IN a new weekly piece on Rookie Me Central, we hone 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, WAFL Women’s, SANFL Women’s, VFL Women’s, QAFL Women’s and AFLW Under 18 Championships.

PRESENT (2022 AFLW Draft)

Norwood duo shine in Croweaters’ big win

Though top stars over the next two years Hannah Ewings and Shineah Goody deservedly caught the headlines from South Australia’s big win, a Norwood duo stepped up and showed that they should be considered by the two South Australian clubs this year. Already having impressive years, Sachi Syme and Lana Schwerdt worked hard through midfield and forward, rotating well and creating matchup headaches for the opposition.

Syme snapped the first goal of the match with a clever kick around her body, then kicked a great goal on the run in the fourth term. Schwerdt also hit the scoreboard from a strong one-on-one mark in the third term, but both did well across the ground, with Schwerdt amassing 23 disposals, three clearances and laying seven tackles. Syme had the 17 touches, two tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s for the day.

Evans, Hillier star in QAFL Women’s

Two Queensland AFLW Under 18s talents were best on ground in their respective games on the weekend. Gold Coast Suns Academy captain Imogen Evans was impressive through the middle for Bond University up against an experienced Coorparoo side that feature ex-Brisbane premiership captain Emma Zielke. Preparing to take on Vic Metro on Tuesday, Evans is one to watch, and ranked inside our Top 20 given her balance of skill, endurance and footy smarts.

Meanwhile Brisbane Lions Academy member Kiara Hillier also starred despite going down in her match. Her Maroochydore side lost to Southport by 14 points, but Hillier earned a Rising Star nomination for her 22 disposals, tackles and one goal, showing she can play further afield and hit the scoreboard, having been the designated kick out player for the Lions Academy.

Condon steps up in Dogs loss

GWV Rebels captain Lilli Condon headlined the first returned NAB League Girls talents to the VFL Women’s, with the over-ager back at The Kennel. She had a massive 25 disposals in Western Bulldogs’ loss to Port Melbourne, but showed she has no fears matching it with more experienced, and bigger opponents. She was joined in the team by Rebels teammate Tahlia Meier (15 disposals), as well as Calder Cannons over-ager Mali McLeod (15) and Bendigo Pioneers ruck Madeline Marks who had a breakout VFLW game of 25 touches, seven marks, five tackles, six hitouts and one goal. Meanwhile, Eastern Ranges Isabelle Khoury kicked a goal from 17 disposals for the Hawks.

FUTURE (2023 AFLW DRAFT AND BEYOND …)

Under 16s impress across SANFLW for call-up

The AFLW Under 18 Championships limits states to no more than three Under 16s players per side, and whilst largely South Australia is the only state likely to field the youngest possible age group, the Croweaters have another problem on their hands – picking only three. Central District’s Georgia McKee all but stamped her ticket to Adelaide Oval against Vic Country, with a three-goal performance from 20 touches and five marks, whilst India Rasheed and Lucy Boyd combined for 20 touches too.

Whilst the latter two are likely to be the ones rotated, trying to pick from the group who stood up at League level over the weekend is just as tricky. Violet Patterson was impressive off a wing for Glenelg, Jemma Whitington-Charity kicked a goal and was prominent through the midfield for the Eagles, Shae Archbold found plenty of it for South during the Panthers’ loss to North Adelaide, and Charlotte Riggs stood tall for Central District off centre half-back.

If picking for conditions allow for plenty of run, which means Patterson and Whitington-Charity may come in, but in a like-for-like one of Riggs or Archbold could replace Rasheed or Boyd. It is a good problem to have for the South Australians. The match is played Saturday as a curtain raiser to the AFL men’s match between Adelaide and Richmond.

Field of Dreams

Western Jets have had no shortage of talented stars this season as they claimed the club’s first ever flag. Whilst the likes of Charlotte Baskaran and Montana Ham will move on to the next level, one future star in the making is Lou-Lou Field. The calm and composed running defender can also play through the midfield, and showed signs of Baskaran in her first season. Expect Field to continue that midfield development next year, with high level footy IQ, great skills and nice athleticism to-boot. One for the 2024 AFLW Draft, Field showed just how impressive she an be one-on-one against more experienced opponents this season.