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 continue the club-by-club reviews with Brisbane.

#18 Maggie Harmer (Medium Defender) 12/04/2003 | 170cm Maroochydore / Queensland

Tipped to be the Lions’ first selection, Harmer comes straight out of their Academy and has put together some terrific form in 2021. Whilst she only got the one AFLW Under 19 Championships game to play, Harmer’s work both for Queensland and Maroochydore over a body of work showed that she was more than capable of stepping up. With high-level athleticism and powerful running, Harmer could develop into a half-back for the Lions, or push up and play a wing role, with the tendencies to go inside if required. She is clean and a good user by hand or foot, so expect her to be a player that quickly adapts to senior level and has an impact for Brisbane.

MAGGIE HARMER CONTENT:

>> Draft hopeful Harmer looks of find the best of both worlds >> QAFLW Player Focus: Maggie Harmer and Bella Smith (Maroochydore/Brisbane Lions Academy) >> AFLW Draft Positional Analysis: Tall/Medium Defenders

#35 Bella Smith (Inside Midfielder) 05/10/2003 | 167cm Maroochydore / Queensland

To complement Harmer’s outside running ability, Smith provides that inside grunt that has seen her become one of the top hardened midfielders in the AFLW Draft pool. Clean on the inside with a nice burst to create separation out of the stoppages, Smith is a natural contested ball winner, and one who could slot straight into the team at AFLW level. It provides the Lions with more depth through the inside, with Smith no doubt set to add more strings to her bow such as more outside ball-winning capabilities. One of three past or present Maroochydore prospects to join the Lions after being in their Academy, Smith had a really strong 2021 season.

BELLA SMITH CONTENT:

>> Smith taking things “week by week” >> QAFLW Player Focus: Maggie Harmer and Bella Smith (Maroochydore/Brisbane Lions Academy)

#46 Mikayla Pauga (Medium Forward) 10/04/2003 | 161cm Bond University / Queensland

A clean and dangerous forward, Pauga is the third player to have come through Maroochydore’s program in the past few years. Having made the move to Bond University under the Riewoldt Family Scholarship of Excellence, Pauga opted to remain in the Brisbane nomination pool and the Lions were happy to snap her up. Having overcome a couple of spinal fractures in her bottom-age year, Pauga put together a terrific 2021 season for Bond Uni in the QAFL Women’s, playing as a high half-forward. Her endurance is an area to work on, but her natural football smarts, goal sense and creativity in the forward half comes to the fore and Pauga will be an exciting player to watch for many years. MIKAYLA PAUGA CONTENT: >> Pauga overcomes injuries and adapts to change ahead of AFLW Draft >> QAFLW Player Focus: Mikayla Pauga (Bond University) >> QAFLW Player Focus: Mikayla Pauga leads from the front in electric performance

#53 Luka Yoshida-Martin (Small Forward) University of Queensland / Queensland

Everyone loves a left-field pick, and Brisbane’s certainly came in the form of ex-soccer player Luka Yoshida-Martin. A small forward who only took up Australian rules football in 2019, played a stellar role in University of Queensland’s QAFL Women’s premiership. Her effort as a small forward impressed enough for the Lions to call-up the 20-year-old to the AFLW list. Boasting impressive game sense, a knack for goals and some high upside, Yoshida-Martin is viewed as a prospect who can do a lot of damage inside 50 and could take another giant leap in development in an elite program.

#58 Lucinda Pullar (Medium Defender) 02/07/1998 Bond University / Queensland

Another cross-coder who has only pulled on the boots for a few years, Pullar is a former Brisbane Roar representative who made the transition into Australian rules. Initially a part of the Queensland Emerging Talent Squad in 2019, and then earning a 2020 AFLW Draft Combine invite last year, the ex-soccer player finally got her chance to step up to AFLW level after an impressive showing as a defender. Potentially able to play further up the field, it was her one-on-ones and elite level athleticism that caught the eye of Brisbane recruiters, prompting them to pull the trigger and add the Bond University talent to their senior list.

DRAFT SUMMARY:

Brisbane selected three of their talented Academy members with the first three selections, taking in Harmer, Smith and Pauga who could play three different roles for the club and cover each third on the ground. They then opted for a couple of fast-developing ex-soccer players with the final two selections, making it a mix of experience and athleticism. A couple of Academy members to miss out include the versatile Abby Hewett, and State captain Christine Okesene who will both continue to push for a spot on a list in the coming years.