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 midfielders who have a clear secondary position be it forward or back. However those incredible athletes good enough to be ruck-midfielders will be in the ruck positional analysis.

>> GENERAL DEFENDERS
>> GENERAL FORWARDS

MIDFIELDER-FORWARDS:

Ash Centra (Gippsland Power / Vic Country)

Height: 176cm
DOB: 02/06/2006
Key Strengths: Clean hands, elite kicking, decision making
Main Improvement: Speed

The pick one fate accompli is one of the most impressive players to have come through the system in recent times and certainly the most skilled. She has kicking skills that few others can hold a candle to, and heading into this year was regarded as “one of, if not the best kicks in the Country program, girls or boys” which is a massive compliment. Her decision making, vision and clean hands are simply elite. The Magpies are poised at Pick 1 to add a serious talent to their list. Will immediately make the Magpies better and the forwards will delight when she has the ball in hand going inside 50.

India Rasheed (Sturt / South Australia)

Height: 173cm
DOB: 29/11/2006
Key Strengths: Left-foot kicking, footy IQ, Clean hands
Main Improvement: Contested marking

Possessing a penetrating left boot, Rasheed’s family name is associated a lot with the tennis court thanks to father Roger’s coaching days on the ATP Tour, but Rasheed has toped to make her name on the footy field. She has wonderfully clean hands, brilliant footy IQ and knows her way around the big sticks. She will likely start as a forward and progress into the middle as that dual role player, similar to what she has done at Sturt and for South Australia throughout the year. A massive Port fan who is set to head out east.

Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons / Vic Metro)

Height: 167cm
DOB: 27/04/2006
Key Strengths: Explosive speed, physicality, clearances
Main Improvement: Defensive running

The daughter of Andrew and sister of current Blues player Abbie, McKay is set to continue the legacy at Princes Park. Carlton has positioned itself so it seems almost certain she will only cost Pick 23 – an absolute bargain for the Blues, with McKay one of the most damaging players forward of centre. She self-admittedly has to improve her defensive running, but her explosive speed, clearance work and ability to hit the scoreboard when inside 50 is so high she will catch the eye. Expect her to play forward before rotating through the middle.

Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges / Vic Metro)

Height: 175cm
DOB: 09/09/2006
Key Strengths: Consistency, clearances, aerial ability
Main Improvement: Composure

What a year it has been for the versatile midfielder/forward who has excelled at both roles throughout her top-age season. Boasting strong hands when inside 50 and a strong frame when over the ball, Belloni kept ticking boxes making it hard to deny she is a Top 20 talent. While others might have a touch more explosiveness, Belloni does have the power, and her hands, along with her consistency were elite this year. So strong in the air and willing to follow-up, she will be the perfect addition for a club looking to add a mix of midfield and forward depth.

Jasmine Evans (Central District / South Australia)

Height: 166cm
DOB: 05/02/2006
Key Strengths: Kicking, decision making, vision
Main Improvement: Contested work

Class with a capital ‘C’ when it comes to Evans, with all of her best traits centering around her ball use and ability to execute wherever she is on the ground. Her kicking, decision making and vision are all highlights, and though she is a lightly-built player who will likely play forward to start, she has shown midfield potential, particularly as that second-possession winner. Kicked some clutch goals with Central District over the last couple of years, so can definitely make it work, and is among the top five kicks in the AFLW Draft.

Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays / Vic Country)

Height: 163cm
DOB: 29/04/2006
Key Strengths: Clean hands, footy IQ, burst speed
Main Improvement: Kicking precision

One of our top players outside the National Draft Combine group, Reynolds is a quiet achiever who earned the Rookie Me Central Medal this year for her consistency through the Talent League Girls program. Reynolds’ clean hands both when forward or in the middle really shine, and her ability to burst away from an opponent over the first few metres catch the eye. The Stingrays’ best and fairest winner equally has the smarts be it around goal of the coalface and looms as a really valuable addition to any team at the top level.

Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power / Vic Country)

Height: 165cm
DOB: 17/12/2006
Key Strengths: Dual-sided, evasion, defensive pressure
Main Improvement: Decision making

Another value prospect with high upside, Sowden is a player with serious potential and someone who can take her game to the next level with some work at the elite level. She is uniquely dual-sided with some nice evasive skills coming out of a stoppage, while her tackling pressure is a shining light in her game. She can play both inside midfield or even deep forward one-on-one, having some big games around goal. While having the number one pick in your team can often make it difficult to standout, Sowden definitely caught the eye, and when Centra was out, stood up to produce some crazy numbers.

Sophie Strong (Tasmania Devils / Tasmania)

Height: 166cm
DOB: 17/10/2006
Key Strengths: Explosive speed, athleticism, impact-per-possession
Main Improvement: Durability

It was a frustrating year for Strong who just could not piece together some continuity. Her talent is incredible, and there is no doubt had she got on the park, that there is every possibility she could be a top 30 talent. Instead, the big question mark is just over what she is capable of, having only played the one full game and a couple of half games. Her explosive speed, overall athleticism and impact-per-possession both in the middle or as a half-forward stands out, and she could be the value pick in the draft if a club opts to select her later on.

Lilly Leighton (Gippsland Power / Vic Country)

Height: 162cm
DOB: 08/10/2006
Key Strengths: Contested work, speed, agility
Main Improvement: Kicking precision

Overcoming the disappointment of missing out on Vic Country selection, Leighton pieced together a really consistent year for the Power playing through the middle and rotating out to half-forward. She might not be tall, but is incredibly strong, and puts her body on the line both in the air or at ground level. Her athletic traits are outstanding, and hand-in-hand with her contest ball-winning abilities, make her a really valuable player for a club. She has development to come, but has left no stone unturned in her pursuit of reaching the elite level.

MIDFIELDER-DEFENDERS:

Molly O’Hehir (South Fremantle / Western Australia)

Height: 179cm
DOB: 24/05/2006
Key Strengths: Competitiveness, explosive speed, aerial ability
Main Improvement: Opposite foot

Standing at 179cm, O’Hehir presents a unique prospect for clubs at the top end with her mix of athleticism and skill across the board. She can use the ball well on her preferred side, and has the explosive speed that few players her height do. The South Fremantle prospect equally has fantastic competitiveness which drives her to be the best player she can be, and with an ability to play in just about any role, she is the perfect player for a club needing a tall utility. One who has enormous upside for the future.

Amelie Prosser-Shaw (East Coast Eagles / Giants Academy / NSW-ACT)

Height: 175cm
DOB: 14/11/2006
Key Strengths: Athleticism, defensive pressure, aerial ability
Main Improvement: Kicking precision

A member of the Giants Academy, Prosser-Shaw has carved out a nice state league career for the successful East Coast Eagles, and translated that form into the Coates Talent League with the Orange Team. She got her chance for the Allies, and has played as a midfielder, defender and wing across the last two seasons, and at 175cm, projects as a prospect capable of filling in just about anywhere. She kicked a goal on VFLW debut and did not look out of place against senior opponents so expect her to fit in well wherever she lands.

Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers / Vic Country)

Height: 176cm
DOB: 01/07/2006
Key Strengths: Athleticism, aerial ability, reading the play
Main Improvement: One-on-ones

An ultra-athletic tall defender who has played through the midfield and even forward in the past, Egan has a high upside that clubs will love to develop. She can jump really high and reads the play so well when it comes to intercepting and rebounding from the back half of the ground. The younger sister of Richmond’s Grace, the Tigers supporter is a very different player, but will bring a similar level of competitive nature, and she is best suited where she can run and jump as a third-up player or rebounding talent.

Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers / Giants Academy / NSW-ACT)

Height: 174cm
DOB: 07/07/2006
Key Strengths: Kicking, production, endurance
Main Improvement: Athleticism

Another Giants Academy member, Hall had some huge endurance performances this year and is a player who can run all day and impact throughout four quarters. Some of her stat-stuffing efforts jumped off the page for Murray Bushrangers through the middle, and then she played as a tall defender for the Allies. She finds so much of the ball and has a well-balanced profile, Hall can slot in just about anywhere. She is not as athletic as others, but when it comes to her footy nous, the former Under 16s MVP for the Giants Academy can match it with the best of them.