VIC METRO followed up Vic Country’s State Hub release last week with the official release of Metro’s State Hub yesterday. The Metro girl’s hub has 19 players, with Eastern Ranges (six players), Sandringham Dragons (four), Oakleigh Chargers (three) and Western Jets (three) leading the way. Calder Cannons (two) and Northern Knights (one) round out the metropolitan regions.

AFLW ACADEMY MEMBERS

Amy Gaylor (Calder Cannons)
Inside Midfielder | 23/08/2005 | 170cm

A tough and clean inside midfielder, Gaylor was a clear standout for the Cannons in her bottom-age year, and her emergence allowed Abbey McDonald to continue in a variety of roles on the outside. Gaylor shows no fear when attacking the contest and boasts a clean set of hands at ground level, winning the hardball gets and supplying teammates with crucial handballs. Though able to win her own ball when working to the outside, her work outside the coalface will be the next area that can take her game to another level.

Alyssia Pisano (Eastern Ranges)
Small Forward | 01/07/2005 | 161cm

Unfortunately the top Victorian in next year’s AFL Women’s Draft suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through her 2022 NAB League campaign. Pisano has an abundance of natural talent, goal sense and evasion, with the saying ‘give them an inch and they’ll take a mile’ appropriate for the Eastern Ranges small. She is a one-touch player and her speed from hand to foot is just ridiculous and if she can get back from her knee injury, she could play a crucial role in the Ranges’ finals campaign.

Laura Stone (Eastern Ranges)
Defender | 27/11/2005 | 169cm

A solid all-round defender who did play more midfielder later in the season and is tipped to do so in 2023, Stone was a player who flourished without Mia Busch in the back six full-time. When Busch spent time with Metro, and then shifted into the Ranges midfield, Stone became that rebounding defender who was utilised off half-back thanks to her reliable skill by hand or foot. She provides some great speed off the line, and though she will be looking for greater consistency in 2023 with a permanent role, it is easy to see why Stone is in the AFLW Academy.

Jess Vukic (Eastern Ranges)
Ruck/Key Forward | 09/11/2005 | 180cm

Taller than her fellow Ranges Academy members, Vukic is one of the cleanest rucks going around. Standing at 180cm, her vertical leap and ability to control the stoppages with deft taps sets her aside from many of her peers. Vukic is likely to continue to rotate between ruck and key forward, but her craft and aerial ability is key. She might be viewed as a tough undersized as a ruck at AFLW level, but if she can become that key forward and second ruck there, she will be more than able to fill that role.

Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner (Western Jets)
Tall Forward | 01/07/2005 | 180cm

One of the most exciting players in the AFLW Draft crop, Weston-Turner has a highlights package to rival most. Kicking a goal from the centre circle – not a typo – on Mars Stadium last season, showing off her explosive pace and bag if tricks, Weston-Turner can do things no 180cm player should be able to do. She is not the complete package yet, and is inconsistent at times, but when she shows her full ability, she is near-impossible to stop with athleticism of a small and power of a big, she is a unique player in the talent pool.

Kiera Whiley (Western Jets)
Midfielder | 07/04/2005 | 172cm

Each year there is a player who just ticks every box without a real deficiency in her game, and for 2023, that could well be Whiley. The Western Jets midfielder can play off flanks at either end, is clean by hand or foot, fairly evasive and makes good decisions. While some players have a standout elite trait, Whiley is more of a player who is above average in every area, and has enough excitement areas in her game to suggest upside in her top-age year.

OTHER TOP-AGERS TO WATCH:

Ava Jordan (Northern Knights)
Inside Midfielder | 29/04/2005 | 150cm

If you’re good enough, you’re big enough, and if there was one player who will truly test that statement it is Northern Knights midfielder, Jordan. She packs a punch but stands at 150cm – and previously has been as low as 146cm – which is a fair way below the 153cm Rachelle Martin (AFLW smallest player). Jordan is not blessed with elite speed which makes it equally tough, but when it comes footy IQ, cleanliness and consistency, few could hold a candle to Jordan. She wins the ball with ease, attacks every contest without question and makes few mistakes. It is likely she will have to play as a small forward in her top-age year given it is hard to imagine her playing midfield at the top level.

Ava Campbell (Eastern Ranges)
Tall Defender | 29/07/2005 | 174cm

At the other end of the spectrum to Jordan, Campbell is a raw tall who showed some promising signs for Eastern Ranges last season. She competes strongly aerially, which is her bread and butter. A good mark and reader of the play behind the ball, Campbell has identified her one wood of intercept marking and driving it back outside 50, while maintaining a strong level of accountability. She should aim to develop greater consistency and a higher production rate in 2023, which will see her among the better tall defenders.

Jacinta Hose (Eastern Ranges)
Ruck/Forward | 05/09/2005 | 181cm

A raw tall who is still learning the fundamentals of the game, Hose has some impressive traits, mainly her athleticism and aerial ability, which will hold her in good stead throughout 2023. At times she could improve her composure and decision making, but that will come with greater experience, and her raw talent is there to be built upon. Given she can rotate with Vukic through the ruck and up forward, Hose will be able to learn both positions to help put herself in a strong position to be drafted in 12 months time.

Mia Zielinski (Sandringham Dragons)
Tall Forward | 21/07/05 | 174cm

A potential cult hero in the making, Zielinski has the traditional full-forward traits with her leading patterns, strong hands and reliable set shot putting her firmly in leading goalkicker contention. She provides a presence inside 50, and consistently hit the scoreboard in her bottom-age year, making her a danger to opposition defenders. The Sandringham Dragons forward might be looking to build on some more of her athletic traits, mainly her running, but is incredibly clever inside 50.

OTHER TOP-AGERS:

The other three players in the AFLW Academy who were selected on upside include tall defensive duo, Lara Hausegger and Annabelle Embelton, and crafty medium forward Tamara Henry. The latter played the most games of the trio with nine, including in the premiership, slotting five goals in those nine games. Still a developing talent, Henry averaged the 7.2 disposals and 1.7 tackles per game and stands at 170cm. Hausegger played seven games for Oakleigh Chargers, averaging the 6.7 disposals and 2.0 rebound 50s, while Embelton only turned 17 on Tuesday, and at 175cm is projected to grow. She did play two matches and looked impressive in those games, averaging 15 disposals, two marks and four rebound 50s.

BOTTOM-AGE TALENTS:

Oakleigh Chargers duo Maggie Mahony and Sienna Tallariti both feature in the Vic Metro hub as bottom-agers, playing six and eight games in the regular season respectively in 2022. Mahony looked strong towards the back-end of the year as a midfielder averaging 19 touches, three marks and seven tackles, while Tallariti was able to kick three goals from eight games utilised in a variety of roles and stands at an impressive 175cm.

Eastern Ranges midfielder Molly Paterson played eight games in 2022 and showed some impressive traits, while Calder Cannons’ Kyla Forbes was able to win her fair share of the ball in the forward half and is tipped to rotate into the midfield. Judie Goldman appeared for the Dragons in a number of matches, before stepping up with Vic Metro Under 16s and kicking a goal for the side and showcasing her versatility. Caitlin Voss is a 180cm tall who featured in the Reperchage NAB League match, and is a developing ruck/forward.