IN THE lead-up to next week’s AFLW Draft, we’re breaking down some of the available prospects in each area. Today we finish with the most common role the pure midfielders, though this group is as star-studded as it gets, with no less than three top 10 players and a host of potential top 30 prospects.

>> GENERAL DEFENDERS
>> GENERAL FORWARDS
>> VERSATILE MIDFIELDERS
>> WINGERS
>> KPP/RUCKS
>> UTILITIES
>> TALL DEFENDERS/FORWARDS

MIDFIELDERS:

Zippy Fish (East Fremantle / Western Australia)

Height: 160cm
DOB: 04/06/2006
Key Strengths: Explosive speed, athleticism, kicking
Main Improvement: Contested work

One of the most recognisable names in the AFLW Draft class, the West Australian speedster certainly lives up to it, and looms as a top five pick this year. Fish has explosive speed, terrific evasion and an outstanding leap for a 160cm player, with the midfielder able to carve up any opponent that gives her space. Her kicking is sublime and Fish’s highlights coming out of a stoppage to lower the eyes inside 50 and drill a pass to a leading target is something all fans love to see. She will continue to build on her first-possession winning ability, but can also play off a wing or half-back.

Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons / Vic Country)

Height: 173cm
DOB: 29/01/2006
Key Strengths: Explosive speed, run-and-carry, production
Main Improvement: Defensive pressure

What a couple of years it has been for Howley who dominated across the Coates Talent League Girls competition and stood up for Vic Country at the national championships. Along with All-Australian honours and then the Country MVP in 2024, Howley also collected the Rookie Me Central Medal and Coates Talent League Girls Best and Fairest in her bottom-age season. Her run-and-carry, which is underpinned by her explosive speed helps her get from contest to contest, racking up ridiculous stat-stuffing performances.

Sierra Grieves (Western Jets / Vic Metro)

Height: 163cm
DOB: 18/05/2006
Key Strengths: Production, contested work, defensive pressure
Main Improvement: Polish

Like Howley, Grieves is a high production player, though while she has shown she can provide run on the outside is the ying to Howley’s yang for clubs, with her elite inside game that is centered around first-possession winning and defensive pressure. She is not as polished or explosive as Howley, but her outstanding contested work and sheer work rate sees her dominate games and Grieves deservedly earned Vic Metro and the overall AFLW Under 18s MVP, as well as All-Australian honours. One of the most guaranteed talents in the draft.

Tara Harrington (Bond Uni / Suns Academy / Queensland)

Height: 167cm
DOB: 24/03/2006
Key Strengths: Clean hands, contested work, defensive pressure
Main Improvement: Scoreboard impact

Harrington missed the national championships due to injury, but she is a quality player. The smooth-moving midfielder with terrifically clean hans and great defensive pressure can hurt the opposition in a variety of ways. Though not a huge goalkicker, her best traits come in her ability to retain possession via hand or foot, and she will be able to slot into just about any role. Tied to the Gold Coast Suns Academy, expect them to match a bid for the talented National Academy member to add her to the club’s depth through the middle.

Mia Salisbury (Bond Uni / Suns Academy / Queensland)

Height: 169cm
DOB: 27/06/2006
Key Strengths: Clean hands, stoppage craft, footy IQ
Main Improvement: Endurance

Another Suns Academy member who really came along in leaps and bounds in 2024, Salisbury arguably benefited from Harrington – and others – being unavailable, with the fellow Bond University midfielder getting full-time midfield minutes and showing her ability on the inside. She has great hands, knows her way around a stoppage and her high-level footy IQ enables her to get to the right spots and make good decisions with or without ball in hand. Given she played half-back in her bottom-age season, Salisbury could begin her career there as well.

Lily Paterson (Swan Districts / Western Australia)

Height: 173cm
DOB: 02/05/2006
Key Strengths: Kicking, clean hands, strength
Main Improvement: Speed

It has been a whirlwind year for the West Australian who starred through the WAFL Women’s competition to earn a call-up to the WA squad for the national championships. Racking up the ball with ease as a full-time midfielder since being a forward, Paterson had a big off-season that was the catalyst for her huge year. Her kicking and disposal by hand are strengths of the big midfielder’s game, with her strength at the coalface a feature making her more readymade for senior footy compared to others. She will look to further improve her speed to round out her game.

Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers / Vic Metro)

Height: 163cm
DOB: 19/10/2006
Key Strengths: Competitiveness, contested work, groundballs
Main Improvement: Speed

The hard-running midfielder who has spent time forward in the past, Mahony is one of those players who provides consistent, competitive output regardless of the game or opposition. She only stands at 163cm, but cracks in hard and is clean at ground level. Being able to use both sides of her body naturally certainly helps, and she will do the dirty work to support her teammates. Mahony’s ability to get to the outside ensures she can find the footy out there as well, and while she will be honing in on improving her speed, has a lot of traits clubs will love.

Violet Patterson (Glenelg / South Australia)

Height: 169cm
DOB: 09/01/2006
Key Strengths: Competitiveness, defensive pressure, character
Main Improvement: Kicking precision

The first father-daughter to be tied to a club outside her home state, Patterson is set to make history when Collingwood presumably matches a bid for the Glenelg teenager. The South Australian captain is regarded with the highest character, and she is a terrific player as well. Boasting brilliant competitiveness and fantastic defensive pressure, Patterson does not back down from a contest and is among the toughest in the draft crop. She will tidy up some areas of her game, but her understanding of footy, along with her athletic traits make her an exciting one for Pies fans.

Lavinia Cox (Bendigo Pioneers / Vic Country)

Height: 173cm
DOB: 31/01/2006
Key Strengths: Agility, athleticism, defensive pressure
Main Improvement: Fundamentals

The cross-code basketballer has one of the widest draft ranges out there, with some clubs ultra-keen on the athletic talent. She is raw and will continue to develop her fundamentals, but she was the best athlete at the Draft Combines in October, breaking Monique Conti’s long-held agility record. Her defensive pressure along with her growing understanding of the game will only make her better, and with her 173cm size, clubs will see her as a blank canvas they can further develop to make into a high-upside talent.

Asha Dufour (West Adelaide / South Australia)

Height: 170cm
DOB: 31/08/2006
Key Strengths: Production, clean hands, work rate
Main Improvement: Kicking precision

The West Adelaide midfielder can play inside or outside, and competes well all over the ground. She does well in the air and is clean at ground level, with a high work rate that shows off her contest-to-contest work. She will look to round out her profile by tidying up the precision on her kicking, but she is a versatile prospect who could be on a wing or on the inside, with the aerial strength to also be a target up forward. Has room to further develop in an elite program and will not leave a stone unturned to get there.