AS THE AFL Women’s preseason fast approaches and the opening match set for August 14, clubs are taking stock of their lists to ensure a full bill of health for the upcoming season. In the past couple of weeks, players such as Poppy Stockwell (Fremantle), Maddison Torpey (Carlton), Tessa Boyd (North Melbourne) and Maggie MacLachlan (Essendon) have all found new AFLW homes.

As with the success of players such as Tunisha Kikoak last season, injury replacement players can earn full contracts at the end of the following season, or even get an opportunity at another chance willing to go all-in on them. With that in mind, we take a look at a few players who could make the jump. Note: We have only named players without previous AFLW experience, and are born in 2005 or earlier.

Isla Baldwin (Box Hill Hawks)
Midfielder | 162cm | 22/12/2005

A naturally talented player who has just had some bad luck with injury in recent years, Baldwin has started the 2025 VFLW season on fire. Leading the competition in coaches votes, Baldwin has been a star for the unbeaten brown and gold through the middle and provides consistent effort each and every week. While a tough contested ball-winner, Baldwin has the class and smarts to also use it well on the outside. Her 2025 season averages are 19.3 disposals, 3.7 marks, 6.0 tackles, 3.7 clearances and 4.0 inside 50s.

Caitlin Fletcher (Parramatta Goannas/North Melbourne VFLW)
Midfielder/Defender | 171cm | 02/10/2003

The New South Wales talent made the move down south to join up with the Kangaroos’ VFLW program after representing the GWS Giants in the same competition last season. That year she averaged 10.4 disposals, 2.8 clearances, 5.2 tackles and 2.0 inside 50s. A natural ball-winner in AFL Sydney, the Parramatta Goannas star won the Farrugia Medal for her performance representing NSW-ACT. She has long been known as a prospect in AFL Sydney circles and it seems like the right time for the 21-year-old.

Christina Leuzzi (Woodville-West Torrens)
Midfielder | 157cm | 08/07/2003

Another 21-year-old who is not only reaching her potential but exceeding it, Leuzzi is having some sort of season. The Eagles star won best afield honours for the SANFLW in its recent win over the WAFLW though that is only the icing on the cake. Her numbers in 2025 have been off the charts and the small onballer is averaging 22.0 disposals, 2.5 marks, 6.8 tackles, 6.8 clearances and 4.8 inside 50s with two games of double-digit clearances already this season. She can use the ball neatly and is as tough as they come.

Olivia Meagher (Southport)
Midfielder/Forward | 157cm | 21/12/2002

The hard-nosed midfielder is back in the spotlight after coming very close to making the jump to the AFLW with the Magpies. She was a train-on player and represented both Box Hill and Collingwood in the VFLW before moving to Queensland for the past two seasons where she has played for the Thuringowa Bulldogs. A class above there, Meagher moved down the coast where she has joined QAFL Women’s reigning premiers, Southport. Amongst a stacked lineup, Meagher has shown her scoreboard impact – one main query on her when in Victoria – has substantially improved, having booted 13 goals in four games for the Sharks.

Jess Verbrugge (East Perth)
Midfielder | 172cm | 04/02/2004

Hailing originally from South Fremantle, Verbrugge has admittedly taken a little while to find that consistency that takes you from a good state league player to the next level. Having settled in at East Perth, Verbrugge has looked that top shelf talent with her athletic traits and elite endurance base. What she has shown so far in 2025 is that consistency she needed to find, putting up averages of 22.0 disposals, 4.8 marks and 4.5 tackles. Critically for the last two stats, her overhead marking and physicality around the ball were two big areas she was looking to improve. One to watch from a league where plenty get picked up as mature-agers.