IN a new exciting collaborative countdown, the Draft Central has teamed up with other independent media organisations to bring a 2022 AFL Women’s Top 50 Countdown. Every weekday from now until December 17, a new player will be named starting from 50th down to 1st, stemming from a combined eight Top 50 submissions. Among those who submitted Top 50s include Siren Sport‘s Gemma Bastiani, Women’s Australian Rules Football (WARF) Radio‘s Peter Holden, and a combined Outer Sanctum team’s Top 50.

Today we continue our countdown with number 44, Brisbane Women’s Breanna Koenen.

Breanna Koenen

Brisbane

League/s: AFLW

Season/s: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, S7, 2023, 2024

• Games [tot]: 76

• Goals [tot]: 3

• Disposals [avg]: 10.7

• Marks [avg]: 2.8

• Tackles [avg]: 2.5

• Cont. Poss: 4.8

• Uncont. Poss: 5.4

• Clearances: 1

• Inside 50s: 1

• Rebound 50s: 1.7

Breanna Koenen is another player who often flies under the radar when talking about foundation players, but the talented Brisbane defender has played 37 games across five seasons and is preparing for another big year. She has not missed a beat since coming to the club, and played all 11 games for the Lions, winning a premiership medal last season. Crucially, her consistency over the five years has seen her averaged between 10 to 12 disposals in the past four seasons, and establish herself in the defensive half of the ground.

In 2021, Koenen averaged more than two rebound 50s per game, but still averaged an inside 50 per match as well, showcasing her ability to get the ball moving in transition. Whilst her overall tackle count may have dropped, she found the ball in her hands more often, and she was able to get more movement out of defence, and another key reason why the Lions were able to go on to win the flag. Critically, it is Koenen’s ability to lockdown opponents such as Erin Phillips to play an unheralded but vital role in the defensive 50. In a premiership year, Koenen finished third in the Lions’ best and fairest, rewarding her efforts for the season.

Out of the eight lists, Koenen made her way onto five of them including one inside the Top 30, signalling her importance. Set to turn 27 on New Year’s Eve, there is little doubt Koenen still has plenty left in her, and as a Foundation Lion, she will be looking to remain one of the on-field leaders in the absence of experience retiring such as Emma Zielke.

DRAFT CENTRAL’S 2022 AFL WOMEN’S TOP 50

#50 Ash Brazill(Collingwood) | ARTICLE
#49 Tayla Harris (Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#48 Courtney Hodder (Brisbane) | ARTICLE
#47 Eden Zanker (Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#46 Kirsty Lamb (Western Bulldogs) | ARTICLE
#45 Tyanna Smith (St Kilda) | ARTICLE
#44 Breanna Koenen (Brisbane)

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Picture credit: Brisbane Lions