A TOWERING presence be it in the ruck or down forward, West Adelaide’s Chloe Tonkin looms as one of the top contested marking prospects in this year’s AFLW Draft. Having plied her trade at SANFLW level, Tonkin got her chance at the AFLW Under Under 18s Championships last year after running out for the Croweaters at Under 16s level the year before.

CHLOE TONKIN PROFILE

DOB: 18/04/2007
Height: 183cm
Position: Ruck/Key Forward
Club: West Adelaide

SUMMARY

Tonkin has long been made for senior football given her strength one-on-one and contested marking ability, which she has shown since coming into the SANFL Women’s competition for West Adelaide. Rotating between the ruck and up forward for the Bloods, Tonkin has competed with some seriously experienced opponents, as well as an array of different sized and athletically gifted players.

When in attack, she provides an avenue to goal through her leading patterns, not afraid to crash packs and shows the right amount of aggression one wants to see from a bigger player. She is not afraid to use her frame at ground level when required, though her best work is done in the air with velcro-like hands that are hard to stop once she gets a clean look.

Possessing a powerful kick and an ability to take the ball out of the ruck as well, Tonkin added 13 games to her CV for West Adelaide last season after getting a taste for senior action with two in 2023. She averaged 7.2 disposals, 3.2 marks and 6.2 hitouts, and though only credited with three goals in that time, her primary role was to provide a marking target inside 50 that could bring the ball to ground.

West Adelaide did miss out on finals, but Tonkin was one of a number of young guns to come through the pathway and become a lock in the side’s best team. Back up against her peers, Tonkin was simply too strong in the ruck, playing two AFLW Under 18 Championships matches and averaging 20 hitouts to go with 13.5 disposals and 2.5 marks.

There might be more athletically gifted rucks running around, but Tonkin is a safe bet with her one-on-one ability and strong hands that enable her to dominate in contests and with another preseason under her belt, expect her to further develop in 2025.