OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list is completely subjective, the opinion is that of the individual author.
#22 Indy Tahau (Port Adelaide)
DOB: 22/10/2002
Height: 175cm
Position: Tall Defender
Games: 29
Well-travelled Indy Tahau made her way back to Port Adelaide for her third season, following 19 games and a premiership with the Brisbane Lions. Cracking in to the strong Lions’ team in Round 4 of the 2021 season, Tahau held her place in the defensive 50 and went on to celebrate a fitting premiership.
Also capable of playing in attack or as a bigger bodied midfielder, Tahau has always been a big game player, having shown that in her SANFL Women’s days winning a best on ground in a Panthers’ premiership. Returning to Alberton for Season 7 last year, Tahau re-established herself as an up-and-coming talent by being nominated for the Rising Star Award and even receiving votes in that award.
SEASON 7 KEY STATS:
Games: 10
Goals: 2
Disposals: 10.0
Disposal Efficiency: 61.0
Marks: 2.7
Contested Marks: 0.9
Tackles: 2.8
Rebound 50s: 2.8
Intercepts: 6.8
1%ers: 5.6
Time of Ground %: 91
Tahau was a crucial intercepting machine for the Power in Season 7, averaging 6.8 intercepts per game, with 2.8 rebounds. Her hands overhead were incredibly good with around one contested mark per game. Not a huge ball-winner as she often had shutdown tasks, Tahau held her own one-on-one and used her experience to full effect in the Power’s defensive 50.
Picking up 11 disposals in Port Adelaide’s inaugural game against West Coast, Tahau would go on to tally double-digit disposals in six of her 10 games. Given seven disposals – against Adelaide in Round 6 was her lowest effort for the year, Tahau showed terrific consistency. Her disposal efficiency could waver at times, particularly when under pressure in defence, but she also made her side better when taking the game on and taking risks.
In her Port Adelaide club debut game against the Eagles, Tahau also kicked a goal and had an ultra-impressive 300 metres gained. As mentioned, the defender averaged around a contested mark per game, taking one in all bar one match in Season 7. It justified her recruitment to the Power, joining former Lions’ teammate Lauren Arnell at Alberton.
LOOKING AHEAD
Indy Tahau is still young, turning 21 in October. Able to play on talls and smalls with a great balance of athleticism and endurance, the former rugby league player has plenty of upside for the future. Only 29 games into her career, Tahau is already a premiership player, and like many defenders may not get the plaudits of those further afield, but plays a key role in the back 50.
Expect her to continue her upward trajectory in Season 8, and with Port Adelaide growing, she will become even stronger. Now that Janelle Cuthbertson has arrived to assist the defence, Tahau will have more freedom to create that run and carry and utilise her athletic gifts to great advantage.
AFLW 23 Under 23: #1 Georgie Prespakis
OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list […]
AFLW 23 Under 23: #2 Charlie Rowbottom
OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list […]
AFLW 23 Under 23: #3 Mimi Hill
OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list […]
AFLW 23 Under 23: #4 Georgia Patrikios
OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list […]
AFLW 23 Under 23: #5 Alyssa Bannan
OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list […]
AFLW 23 Under 23: #6 Ellie McKenzie
OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list […]
AFLW 23 Under 23: #7 Hannah Ewings
OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list […]
AFLW 23 Under 23: #8 Bella Lewis
OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list […]
AFLW 23 Under 23: #9 Jasmine Fleming
OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list […]
