COLLINGWOOD holds the coveted top pick in this year’s AFL Women’s Draft, with 2024 marking the first edition that is not only largely uncompromised, but also national. The Magpies will have the choice between picking the standout local Victorian talent, or looking both north and west for some serious speed and X-Factor. We take a look at the three main candidates for Pick 1.

Ash Centra (Gippsland Power/Vic Country)
02/06/2006 | 176cm | Tall Utility

One of, if not the best ball user and decision maker that has come through the AFLW Draft. Centra can hit targets in traffic, on the move, even sometimes without looking such is her high level of skill, awareness and footy IQ. The amount of times she dances around opponents to leave them puzzled and still executes with a nonchalant pass that almost always hits its target is mindboggling.

While not possessing the athleticism or speed that the other two players on this list have, Centra ticks just about every other box, and she ‘slows time’ with her play. Each disposal is calculated, and her aerial ability is sensational, while her hands are as clean as anyone else in the draft. Essentially, taking out speed, Centra is as high in every other category as one could hope, and she naturally has to be the favourite for the selection given she is local – to Gippsland Power – and can play on all three lines.

Havana Harris (Bond University/Suns Academy/ Queensland)
01/07/2006 | 182cm | Key Position Utility

Much like Centra, Harris can play in a multitude of positions, having started as a forward/ruck, and developed more into the modern day ruck/midfielder. While standing at 182cm, her strength and explosive speed helps her standout from the rest. She regularly bursts away from stoppages leaving opponents helpless and is pretty much untaggable given her size and athletic traits.

While not having the elite footskills of Centra, Harris has a penetrating kick that travels 50m on a good day, and that combined with a usual 20m run enables her to impact the game with the distance travelled. Harris can hit the scoreboard in whatever role she plays, and as she showed in the win over Vic Country, can kick some pretty impressive goals including her 45m bomb on the run. Tied to the Gold Coast Suns Academy, it will be a fascinating watch to see whether or not Collingwood bids on Harris at pick one, or the Suns can take her with their second round selection.

Zippy Fish (East Fremantle/Western Australia)
04/06/2006 | 160cm | Midfielder

The saying ‘Zippy by name, zippy by nature’ has been well overused when it comes to the explosive Fish, but it sums her up perfectly. Boasting some elite athletic traits as well as fantastic skills, Fish is a nice combination of Harris and Centra. She is strong in teh air for a 160cm player, though the size difference is arguably the main element that has her a slight step below the other two.

Her list of accolades is just as good though, having won the Lou Knitter Medal for best on ground in the WAFLW Grand Final, as well as coming second in the league best and fairest this year. Her run and carry is extraordinary, with her sidestepping and repeat contest work simply sensational. Her highlights package is one of the best you can get, and when she wins it unimpeded out of the centre clearance, runs 30m and launches from 50m to sail home, well there’s another saying for that – hook it into my veins.