BACK for another year, Rookie Me Central’s 24 to Watch in 2024 returns and this year, the focus is on underage players, being those who are yet to have an AFLW Draft chance. For the list of 2024, it will range between players who are predominantly 2006 (top-age) and 2007-born likely to take the WAFL Women’s by storm or set themselves up for the future.

Up next is Peel Thunder talent Holly Britton, a top-ager hoping to follow in the footsteps of sister Jaide into the AFL Women’s. Coming into the Thunder lineup at a time where the team was coming off back-to-back flags and a competitive finals series, Britton did not squeeze in immediately, but featured more prominently in her bottom-age season last year.

HOLLY BRITTON PROFILE

DOB: 17/02/2006
Height: 163cm
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Club: Peel Thunder

SUMMARY

As a 16-year-old, Britton started her League career with just the one game in 2022, picking up six disposals, three marks and booting a memorable goal against Swan Districts playing alongside her sister. Unfortunately at the time Jaide was on the bench, robbing a memorable celebration of the younger sibling’s first League goal, but they would not have to wait too long into the new season to get that chance.

After playing through the Rogers Cup finals series in 2022 including a losing grand final to East Fremantle, Britton was able to take her chance in 2023, stepping up in the absence of not just her sister, but the likes of Ella Roberts and Kate Bartlett who also joined the blue and gold through the pre-signing and draft periods.

Britton became a lock in Peel Thunder’s senior side, one of a number of young guns to cement their place as part of the Mandurah-based side’s rebuilding phase. Starting as a forward, Britton forced her way into the midfield in the final six rounds of the season, where she hit a career-high 17 disposals in Round 11 against West Perth.

She would finish the season averaging 12.6 disposals and 3.0 tackles across her last five games, giving Thunder fans a taste of what she could achieve as a fully fledged midfielder in 2024. Best known for her inside work at Rogers Cup level, Britton is very different to his sister being that more contested ball-winner, but has already shown the versatility to fill out different roles.

At state level, Britton got the chance against South Australia, picking up 11 disposals in her sole Under 18s appearance. With most of the West Australian midfield moving on, the top-ager has a chance to slot into that spot if she can have a strong top-age season for Peel in 2024.