TWO more players have lived out their AFL Women’s dreams, selected as injury replacement players this week. West Coast selected tough midfielder Ashleigh Gomes, while Melbourne selected tall forward/midfielder Ella Little for the injured Shanae Davison and Eliza McNamara respectively. The pair were added to their club’s lists ahead of the upcoming Season 7 that kicks off next Thursday, August 25.

ASHLEIGH GOMES

DOB: 24/09/1997
Height: 165cm
Position: Midfielder
Club: East Fremantle (WAFLW)
AFLW Club: West Coast

Ash Gomes averaged 17.9 disposals, 2.6 marks, 5.4 tackles and 3.1 inside 50 for East Fremantle this season, captaining the club to an undefeated home and away season. Unfortunately for the Sharks onballer, East Fremantle would end up losing its first game on the biggest stage, going down to Claremont.

The captain turns 25 next month and has put in a body of work at the blue and whites. She earned the call-up having been a train-on partner at the Dockers and was poached by the Eagles cleverly as one of the most impressive and consistent ball-winners in the WAFLW. When Davison went down with a season-ending knee injury, Gomes was given the opportunity to shine.

Along with her consistency on-field, Gomes was rewarded with the Sharks’ best and fairest award and is a player readymade to step up to the level. Standing at 165cm, Gomes thrives on the contested ball and loves the ferocity of the contest, laying a plethora of tackles each and every week. Though the Eagles have plenty of midfielders at their disposals, Gomes is the type of player who could also fill out a defensive forward role to bring the pressure inside 50.

ELLA LITTLE

Ella Little is a player who transformed her career with a positional move and went full circle from a prestigious Under 16s talent who was not quite ready to blossom, to an overage, consistent ball winner. Little started her career as a tall forward and though part of the Under 16s State Program, Little was a self-proclaimed “lazy footballer” who was not putting in the hard work. Missing out on state representation over the years, Little transformed her game under Woodville-West Torrens Eagles coach Narelle Smith.

DOB: 22/06/2003
Height: 172cm
Position: Tall Forward / Inside Midfielder
Club: Woodville-West Torrens Eagles (SANFLW)
AFLW Club: Melbourne

At the Eagles, Little went from a contested marking forward to an inside midfielder, using her contested ball-winning ability and strong frame to be a unique player at the coal face. She proved enough in half a season at SANFL Women’s level this season – where she ended up averaging 15.3 disposals, 2.0 marks, 5.3 tackles, 2.1 clearances, 1.2 inside 50s and 1.0 rebound 50s – to regain selection for the Croweaters at the 2022 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships.

There, Little held her own in the undefeated South Australian lineup, averaging 15.7 disposals, 2.0 clearances, 2.0 inside 50s, 5.0 tackles and booting two goals from her three games. It thrust the over-age talent into draft contention, and though the recently turned 19 year-old missed out on hearing her named called on AFLW Draft night, Little showed she had done enough to earn a call-up by Melbourne for the upcoming Season 7.