IN a new exciting collaborative countdown, Rookie Me 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 20, Melbourne Women’s Lauren Pearce.

Lauren Pearce

Melbourne

League/s: AFLW, Vflw

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

• Games [tot]: 77

• Goals [tot]: 13

• Disposals [avg]: 12.7

• Marks [avg]: 1.9

• Tackles [avg]: 2.6

• Cont. Poss: 7.3

• Uncont. Poss: 3.3

• Hitouts: 17.3

• Clearances: 2.8

• Inside 50s: 1.2

• Rebound 50s: 0.8

An inaugural Dee, Pearce has been a critical cog in the Demons’ centre bounce mix since day one and has been vital in the Demons’ continued sustained success.

Despite being one of, if not the, premier ruck of the competition, Pearce seems to have slipped under the radar in eyes of some, including the All-Australian selectors, having only made the All-Australian team once, in 2019.

After an injury curtailed her 2020 campaign, Pearce was able to return around about her best form in 2021.

Although she only averaged 14.5 hitouts in 2021, it was her second best season on record. Only 2019 saw her have a higher average hitout count at 19.8. She also had a higher average disposal count this season just gone of 14.4, as compared to her previous best of 12.7.

She is also able to win the ball off her own ruckwork, is versatile around the ground and can play like an extra midfielder, giving the Demons quite an advantage as compared to having a traditional ruck in Pearce’s place.

Pearce’s experience and leadership were recognised through her promotion to the Demons’ leadership group for the 2022 season.

In relation to this countdown, Pearce was an almost unanimous choice on everyone’s list, with everyone bar one including her in their top 50. One person ranked her as high as second, while someone else ranked her as low as 32nd. Most people ranked her at either 21st or 22nd, which saw her finish in 20th in this countdown.

ROOKIE ME 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) | ARTICLE
#43 Dana Hooker (West Coast) | ARTICLE
#42 Georgie Prespakis (Geelong) | ARTICLE
#41 Breann Moody (Carlton) | ARTICLE
#40 Hayley Miller (Fremantle) | ARTICLE
#39 Emma King (North Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#38 Dakota Davidson (Brisbane) | ARTICLE
#37 Meghan McDonald (Geelong) | ARTICLE
#36 Stacey Livingstone (Collingwood) | ARTICLE
#35 Daisy Pearce (Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#34 Rebecca Beeson (GWS) | ARTICLE
#33 Sarah Allan (Adelaide) | ARTICLE
#32 Kerryn Harrington (Carlton) | ARTICLE
#31 Janelle Cuthbertson (Fremantle) | ARTICLE
#30 Emily Bates (Brisbane) | ARTICLE
#29 Katie Brennan (Richmond) | ARTICLE
#28 Gemma Houghton (Fremantle) | ARTICLE
#27 Kate Hore (Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#26 Ellie McKenzie (Richmond) | ARTICLE
#25 Ruby Schleicher (Collingwood) | ARTICLE
#24 Ash Riddell (North Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#23 Ally Anderson (Brisbane) | ARTICLE
#22 Brittany Bonnici (Collingwood) | ARTICLE
#21 Darcy Vescio (Carlton) | ARTICLE
#20 Lauren Pearce (Melbourne)

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