IN A stacked draft class filled with points of difference among similar role players, there is no shortage of players to compare to one another. In our AFLW Draft Guide exclusive Marquee Matchup, we take a look at two top 10 talents from opposite sides of the country in Bendigo Pioneers’ Lou Painter and South Fremantle’s Molly O’Hehir.

O’Hehir has been a late developer compared to Painter, showing signs in early days, but also being inconsistent. Over the last two seasons she has built her game to the point where she is one of the most damaging players in the draft class, and far more consistent than two years ago. Her athleticism and competitiveness stand out as key traits.

Painter is a Vic Country Under 16s MVP who has long been considered a top prospect in this year’s AFLW Draft despite having her bottom-age season curtailed by a serious ankle injury. A powerful player with an ability to kick on both sides of her body, as well as play inside, forward or down back, she is the ultimate utility.

South Fremantle, Western Australia GirlsMidfielder-Defender

Molly O'Hehir

Height: 179cm

Weight: -

DOB: 24-05-2006

Bendigo Pioneers, Vic Country GirlsMidfielder

Lou Painter

Height: 174cm

Weight: -

DOB: 23-02-2006

2024 POWER RANKINGS

MOLLY O’HEHIR: June: #6 | August: #5 | November: #5
LOU PAINTER: June: #4 | August: #7 | November: #6

2024 STATS (AVERAGES)

MOLLY O’HEHIR:

WAFL Women’s
12 games | 19.4 disposals, 2.2 marks, 6.1 tackles, 4.4 inside 50s

AFL Under 18 National Championships
3 games | 15.5 disposals, 2.3 marks, 5.0 tackles, 1.7 clearances, 4.7 inside 50s

LOU PAINTER:

Coates Talent League
11 games | 23.9 disposals, 4.6 marks, 7.4 tackles, 4.8 clearances, 5.5 inside 50s, 3.8 rebound 50s

AFL Under 18 National Championships
3 games | 17.7 disposals, 3.7 marks, 6.7 tackles, 2.7 clearances, 4.7 inside 50s

BEST GAMES

MOLLY O’HEHIR:

2024 WAFL Women’s Round 8
South Fremantle 7.6 (48) def. Subiaco 4.8 (32)

Stats: 30 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 9 inside 50s

Our scouts said…

“It was a phenomenal performance from O’Hehir who dominated from start until finish. She lifted the team up when Subiaco was challenging and tore through the Lions with her metres gained. Often taking a couple of bounces and backing herself, the 179cm talent did just about everything. She took some strong marks, laid bone-crunching tackles and pumped the ball inside 50, setting up a couple of goals directly, as well as a few more indirectly. The clear best-afield.”

LOU PAINTER:

2024 Coates Talent League Round 4
Bendigo Pioneers 9.15 (69) def. Murray Bushrangers 6.5 (41)

Stats: 32 disposals, 7 marks, 7 tackles, 9 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Our scouts said…

“It was another dominant display from the top-age star who just about did it all. Painter won the ball in all thirds of the ground, applied pressure, burst forward and had chances on goal. Her sole major came via a set shot, with some misses both from set shots and quick attempts, but she also set up a number of scoring opportunities for her teammates. A clear standout on the day with her work both inside and up forward.”

STRENGTHS

MOLLY O’HEHIR:

+ Competitiveness
+ Explosive speed
+ Aerial ability
+ Kicking
+ Versatility
+ Offensive-defensive balance
+ Leadership

O’Hehir’s point of difference in her game is her combination of explosive speed and size, where she can play across multiple positions and compete, while using the ball well by hand or foot. She also prides herself on her competitiveness.

LOU PAINTER:

+ Power
+ Kick penetration
+ Inside game
+ Versatility
+ Clean hands
+ Defensive pressure
+ Marking

Painter’s game is built around her power and strength both at stoppages and inside 50. One-on-one she will rarely be beaten and her clean hands and high-level defensive pressure standout compared to a lot of her peers.

IMPROVEMENTS

MOLLY O’HEHIR

– Opposite foot
– Tackling technique

O’Hehir’s competitiveness is a huge advantage, but her desperation at times can lead to giving away free kicks with her fierce intent on the opposition. While her tackling technique is something that can be improved, the other element where Painter has her covered is on her opposite foot, which is still a developing aspect for the West Australian.

LOU PAINTER

– Goalkicking accuracy
– Speed

Painter is powerful but does not have the leg speed or explosiveness that O’Hehir has, and her goalkicking can be wayward at times, leaving a lot of chances out there. That is something that will refine with time and in most other areas of the game she is very strong, particularly in her dual-sidedness and defensive pressure.

VERDICT

The beauty of this year’s draft is the fact that both players offer similar versatility and competitiveness, but are completely different players stylistically and athletically. Both are tall with O’Hehir (179cm) marginally shading Painter (174cm), but the pair can match up on taller and smaller opponents.

Athletically, O’Hehir has Painter covered pretty comfortably, and is one of the best all-round athletes in the AFLW Draft crop, while the Vic Country talent is more adept on her opposite left side, as well as being one of the draft class’ top tacklers.

Both players have shown great leadership to captain various sides this year, and both should land somewhere inside the top 10 in the 2024 AFLW Draft. It will be fascinating to see where they do end up, and the kind of impact they have early in their careers.