WHILE all eyes will be on the 2023 AFL Women’s Draft hopefuls at the upcoming national carnival, there is an abundance of talent across all the states and territories who could impress at the championships. Clubs are looking more and more into the future similar to the men’s competition, and will be keeping an eye on the 2006-born prospects.

In what is set to be the strongest draft crop to-date, the amount of incredible players and top-end picks looms as a goldmine for clubs thinking 12 months ahead. We will dive into a state-by-state breakdown of some players to keep in mind.

We continue the series with Queensland, and focus our attention on the deep crop of 2006-born players within the Sunshine State.

QUEENSLAND:

Brisbane Lions Academy:

The Lions Academy have three bottom-age prospects in the AFLW Under 18 Championships squad, with ruck Lilly Baker one who has shown promise in her three Coates Talent League games. Standing at 179cm, Baker averaged 11.7 disposals, 25.7 hitouts and 4.7 tackles across the matches, with her game against Calder Cannons in Round 9 particularly influential, picking up 15 touches and 26 hitouts.

From one end of the height scale to the other, small defender Zimra Hussain was able to find plenty of the ball coming off half-back and has the scope to play in other positions. Standing at just 160cm, Hussain has a low centre of gravity and knows how to draw those clever free kicks, as well as run and carry with ball-in-hand.

Ashleigh Moyle is the third Lions Academy member in the Queensland squad, with the University of Queensland representative a renowned tackler where she averaged six per game in the Coates Talent League. After a quiet first-up game against the Bushrangers, Moyle was far more prolific against Sandringham Dragons booting a goal from 16 touches.

Gold Coast Suns Academy:

The Suns Academy have five representatives in the Queensland squad and two of those are projected as high-end draft picks. Ruck/forward Havana Harris and midfielder Tara Harrington are obvious first round choices with the former right in contention for top billing in a stacked draft class.

Harris is a mobile tall who can explode away from stoppages like so few players her size should be able to, and also go forward and hit the scoreboard. Harrington is an elite decision maker and kick, able to play through the midfield and also off half-back.

Along with the top two, the lightning speed of Nyalli Milne is hard to miss, with Mine among the fastest players at the national carnival. Teaming up well with North Cairns product Heidi Talbot, the pair will cause headaches for opposition defences if the ball gets over the back.

Rounding out the fifth player in the state squad is Mia Salisbury who played all three games for the Suns in the Coates Talent League, averaging 7.7 disposals, 1.7 marks, 4.3 tackles and 2.0 rebound 50s. She is a raw talent who has caught the eye as a high-upside talent.