NOW the AFL Women’s Draft is done and dusted, Draft Central will review each club’s draft hand, and provide supporters with all the content they need to know about the latest additions to their AFL Women’s programs. We start the club-by-club reviews with Adelaide.

#17 Zoe Prowse (Ruck) 03/07/2003 | 177cm Sturt / South Australia

The top talent in South Australia, Prowse has been a member of the AFL Women’s Academy for a number of years so it was no surprise to see her name read out first for this year’s draft. Standing at 177cm, Prowse is able to use her athleticism and footy smarts to her advantage to win plenty of hitouts to advantage, but she is also just as clever at ground level. Prowse could end up becoming a midfielder at AFLW level to force her way into a pretty strong Crows lineup, but she has played forward as well indicating her versatility. Her defensive pressure at ground level, and aerial ability never come into question, and the Crows have yet another outstanding talent on their hands.

ZOE PROWSE CONTENT:

>> Prowse set for a positional change in 2021 >> Prowse excels from being thrown into key role >> AFLW Draft Positional Analysis: Rucks

#20 Brooke Tonon (Medium Defender/Wing) 19/09/2003 | 166cm Glenelg / South Australia

Tonon’s drafting caps off a remarkable rise from the talented teenager, who went from playing a bit of everywhere in her debut season last year in the SANFL Women’s, to becoming a premier half-back for Glenelg in the Bays’ premiership season. A key cog running out of defence and pushing up to a wing, Tonon just uses the ball so well, reads it in flight and shows great courage around the ground. Her ability to make great decisions with ball-in-hand not only put her into draft projections, but selected as the second player overall in the South Australian pool. Whilst still light, Tonon packs a punch, and she will be one that teammates love to get the ball in the hands of, and once she irons out some composure, she will be a terrific player.

BROOKE TONON CONTENT:

>> “Tenacious” Tonon shows massive development >> SANFLW Player Focus: Brooke Tonon (Glenelg) >> AFLW Draft Positional Analysis: Tall/Medium Defenders

#34 Abbie Ballard (Small Midfielder/Forward) 16/04/2002 | 159cm West Adelaide / South Australia

Much like her West Adelaide teammate Rachelle Martin last year, Ballard did not get picked up in her draft year, but went back to work and did not drop her head to earn a spot a year later as a 19-year-old. There is not much of the small midfielder/forward at 159cm, but she is someone who attacks he contest ferociously, and never backs down. She has a potent left foot she can use to slice up opposition defensive zones, and her contested ball winning skills are superb. Clean at ground level and makes the right decisions, Ballard led the Westies into the SANFL Women’s Grand Final as acting captain and is a player who does exactly what coaches love – the team thing – which is something you can expect from the pocket rocket at AFLW level. ABBIE BALLARD CONTENT: >> Ballard ready to take next step >> AFLW U18s to Watch: Abbie Ballard (West Adelaide/South Australia)

DRAFT SUMMARY:

Adelaide was able to dictate its own hand in the AFL Women’s Draft, selecting the three players it wanted with its three selections. The Crows had a smorgasbord of talented players to pick from, and in the end opted for three utilities – tall, medium and small – emphasising the importance to play various roles at the elite level. It meant that by selecting these three, the likes of AFL Women’s Academy member Gypsy Schirmer and All-Australian Zoe Venning missed out, though there is little doubt that with their determination they will get their chance at the top level, be it through an injury top-up or additional selection this year, or in the coming years through expansion.