THE 2022 AFL Women’s Draft is next week and already Rookie Me Central has completed profiles on all those available AFLW Draft Combine invites. In separate articles this week, we will go state by state and look at some other contenders for the AFLW Draft outside those with the invites. Today we start with the Allies, a dive into the NSW-ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmanian prospects.

Courtney Hingston (Tasmania)

The running half-back was in many ways a surprise packet into the Allies squad this year, but the defender took the opportunity with both hands. After a solid NAB League Girls season, Hingston really stepped up at the AFLW Under 18 Championships, providing the dare and dash that clubs love to see. She has an aggressive running style, and is not afraid to tuck the ball under the arm, intercepting and rebounding regularly.

Erini Gikas (Northern Territory)

A really raw talent who is still learning some fundamentals of the game when it comes to her running patterns and positioning, but the midfielder was one who caught the eye during the Allies campaign. She worked hard across the ground and was able to impact with the ball, standing at a good size of 171cm. She is not quite the finished product yet and needs to work on her consistency, but Gikas certainly showed promising signs.

Jessica Whelan (NSW-ACT)

The NSW-ACT pool is a tricky one to navigate, but Whelan is a talent who has represented the Allies in the past (2020) and moved to the successful breeding ground of the Southern Power. There, Whelan has shown off her ability to use the ball by hand or foot, and gaining more consistency along the way. With the NSW-ACT draft pool looking for more draftable options, Whelan is a readymade mature recruit.

Jayde Hamilton (NSW-ACT)

With her older sister Lexi at the Swans, and younger sister Cynthia set to join her in the Harbour City, Hamilton could complete a trio and make history for the red and white. She is a tough inside midfielder who can play around the ground, but is best suited burrowing in, not too dissimilar to Cynthia. Though she has missed out on a couple of drafts, Hamilton is one who would have no fears going up to the next level.

Ella Morris (NSW-ACT)

The Sydney Swans Academy talent is a 19-year-old midfielder with some impressive upside for the future. Playing out at Pennant Hills Demons, Morris has a high-level defensive accountability, as well as good footy smarts and clean hands which she uses to impact around the stoppages. She can also finish cleanly in front of goal and could be one to remember as a sneaky selection in the NSW-ACT pool this year.

Jemma Webster (Tasmania via Western Bulldogs VFLW)

After being one of the most consistent contributors for the Tasmania Devils last season, and now having some VFLW experience the last two seasons, Webster is one of the more readymade young talents to come through the program. Webster can fill a hole anywhere on the field, but is best utilised as a wing, credit to her running capacity. She is someone right under the Western Bulldogs nose, but could be a potentially shrewd pick up for anyone.