IN a new weekly piece on Rookie Me Central, we will be honing in on those players to remember for the AFLW Draft, present and future. With four new AFLW clubs joining the competition, spots will heat up, and players will be looking to put their best foot forward. For this piece, we have looked at those players who might not be catching the headlines, but are worth both clubs and fans keeping an eye on. Here’s what we took out of the NAB League Girls, SANFL Women’s, WAFL Women’s and VFL Women’s.

PRESENT (2022 AFLW Draft)

Alana Gee firms as Top 10 quality talent, fellow Suns shine

Not that there were any doubts about her capabilities, but Gold Coast Suns midfielder Alana Gee affirmed her spot as her state’s top player with an outstanding NAB League Girls game against reigning premiers Oakleigh Chargers. Gee racked up 34 disposals, four marks five tackles and seven inside 50s in a dazzling display in wet conditions. Though she was not alone in her impact, Gee’s run and carry, and ability to hit targets from stoppages is what catches the eye, and she is firmly amongst the best talents in the country this year.

Outside of Gee, three other Suns really staked their claim for the AFL Women’s Draft, with fellow AFLW Academy member Fleur Davies dominating through the ruck and being a leading target up forward. Hoping to join her sister Giselle at the top level, Davies has become best known for her work in the forward half. Amassing 26 hitouts and kicking a goal, Davies also laid six tackles in what was the second most of anyone on her side.

Moving from key position into the midfield, captain Imogen Evans did her AFLW Draft chances no harm with a strong performance through the midfield. The hard-at-it contested ball winner has that point of difference compared to many other Queensland midfielders in her ability to also spread and win it on the outside. Both her and Gee are able to share that trait, with Evans’ ability to impact both forward and behind centre what helps her game standout.

The third midfielder that is worth remembering is smaller wing who can play inside through the rotation in Jasmyn Smith. Donning the number one, Smith got to ball-winning positions and was able to dispose of the ball under pressure, and because she has a lovely technical kick, can make things happen with her creativity. The other draft-eligible name to remember is Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap who has produced back-to-back impressive sparks up forward, with the 167cm over-age talent kicking another great goal on the weekend to seal the win against the Chargers.

Emily Elkington building nice season for Tigers

In an even West Australian squad outside the AFLW Academy members, Claremont’s Emily Elkington is piecing together a nice season in the WAFL Women’s. Not a massive accumulator, Elkington has the right balance between offensive and defensive traits, and knows when to run as an option, and when to assist with defensive pressure. She got on the end of a nice chain of handballs to kick a goal in the second term, but it was her composure to receive the ball, evade an opponent and straighten and kick truly on the run. Possessing nice technical skills and a lovely long kick, she will be an important player for the Sandgropers at the upcoming AFLW Under 19 Championships.

Top Vics shine in challenging conditions

Top 10 talents, Western Jets duo Charlotte Baskaran and Montana Ham, and Murray Bushrangers’ Zarlie Goldsworthy all had big games on the weekend in challenging conditions. In wet under foot conditions at The Hangar, the Jets took care of Brisbane Lions Academy by six goals. Ham’s long kicking came into play on her way to 25 disposals, three marks, 10 tackles and five inside 50s, whilst Baskaran amassed 22 disposals, five tackles, three inside 50s and kicked a snap from a stoppage inside 50. Goldsworthy continued her superb 2022 season with 27 disposals, four marks, 14 tackles, six inside 50s and 1.2, utilising her penetrating kick in tough, windy circumstances.

FUTURE (2023 AFLW DRAFT AND BEYOND)

Shae Archbold beats her own game-high goals

The Under 16s talent slotted four goals in South Adelaide’s big win over West Adelaide, and could have had a couple more with a bit of luck. Under the microscope for our Player Focus published earlier today, Archbold made Flinders University Stadium her own. Not only did she kick four majors, but she handed one off and another went through the goal before being deemed as touched off the boot. Along with her four majors, Archbold laid seven tackles, showcasing her ability to impact at ground level and off-the-ball when required.

Molly Brooksby catches eye in loss

Though Norwood went down, bottom-age talent Molly Brooksby is one of those players that does not do a lot wrong. She attacks it hard, is clean by hand or foot and moves the ball in transition well. Perhaps at time her composure could be an area to still improve, but with another year in the system, the wing is a hard-running player with plenty of upside. She reads the game well and gets into the right spots which is often the hardest part. Had she converted a few of her chances on goal, she could have finished with a big game, but that will come, and she is a name to remember for next year, and for South Australia at the AFLW Under 19 Championships.

Laura Stone emerges as one to watch for 2023

Eastern Ranges defender Laura Stone has strung very impressive games together the past couple of weeks, and was a key reason why the Ranges held firm against a determined Gippsland Power in the first half on the weekend. After having a more nullifying role earlier in the season averaging 5.3 disposals in her first four games, Stone has racked up 17 and 20 touches in the past two weeks as the Ranges looked to transition Mia Busch on-ball. Stone’s offensive and defensive numbers both lifted, and she will be a defender to remember for 2023.