgasbord of options when it comes to what she is capable of following in the future.

Speaking strictly about her footballing ability, D’Arcy is a clever small who can play just about anywhere on the ground. She averaged nine touches, a couple of tackles and a rebound at last year’s AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships, while booting a goal after outsmarting her opponent. Queensland might not have had the most successful carnival last year – especially compared to the huge one 12 months prior – but D’Arcy was among a heap of young talent coming through. Assuming the 2020 addition gets up, one would expect the talented teenager to have more a role through the midfield after spending time at either end in 2019 given the strength of the Sunshine State’s onball brigade, such as future AFL Women’s players Ellie Hampson and Lily Postlethwaite among others.

When speaking to Draft Central at last year’s championships, the middle-ager spoke of her love for both Australian rules and rugby as her two main sports, though it is clear her entry into the Queensland Academy of Sport for her soccer, and her ability to play in the Townsville Super Sixes competition earlier this year show that she is capable of anything. What she chooses will be interesting, but it is no surprise that her footy smarts, decision making and skills were among some her top traits at last year’s carnival. By her own admission, her greatest strength is reliability, happy to play the team game and play a role. What role that will be, in what code is yet to be seen, but when it comes to sporting talent, D’Arcy is up there with the most versatile at the elite junior level.