ONE PLAYER who really caught the eye in her bottom-age season was Central District’s Mikaylah Antony, with the running defender able to show enough promising talent throughout the SANFLW season that she got a call-up to the South Australian Under 18s side and ended up playing all three games for the Croweaters.

MIKAYLAH ANTONY PROFILE

DOB: 06/07/2007
Height: 169cm
Position: General Defender
Club: Central District

SUMMARY

Antony provides the need for speed off half-back and with ball in hand can impact games both through her run and her ball use. Usually a classy player, the predominantly uncontested player thrives when intercepting or running past for the receive and then delivering down the field effectively. After being in the Under 16s state squad two years ago, Antony missed the initial cut for Under 18s as a bottom-ager, but her form at SANFLW level warranted a call-up.

For Central District, Antony averaged 10.0 disposals, 3.1 marks, 3.2 tackles and 1.9 rebound 50s in a quality side with plenty of experience across each third of the ground. Her ability to hold her own at that level resulted in Antony gaining the opportunity to don the tri-colours once again, and the Bulldogs junior took her chance with both hands.

Across the national carnival, Antony averaged 8.3 disposals, 3.7 marks and 1.0 inside 50s, providing drive for her state against the best of the best and not missing a beat. While the numbers might not leap off the page, looking back at some of her highlights from the carnival, it was clear the defender very much belonged in the company.

Fast forward to 2025, and she comes in at number seven on our countdown because she has some terrific upside to continue improving, and given her combination of speed and class, she can take her game to another level. To put her skill level in perspective, of the players at the National Championships to play all three games, Antony recorded a kicking efficiency of 82.4 per cent, behind only two players – Ash Centra and Sienna Tallariti – who were largely regarded as the two best kicks in last year’s draft crop.

While Antony is a predominantly outside player compared to others, she can still compete one-on-one in aerial contests well, as shown by her making numbers. With further improvement over the preseason and in 2025, expect her to be a name who could shoot up the boards.