BACK for another year, Rookie Me Central’s 24 to Watch in 2024 returns and this time around, 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 talents likely to take the SANFL Women’s by storm or set themselves up for the future.

Bottom-age Panther Lily Baxter is the next player to make her way onto our SANFL Women’s 24 in 2024 list with the forward/wing a versatile and athletic talent. She won the Macca’s Moment of the Year last season for a match-winning goal against Glenelg, and showed plenty of room for growth entering her second SANFLW season this year.

LILY BAXTER PROFILE

DOB: 04/01/2007
Height: 171cm
Position: Forward/Wing
Club: South Adelaide

SUMMARY

Baxter is a player who came into the season with plenty of hype from those down at Noarlunga, having caught the eye as a junior coming through the pathway. The 16-year-old would go on to play every game she was available for – only missing for the Under 16 Championships – and had a progression from forward to winger.

After picking up 10 disposals and clunking five marks on debut – the latter being a season-high – Baxter settled into the attacking role, kicking seven goals over the next five weeks, including two against North Adelaide in Round 5 to go with 14 touches and four inside 50s.

Her sole major against Glenelg proved to be the match-winner as the Pantehrs got up by a point, and while she would only kick one more for the season after that moment – against Sturt in Round 11 – Baxter would fit into more of a wing-forward hybrid role.

In the SANFLW Grand Final, Baxter worked hard to even be seen mopping up in defence as she had in the final month of the season. Though defensive elements to her game are where improvements can come, her offensive elements are superb. Still a raw talent, Baxter – who turned 17 four days into the new year – averaged 8.6 disposals, 1.6 marks and 1.2 inside 50s for the 2023 season, also kicking eight goals in 12 games.

At the AFLW Under 16 Championships she averaged 12.0 disposals, 2.5 marks and 2.0 inside 50s, and will likely feature in a forward-wing rotation at the AFLW Under 18 Championships this year. As one with room for growth, the experiences she would have taken from 2023 will hold her in good stead for the future.

SANFLW 24 TO WATCH IN 2024:

>> Grace Martin (Woodville-West Torrens)
>> Laela Ebert (North Adelaide)
>> Steph Tredwell (West Adelaide)
>> Matilda Wilmore (Glenelg)
>> Charli Hazelhurst (Norwood)
>> Chloe Tonkin (West Adelaide)
>> Imogen Trengove (Woodville-West Torrens)