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.

Exciting bottom-ager Alira Fotu is a raw talent with plenty of upside for the future and makes her way onto this list despite not playing a WAFL Women’s League game. Fotu has been a consistent source of goals over the last two Rogers Cup seasons for the Bulldogs, slotting 32 majors in 18 games.

ALIRA FOTU PROFILE

DOB: 17/09/2007
Height: 178cm
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Club: South Fremantle

SUMMARY

Fotu is yet to taste senior level football, and it is understandable with the South Bunbury prospect still quite raw and only managing the six Rogers Cup games in 2023. Last season would have been the first year she was technically able to play seniors, but instead averaged two goals a game for South Fremantle at junior level.

Her consistency when on-field is undoubted, coming into the side in Round 12 and kicking three goals against Perth, the first of four games that feature multiple majors. She kicked at least one in each of her games, and stretching back to 2022, Fotu has managed a goal in 10 of her last 11 matches. Throughout her 18-game Rogers Cup, Fotu kicked three bags of four goals and a further three hauls of three majors.

Focusing in on her Rogers Cup Grand Final performance, Fotu was one of her side’s best, applying all the traits that suggest she could develop into a really exciting prospect. Among her best attributes are her outstanding vertical leap, nice athleticism and clean hands at ground level for a 178cm player.

Fotu projects as a forward who can also spend time through the middle and use her size to full advantage. She is creative inside 50 and can set up her teammates, and though her composure is an area she can further develop, there is little doubt she has the tools to take her game to another level as a bottom-ager in 2024 and hopefully can feature at senior level.