FOLLOWING on from the first part in our Overage AFLW Draft Positional Watch series which focused on rucks, we turn our attention to key position players who have nominated for the next week’s draft. Key position players can be a mix of athletic talls or strong utilities and we name a few to keep in mind for Tuesday nights’ proceedings.

Mattea Breed (North Adelaide)
31/07/2001 | 173cm | Key Forward

As is well known, talls take longer to develop, and this is the case for North Adelaide’s Mattea Breed. She played at Norwood after crossing from the Northern Territory, and then went back to local football before moving clubs. The stint back at local level has helped the 21-year-old who has had a huge start to the SANFL Women’s season. She has kicked six goals in four games so far in 2023, and caught the eye on more than a few occasions.

Why have they been previously overlooked?

Consistency and fundamentals.

Why pick them?

Breed seems to have a far more rounded game than a few years ago when she was trying to crack the top grade as a teenager. She has always had that outstanding athleticism, but has learnt plenty since, and is more involved in the game for longer this season. Her finishing on goal is still a work in progress as she could have even kicked a stack more goals this season, but she is far closer to the finished product than a few years ago, and a club may take a chance on her to finish off that development.

NOMINATION: National

Zoe Huggett (South Fremantle)
14/04/1997 | 183cm | Key Forward

One of the older players on this list, Huggett has had a rotten run with injuries over the last couple of seasons, interrupting her from getting a good stint in the WAFL Women’s for South Fremantle. She only played the three games last year, but has strung together three in 2023 already, averaging 10.3 disposals, 3.7 marks and 1.0 goals per game. Her best game came on the weekend with 14 disposals, seven marks and 1.4, where had she converted her chances could have walked away with a best on ground performance.

Why have they been previously overlooked?

Injured and off-ball impact.

Why pick them?

If Huggett’s start to the 2023 season is anything to go by, the West Australian is in for a promising year. She is working hard outside the forward 50 not just deep, and is presenting consistently. South Fremantle rate her enormously internally, and though she is that touch older turning 26 in a couple of weeks, she is a good size with nice athleticism and strong hands. All the traits of a good key forward who could play a role for a side.

NOMINATION: National

Jorja Hooper (South Adelaide)
09/02/2004 | 182cm | Key Forward

If you are a fan of old school forwards, then Hooper is a player you will enjoy watching. She does not overcomplicate anything, and is a terrific contested mark and booming kick. The teenager won South Adelaide’s leading goalkicker award in 2021, before tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ahead of the 2022 season. It ruled her out of potentially cracking into the State Academy side. She has fought her way back to the State League level, and has been presenting well as a key forward, working harder up the ground having improved her running capacity and impact on the game outside the scoreboard.

Why have they been previously overlooked?

Injured and athletic profile.

Why pick them?

While Hooper might not be the most explosive key forward, she has some of the safest hands going around and is able to beat most players in a one-on-one. She has competed against senior opponents and has no fears there, and the endurance side of her athletic profile has been a key focus for the Panthers youngster. It is easy to forget her top-age year was wiped out with injury, so ultimately 2023 is that season, and she has a long career ahead of her, it is just whether that is at state, or the elite level.

NOMINATION: South Australia

Millie McCarthy (Sturt)
20/12/2004 | 180cm | Utility

Starting her year strongly, McCarthy has seemingly found her niche inside 50 for the Double Blues having played a multitude of positions in the past. For the Croweaters at AFLW Under 17s level in 2021, McCarthy played as a key defender, before moving into the ruck last year in two games for South Australia. Only managing the one game at senior level for Sturt in 2022 after some interruptions, McCarthy has played every game this season, booting four goals in five matches as a key forward and second ruck.

Why have they been previously overlooked?

Production and consistency.

Why pick them?

McCarthy is a lovely set shot for goal and has strong hands with a nice game sense inside 50. She is not a huge ball winner, and that production might been an issue for some, but unlike others who have yips in front of goal, McCarthy’s set shots rarely look like missing. She has 4.0 for the season, and that is as a second ruck, where she has averaged seven hitouts per match. Only 12 days short of being a top-ager in 2023, McCarthy is a high-upside forward and one that could very easily be considered in the end of year draft if she pieces together a strong season.

NOMINATION: South Australia

Grace Hay (Murray Bushrangers)
12/03/2004 | 179cm | Key Defender

From one end to the other, Hay has become known for her work in defensive 50, as a strong intercept mark, and rebounding player. She has played netball at high levels including in the Victorian Netball League, so juggles her commitments between her sports. After opting not to nominate in last year’s draft, Hay has returned free of school studies, and looking to step up to the elite level. As one who has shown obvious talent through the Under 18s, the 19-year-old is a younger option to slot into the defensive 50.

Why have they been previously overlooked?

Did not nominate.

Why pick them?

Hay is a player who you know exactly what to expect each and every game. She is strong overhead, a good decision maker, has a penetration, accurate kick and competes well in one-on-one situations. She is not an athletic star like some others, but her natural footballing abilities outshine many peers. She is yet to really test herself in other roles, though had a minor stint in the ruck in Round 1 of the Coates Talent League. If picked up, Hay would be one of the more readymade defensive options.

NOMINATION: National

Mackenzie Webb (Claremont)
17/06/2004 | 175cm | Key Defender

Claremont coach Jack Schwarze is really big on Webb getting picked up, and is confident she has shown enough over the off-season to be given that chance. A Fremantle AFLW train-on last season, the Tigers’ tall is a mobile player with great closing speed on the lead, and times her spoils to perfection. At 175cm, Webb can play on talls or smalls, and while she has just nominated Western Australia, Fremantle has four selections in the upcoming Overage Draft.

Why have they been previously overlooked?

Production and consistency.

Why pick them?

Webb is a blank slate in terms of what she could be, as she has the athletic traits to develop into a really impressive defender. For the Tigers, Webb receives some big roles, often playing on the number one forward to release teammates to run out of the back 50, and while she is not a big ball-winner herself, is strong one-on-one and backs herself in a marking contest. Given West Coast has no selections in the upcoming draft, Webb’s nomination for Western Australia means it is up to the Dockers if they choose to upgrade the Claremont defender from train-on to permanent list member.

NOMINATION: Western Australia

Steph O’Brien (Southport)
22/09/1993 | 177cm | Utility

The term ‘unicorn’ gets thrown around every now and again in football circles, but given Queenslander O’Brien’s overall profile, it is an apt description. She came close to landing on an AFLW list in 2021, dominating the AFLW Draft Combine. She has the size and the athletic traits to play on all three lines, and has made the switch from University of Queensland to the team the Red Lionesses beat in last year’s grand final, Southport in 2023. She could well have been put in the ruck preview, and also the midfield preview, but with so many options in the latter, she lands here as a good sized utility.

Why have they been previously overlooked?

Fundamentals and lack of exposure.

Why pick them?

O’Brien is the ultimate utility. To give an example, one week last year, she racked up 22 disposals – 21 contested – seven clearances and 10 tackles as an inside midfielder, before the next week she moved into the ruck with a ridiculous statline of 32 disposals, 23 hitouts, six marks, nine clearances and 11 inside 50s. The Ipswich netballer also topped Teagan Levi in a 20m sprint and agility test at the 2021 AFLW Draft Combine, which in itself is jaw-dropping. Put simply, she belongs at the top level if clubs can overlook her age, with O’Brien turning 30 in September.

NOMINATION: Queensland

Tegan Williams (Casey Demons)
07/03/2004 | 178cm | Key Forward/Defender

One of the unlucky players not to get picked up last season, Williams is a similar player to Hooper and Hay, but a mix of both, having cut her teeth as a key position defender, and then forward over the past two seasons. Having turned 19 earlier in the month, Williams is still only an over-ager and has opted to head to VFLW where she is set to play for Casey Demons. A natural competitive player, Williams is a terrific contested mark, lovely kick of the football and has impressive footy IQ.

Why have they been previously overlooked?

Athleticism and ground balls.

Why pick them?

Williams is just a natural footballer. She is strong overhead, clean and able to clunk one-grab contested marks, then nail the set shots when up forward, or pick the right options when down back. She is not going to be the player who necessarily dominates from an athletic standpoint, but is more of the traditional key position player. Her game is based around marking and kicking, and given her ability to slot up either end, she is a valuable prospect. Against South Australia in a big loss last year, the Vic Country forward looked incredible early and almost seemed like being the one to get her side on top. With the right development, Williams has the work rate to play any role required, and is one that should be considered.

NOMINATION: National

OTHERS NOMINATED:

Bethany Bond (South Fremantle)
Rosie Boon (Norwood)
Jasmyn Davidson (Bond University)
Sachi DeGiacomi (Geelong VFLW)
Georgia Foran (Sandringham Dragons)
Kasey Lennox (Carlton VFLW)
Kayla Robran (Norwood)
Abbey Tregellis (Dandenong Stingrays)
Matilda Van Berkel (Box Hill)

Given the AFLW Draft nominations list contains more than 500 players, this is far from a complete list of potential key position players. However many of the above have played state league football, or come through the Victorian Under 18s pathway. With the need for good depth in key position roles, expect at least a few of the players in this article to be considered for selection.

SUMMARY

There are usually two types of key position players that clubs will look to in the sense of overly athletic types with high upside, or natural footballers who can clunk contested marks. Those profiles can overlap depending on the individual, and given the wide array of potential options for AFLW clubs, there is no shortage of players for recruiters to sift through.

All eight of the players highlighted in this article have their strengths, but have also had their deficiencies over the journey. Given the opportunity that the Overage AFLW Draft presents, some will get their chance to further their development at the elite level.