AFLW 23 Under 23: #14 Gabby Newton
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.
#14 Gabby Newton (Western Bulldogs)
DOB: 31/08/2001
Height: 175cm
Position: Forward
Games: 26
Former number one draft pick Newton returned from injury last season and played all 11 games in a promising return to form. After playing as a midfielder over the course of her first two seasons prior to injury, Newton was eased back into it as a key forward. With the height and aerial ability to match it with the best, Newton was able to offset the loss of Isabel Huntington inside 50.
A Northern Knights premiership player, Newton turns 22 later this month, so is just inside the parameters of this list. After some promising signs coming through the AFLW, particularly in her second season, Newton had to have a double shoulder reconstruction, ruling her out of Season 6. With the additional season last year, it meant the talented tall did not need to wait over two years to play again, instead getting in a crucial 11 matches in Season 7.
SEASON 7 KEY STATS:
Games: 11
Goals: 8
Disposals: 7.5
Disposal Efficiency: 68.7
Marks: 2.0
Contested Marks: 0.9
Tackles: 3.0
Tackles Inside 50s: 1.3
Inside 50s: 1.3
Score Involvements: 2.0
Time of Ground %: 85.6
Returning from a long-term injury is never easy, which is why Newton was chosen to play forward in the season, providing that aerial target inside 50 without Huntington or Brooke Lochland as goal-scoring options. She did not take a backwards step, laying nine tackles from 12 disposals and booting two goals upon her return in a Round 1 victory over GWS. Newton spent 80 per cent of time on the ground and had 158 metres gained, second only to her Round 3 effort.
In Round 3, Newton had 17 disposals, six marks – a season high on both – as well as 161 metres gained – and though she only kicked the one goal, created the presence the Dogs needed. She would go on to have some ups and downs as is to be expected playing forward, but Newton finished the season on a high, booting two goals from nine touches and three marks against Collingwood in the elimination final loss.
LOOKING AHEAD
Gabby Newton can still get better beyond her Season 7 performance and always has the capacity to roll back into the midfield. Alongside defender-turned-forward Sarah Hartwig, the pair will provide an important one-two punch in the air and when the ball hits the deck. She has been coaching back at the Northern Knights over the last couple of seasons, fully immersed in football at all levels.
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 […]
