IN THE lead-up to next week’s AFLW Draft, we’re breaking down some of the available prospects in each area. Today we take a look at the general defenders, which will not include those tall or key position types, but instead those sub-174cm. Additionally this list will feature players who are midfielder/defenders under that height, however not the wing/defenders who will slot into a different positional analysis.

GENERAL DEFENDERS:

Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers / Vic Metro)

Height: 169cm
DOB: 10/07/2006
Key Strengths: Kicking, Reading the play, intercept marking
Main Improvement: Endurance

Tallariti looms as the first chosen from the positional group, having improved her speed over the course of the season, and further established herself as one of the premier defenders across the country. Co-captaining Vic Metro to the AFLW Under 18 Championships, then winning her second flag with Oakleigh – this time as captain – Tallariti has tasted plenty of success the last two years. One of the most mature players to come through the pathway, she will slot into any side and provide a cool head under pressure in defence.

Mackenzie Williams (Tasmania Devils / Tasmania)

Height: 171cm
DOB: 26/06/2006
Key Strengths: Competitiveness, reading the play, penetrating kick
Main Improvement: Kicking precision

Williams will be the first Tasmanian read out on the night, with the North Melbourne supporter having represented the Allies the past three seasons at Under 18s level. She competes well against strong opponents, and can outmuscle smaller ones too. She is a player who provides plenty of drive from defence, and while others on this list might have more explosive speed, she has power and strength that enables her to both defend well, and provide offensive rebound out of the back half. Williams is not afraid to take the game on and clear the danger zone with a booming kick.

Tatyana Perry (Palmerston Magpies / Northern Territory)

Height: 170cm
DOB: 28/02/2006
Key Strengths: Explosive speed, clean hands, groundballs
Main Improvement: Strength

Perry dominated the 20m sprint at the AFLW National Draft Combine, pipping fellow speedster Zippy Fish. Perry has some eye-catching moves coming off half-back, with the potential to play further afield. She is still lightly framed compared to some others here, but her clean hands and groundballs really add a point of difference to her game. If a side can harness her remarkable speed and smarts, she can go a long way and is one of the top Northern Territory talents to come through the pathway. Was a co-captain at Palmerston Magpies at just 17 years of age.

Lou-Lou Field (Western Jets / Vic Metro)

Height: 167cm
DOB: 18/10/2006
Best Strengths: Reading the play, positioning, Footy IQ
Main Improvement: One-on-ones

As reliable as they come in defence, Field overcame coms early interruptions in her top-age season to stand up for Vic Metro and play a key role in the back 50. She is so clever behind the ball, reading the play well and able to position herself well to intercept. A left-footer, Field has a penetrating kick that when on can be incredibly damaging, and she has outstanding agility to help her evade would-be tacklers. Though a similar height to Tallariti, Field is more suited to a third-up role rather than one-on-one, but can be that settling influence in defence.

Natasha Entwistle (East Fremantle / Western Australia)

Height: 172cm
DOB: 19/10/2006
Best Strengths: Competitiveness, defensive pressure, consistency
Main Improvement: Endurance

One of the more consistent general defenders in the crop, Entwistle has long been part of East Fremantle’s program which is a hard side to crack into at WAFLW level. She can play on talls and smalls and is ultra-competitive, always looking to take the team-first approach. Her timing on spoils and one-on-one bodywork stands out compared to a lot of others on this list, and while many have a higher focus on offensive drive, Entwistle players a defence-first game. She still provides some great run out of the back 50 however and is looking to further build her endurance to push up the ground when required.

Charlotte Brewer (Oakleigh Chargers / Vic Metro)

Height: 165cm
DOB: 09/11/2006
Best Strengths: Explosive speed, agility, run-and-carry
Main Improvement: Strength

Brewer on the other hand does her best work when she can put speed on the ball and burst out of the back 50, evading everyone as she goes. At times she can tighten up the final execution, but it is hard to deny she has plenty to work with going forward. Her athletic traits are elite, particularly her speed and agility, and she uses them to maximum effect on the field. Explosive players are in hot demand at AFLW level and Brewer is certainly one of them. She does not have the contested nature as much as some, but her outside game is as good as any.

Sabella Banks (East Perth / Western Australia)

Height: 167cm
DOB: 29/08/2006
Best Strengths: Athleticism, work rate, defensive pressure
Main Improvement: Kicking precision

A great balance between offensive and defensive capabilities, Banks boasts a terrific work rate and high-level defensive pressure. She showed throughout the national carnival that she is not to afraid to take on the big jobs, and her accountability is among the best going around. She has some elements to tidy up, but really shone at the State Draft Combine where she starred across all athletic tests. That elite athleticism gives clubs something to work with for a player who is happy to lock down on an opponent as well as provide some run from the back half.

DEFENDER / MIDFIELDERS:

Heidi Talbot (Bond Uni / Suns Academy / Queensland)

Height: 160cm
DOB: 18/12/2006
Best Strengths: Endurance, speed, run-and-carry
Main Improvement: Groundballs

Talbot has one of the best speed-endurance mixes in the AFLW Draft crop and comes with big wraps out of both the Gold Coast Suns Academy and Queensland programs. She has played across all three lines, though mostly spent time as a half-back who could role into the midfield prior to injury this year. A natural gifted player who has a suite of weapons to use, she is one the Suns are looking to lock in, having positioned themselves well to match any bids that come in for the North Cairns prospect.

Jemmika Douglas (Bendigo Pioneers / Vic Country)

Height: 166cm
DOB: 20/02/2006
Best Strengths: Contested work, strength, footy IQ
Main Improvement: Speed

A member of Richmond’s Next-Generation Academy, Douglas is as tough as nails and competes both in the air and at ground level. Though only 166cm, she can beat taller opponents in marking contests through both strength and footy IQ. While not having the speed of some others, her anticipation and understanding of the game helps her win the ball both in defence and in attack, and with further development she can take her game to another level. Has some nice upside across multiple lines.

Ellie Veerhuis (UNSW-ES Bulldogs / Swans Academy / NSW-ACT)

Height: 172cm
DOB: 28/01/2006
Best Strengths: Speed, run-and-carry, Competitiveness
Main Improvement: Strength

Veerhuis was one of this year’s draft bolters, having really impressed for the Sydney Swans Academy through the Coates Talent League Girls competition and getting her chance at VFLW in the red and white as well. A nice height at 172cm, she graduated from being a speedy half-back to roll on-ball with the Allies after the combined states team suffered a few injuries at the national championships. Her competitive nature to pair with that explosive speed and run-and-carry makes her a well-balanced player.

Laela Ebert (North Adelaide / South Australia)

Height: 165cm
DOB: 27/04/2006
Best Strengths: Kicking, clean hands, Composure
Main Improvement: Athleticism

One of the more skilful kicks in this year’s AFLW Draft, Ebert is not afraid to bite off some risky kicks to put her side in a better position. She has clean hands and is composed even under pressure with that “time stopping” ability made famous by Scott Pendlebury. An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in her double bottom-age year took away some of her speed, but she is building into it and is most impactful with ball in hand be it coming from defence or in the midfield where she makes good decisions.

Molly Paterson (Eastern Ranges / Vic Metro)

Height: 170cm
DOB: 11/02/2006
Best Strengths: Work rate, defensive pressure, clean hands
Main Improvement: Composure

A reliable player who has filled out both the midfield and defensive roles, Paterson works hard to cover the ground and applies terrific defensive pressure. Her clean hands at ground level – and an ability to find space and mark before taking off – enables her to quickly fire off handballs to teammates on the move. She is one who has further development to come with her composure and offensive impact, but defensively she is superb, and has the capacity to play a number of roles across the field.