WAFLW 24 to Watch in 2024: #10 Olivia Wolmarans
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.
Developing tall talent Olivia Wolmarans kicks off the top 10 of our 24 Players to Watch in 2024 for the WAFL Women’s. The Subiaco forward who pinch-hits in the ruck showed plenty of promising signs in her debut season, and will look to build on that in 2024.
OLIVIA WOLMARANS PROFILE
DOB: 02/09/2007
Height: 180cm
Position: Key Forward/Ruck
Club: Subiaco
SUMMARY
Wolmarans is still developing areas of her craft, but managed to crack into five League games last season for the Lions, booting four goals in those matches and providing a presence inside 50. She is tipped to be among the main options for Subiaco inside 50 for 2024, coming off an impressive 11.4-disposal, 2.2-mark and 2.4-tackle season.
A natural contested marker with elite athleticism, Wolmarans knows how to clunk grabs, but also move well once on the deck. Standing at 180cm, Wolmarans has the height to outreach many opponents, and while still building one-on-one strength against bigger bodied defenders, she will almost always have them for pace and reaction time.
Once goalside, Wolmarans is a player who can do plenty of damage, proving hard to catch, and she showed that against her own age group at the Under 16s Championships. Built in a similar mould to the highly athletic Amy Franklin, Wolmarans had a plethora of chances on goal against Vic Country, and had she converted a few more, would have finished with a huge haul.
Stepping up to the Under 18s competition Wolmarans kicked another three goals across her two games, averaging 9.5 disposals, 2.5 marks and 3.5 tackles. For a player who has such terrific aerial ability, the teenager is more than capable at ground level with her pressure.
WAFLW 24 TO WATCH IN 2024:
>> Taya Chambers (East Fremantle)
>> Carys D’Addario (Swan Districts)
>> Jorja Haines (Peel Thunder)
>> Megan Norbury (West Perth)
>> Juliet Kelly (Claremont)
>> Kaitlyn Roper (West Perth)
>> Tiani Teakle (East Fremantle)
>> Dakota Sexton (Peel Thunder)
>> Alira Fotu (South Fremantle)
>> Holly Britton (Peel Thunder)
>> Jasmine Bazeley (South Fremantle)
>> Sienna Gerardi (Swan Districts)
>> Grace Freeman (East Fremantle)