SOME of the best 2023 AFL Women’s Draft prospects will take to the field in Geelong on Sunday as they stake their claims to be included in the AFLW Academy. With the 2022 AFLW Draft fast approaching, recruiters and talent managers alike will have one eye on next year to see which players are likely to put their hand up to to be included in the prestigious Academy.

Among the players selected are current Academy players, AFLW Under 18 Championships Most Valuable Player (MVP) Shineah Goody, All-Australian Brooke Barwick, Western Australia’s Georgie Cleaver and the Northern Territory’s Kyanne Campbell. Unfortunately due to suffering season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, Lauren Young and Alyssia Pisano are unable to play.

Rookie Me Central will release its 23 in 2023 as part of the 2022 AFLW Draft Guide (released later this month), with a host of names playing in the game to remember. Both South Australia and Queensland are states which will fill out strong portions of the top-end talent, whilst Eastern Ranges will be a team to watch in the NAB League Girls.

Looking purely at this game from a Team White perspective, they are top-heavy in terms of rucks, with Glenelg tall Matilda Scholz teaming up with Cleaver and Dandenong Stingrays’ Bianca Lyne, while undersized but athletic North Adelaide tall Timeka Cox can also roll through there. The midfield has some top-end quality midfielders in Barwick and Piper Window, whilst wingers Sienna McMullen and Kaitlyn Srhoj can provide some good run.

Team Black will be headlined by Goody through the midfield, and she will be well supported by West Australian jet Jaime Henry, and the smooth-moving Molly Brooksby. Exciting forward Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner and Tasmanian Georgia Clark will provide strong and dynamic targets, with Darcie Davies and Jess Vukic other promising talls in the team. They have a balance across the board, in what should make for a close contest.

The match itself will take place from 10:30am on Sunday, June 5 at GMHBA Stadium. Hawthorn AFLW player Sarah Perkins will coach Team Black, while ex-AFLW player Georgia Walker will coach Team White. The clash will be a part of a double-header with the Woomeras and Medley’s also going head-to-head after, with current Peel Thunder captain Cassie Davidson leading the Woomera’s, while Amanda Robertson will coach the Medleys.

NAB AFLW FUTURES – TEAM WHITE