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 key position players and rucks, with the focus on those players who are either above 180cm (key position), or have played in the ruck.

>> GENERAL DEFENDERS
>> GENERAL FORWARDS
>> VERSATILE MIDFIELDERS
>> WINGERS

KEY POSITION PLAYERS:

Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers / Vic Metro)

Height: 180cm
DOB: 18/04/2006
Key Strengths: Contested marking, athleticism, competitiveness
Main Improvement: Set shot consistency

McDonald is the premier key forward in this year’s AFLW Draft, with the talented tall only in her second season of Coates Talent League Girls action, but getting better throughout the years. She is an incredible contested mark, but her competitiveness, and work once the ball hits the deck helps her stand out. McDonald’s work below her knees, second efforts and work rate all allow her to be a versatile tall. Though she can further improve her set shot consistency – often at closer-medium range – she projects as a star of the future.

Claire Mahony (GWV Rebels / Vic Country)

Height: 181cm
DOB: 21/06/2006
Key Strengths: Contested marking, aerial ability, kicking
Main Improvement: Groundballs

Another standout key forward with some elite hands, Mahony is arguably the best contested mark in the draft crop. She can clunk grabs three or four deep with velcro-like hands, and showed towards the second half of the season she has the ability to play up on a wing or deep in defence. Developing more of a ground level presence which is the next step, Mahony’s aerial ability and her field kicking are huge strengths in her game, and she looms as a valuable prospect inside the Top 30 for clubs, particularly those outside the Top 10.

Lexi Gregor (Bendigo Pioneers / Vic Country)

Height: 181cm
DOB: 07/04/2006
Key Strengths: Contested marking, aerial ability, kick penetration
Main Improvement: Speed

Another fantastic marking option, Gregor does not have the athleticism that McDonald or Mahony necessarily have, but instead she has the ability to easily beat opponents one-on-one with sheer strength. The point of difference in Gregor’s game is the fact she can mark the ball in a variety of ways, and her ability to be thrown into defence – or even the ruck – helps her be the ultimate utility. That variety in her game offers great value for a club later in the draft.

Chloe Gaunt (Coorparoo / Lions Academy / Queensland)

Height: 182cm
DOB: 22/07/2006
Key Strengths: Contested marking, speed, aerial ability
Main Improvement: Endurance

A raw key forward who hopes to play as a ruck in the future, Gaunt came a long way in season 2024 to be a genuine AFLW Draft prospect. While still needing to improve her endurance, Gaunt’s combination of athleticism with strength provides a nice blend of the other key forwards. Her consistency will come in time and she is more raw than the other options in the position, but that balance would excite clubs. Though a Lions Academy member, she was not nominated by Brisbane, so is available in the open pool without having to be matched.

Sienna Hobbs (Bendigo Pioneers / Vic Country)

Height: 180cm
DOB: 14/10/2006
Key Strengths: Strength, contested marking, versatility
Main Improvement: Endurance

A powerful utility and one of three 180cm-plus key position targets out of the Bendigo Pioneers, Hobbs has terrific strength and strong hands which translate to any role. Her point of difference compared to the other two was her ruck craft, often sharking it from the contest inside 50 and throwing it across her body to snag the odd goal. A long and penetrating kick of the football, Hobbs can play any of the three key position roles, but that ruck/forward shared gig seems the way forward.

Sasha Pearce (Bendigo Pioneers / Vic Country)

Height: 182cm
DOB: 13/11/2006
Key Strengths: Accountability, strength, one-on-ones
Main Improvement: Athleticism

Plying her trade as a key defender and impressing for Bendigo Pioneers, Pearce earned the call-up to Vic Country where she played a similar role there. Not a stranger to be thrown up the other end of the ground, or more commonly through the ruck, Pearce has more of a defensive mindset than her two Pioneers compatriots, and great accountability when in the back 50. She does need to work on her athleticism and endurance, but is able to maximise her strengths when playing a defensive role.

Tiffany King (South Adelaide / South Australia)

Height: 179cm
DOB: 08/04/1999
Key Strengths: One-on-ones, accountability, strength
Main Improvement: Offensive game

The most readymade key defender in the AFLW Draft, King has long been lauded for her work with South Adelaide through the SANFLW. She can take on roles big and small thanks to being that bit more mobile, and certainly agile compared to some others on the list. Though not a massive accumulator, her numbers did improve in 2024, and that is something that depending on her role and club, will continue to rise in the future. Luckily thanks to her knack for nullifying her direct opponent, King is perfect to take the opposition’s most dangerous forward.

RUCKS:

Elli Symonds (Dandenong Stingrays / Vic Country)

Height: 178cm
DOB: 07/10/2006
Key Strengths: Athleticism, speed, versatility
Main Improvement: Endurance

One of the more unique prospects in this year’s AFLW Draft, Symonds started her career as a ruck/forward, but aims to develop into a tall inside midfielder going forward. She has the athleticism to compete at stoppages, the strength to go one-on-one, and also the speed to burst out of congestion. Unfortunately stress fractures meant she was on ice until midway through the year, but showed some of the talent she had in her bottom-age year and is now just building her endurance back. Expect her to be an eye-catching player of the future.

Lilly Baker (Maroochydore / Lions Academy / Queensland)

Height: 180cm
DOB: 14/08/2006
Key Strengths: Athleticism, competitiveness, ruck craft
Main Improvement: Marking

A member of the Brisbane Lions Academy, Baker had a delayed start to the year due to injury, but returned through the National Academy’s match against the Under 21 All-Stars. She spent some time forward that day, but is primarily a defender/ruck, which shows just how versatile she can be. Naturally athletic, Baker covers the ground well with terrific endurance as well as speed which is rare for a player of her size. While still working on her marking ability and kicking precision, Baker has a lot of positives to take to the next level.

Zoe Besanko (Dandenong Stingrays / Vic Country)

Height: 177cm
DOB: 25/05/2006
Key Strengths: Athleticism, marking, groundballs
Main Improvement: Kicking

A natural athlete who has been trialled in just about every position, Besanko has some serious speed and aerial ability that allows her to clunk some strong marks. Her point of difference is at ground level where she is able to be clean below her knees, and while her kicking is one area that needs work, she projects as a developable player, having captained Dandenong Stingrays, and stepped up for both Vic Country and the National Academy. A super mobile talent with room to improve for the future.

Taya Strickland (Subiaco / Western Australia)

Height: 174cm
DOB: 24/09/2006
Key Strengths: Marking, athleticism, versatility
Main Improvement: Raw

Definitely the most raw on the list, with Strickland’s potential untapped. She was a late inclusion to the West Australian squad this year and though being more of a marking target inside 50, even found herself behind the ball and incredibly, despite being 174cm, in the ruck. Her vertical leap and marking capacity stands out as key features in her game, and she looms as a human highlight reel of the future. While Strickland is raw and developing fundamentals within her game, she could take her game to another level with the right environment.

Kate Newson (South Fremantle / Western Australia)

Height: 188cm
DOB: 19/03/2006
Key Strengths: Size, strength, ruck craft
Main Improvement: Athleticism

In an AFLW Draft that is light on for pure rucks, Newson is a point of difference in that regard. The others on the list have her covered for athleticism, with Newson’s sheer size and strength – standing at 188cm – often towering over most opponents. She usually gets first hands to it and uses her body well at ruck stoppages. While Newson can further develop her fundamentals and understanding outside of stoppages, her number one focus of being a ruck is something she does well and will be hard to move in those situations.