FREMANTLE essentially traded out of the 2023 AFL Women’s Draft, only making the bare minimum two selections, including re-listing current player Airlie Runnalls. The Dockers made the choice to instead look to mature-age options over the Trade Period and keep the list relatively stable following new coach Lisa Webb’s first season, with only South Adelaide winger Holly Ifould being a new addition for the playing list.

Holly Ifould (South Adelaide / South Australia)
02/09/2005 | 167cm | Winger

Ifould was the lucky sole selection for the Dockers, who looked east to the strong South Australian title-winning side. The talented runner has a nice speed-endurance mix based around a high two-way running. Her defensive pressure and positioning as a winger is strong, and while she is not the most consistent, high production player, Ifould showed she has plenty of strengths to suggest upside in the future.

What stood out about Ifould throughout 2023 was improvements in her contested ball-winning ability, going from a pure outside runner to a winger who was willing to win her own footy. Her short kicking and skill by hand is another strength of Ifould’s and having been born in Perth, she is not unfamiliar with Western Australia. She did move over when she was young, but has family friends in the state which makes it easier.

Likely to fill in as that winger for the Dockers, Ifould has the traits that could see her slide into another position if required with her neat skills and running capacity highlights. At 167cm, Ifould is also a medium height that measures up well among midfielders.

SUMMARY

It was a quiet AFL Women’s Draft for the Dockers who did not pick until late in the draft, but they secured Ifould who will provide some nice dash and skill on the outside. Though they did not have too much say in the draft, they have added mature-agers over the off-season who can provide readymade support and hope to drive the Dockers back into the finals series in 2024.