IN A WEEK when a host of AFL hopefuls had their dreams realised through the mid-season draft, we cast our eyes over some of the potential mature-age options across the country who could be both immediate and long-term inclusions for AFLW clubs.

SECOND CHANCE SALOON

There are no shortage of options in the state leagues across the country of AFLW players who were delisted and are putting their hands up for another opportunity. Quite often they are players who only had short stints on lists and are better for it, now really standing out at the level below.

West Adelaide’s Hannah Button is one such player who could made an immediate impact at any side with the ex-Crow a tackling machine for the Bloods this season. She could be a midfielder or crafty forward, standing out amongst a host of fierce onballers at Hisense Stadium. Likewise Jade Halfpenny at Norwood is good enough for a third chance, having done plenty of nice things between Port Adelaide and Carlton.

Up forward, Central District’s Katelyn Rosenzweig has put together an incredible SANFLW CV after a brief stint with the Crows, while twins Laquoiya and Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap have that X-Factor at South Adelaide.

In Victoria, Lulu Beatty is having a wonderful season with Darebin Falcons through the middle coming off Carlton’s list, with ex-Hawk Tahlia Fellows, ex-Don and Sun Alana Barba and ex-Eagle Octavia Di Donato all putting their hands up for more chances.

Over in the west, South Fremantle’s Tahleah Mulder has not missed a beat with the ex-Docker alongside Tara Stribley in the red and white. From the Eagles, Mackenzie Webb (Claremont) and Emily Bennett (West Perth) are key players, while ex-Saint Isabella Shannon has been outstanding through the middle for the league’s newest club, Perth.

Subiaco has a stack of ex-AFLW players headlined by former Dee and Eagle Krstel Petrevski who is every chance to win the Dhara Kerr Medallist, consistently dominating through the middle. Both Paige Sheppard and Lisa Steane also look a class above there.

To the east coast and former Giant Zara Hamilton has played both in AFL Sydney and the VFL now with the Bulldogs and is making every post a winner with her midfield craft and running ability. Sophie Kavanagh only had a short time on the Kangaroos list and is ready for more chances.

WORTH A SHOT

Naturally there is never any shortage of over-age or mature-age talent on display across the country with the depth of the AFLW Draft far stronger than when it started. While that is a positive for the league itself, it does mean a lot of players who would have been walk-up draft selections now miss out each year. We highlight a few names across the various leagues in contention.

Collingwood VFLW’s Tahlia Sanger is having an incredible season moving inside playing with both the Magpies and Dandenong Stingrays. She and ex-Ranges talent now Hawk Isla Baldwin are two of the most impressive and still very young players starring, with room to grow. Carlton’s Amy Trindade did have draft interest when she captained the Calder Cannons but it came a little late, while Geelong’s Abby Favell has always had the talent to go to the next level.

One of the more obvious talents is Box Hill’s Stasia Stevenson who was unlucky not to earn a spot last year after a ripping second half of the season for Eastern Ranges. Geelong’s Lily Jordan, Williamstown pair Emily Eaves and Jemima Wrigley, and Sandringham Zebras’ Abbey Tregellis have also attracted draft interest over the last few seasons.

In South Australia, Shae Archbold is showing terrific form for the Panthers now she is a season and a half back from her ACL injury, kicking a goal in every match for her side. Esther Schirmer and Ruby Ballard were two of the more unlucky South Australians to miss out on being drafted last year, while Sturt’s Zara Walsh and Central District’s Lauren Breguet are a pair of readymade forwards.

North Adelaide’s Laela Ebert deservedly earned a spot on Melbourne’s AFLW list after being another unlucky not to go in last year’s draft and is such a prime mover for the Roosters with Tasmanian Aprille Crooks another one. Eagles’ Christina Leuzzi and Norwood’s Kiana Lee are among the most important players in the league. Not to sound like a broken record each year, clearly Jess Bates is more than capable of making the jump.

In Western Australia, Jess Verbrugge has been a late bloomer who is among the top 10 ball-winners this season and has some nice athletic traits which she has shown for East Perth. A readymade marking forward option Zoe Huggett is one out of South Adelaide, while West Perth’s Sara Riou has been the recruit of the year (without AFLW experience) and kicked multiple bags of goals as a half-forward.

Though AFL Sydney and Queensland, Kendra Blattman has really stepped up to be a consistently strong ruck/forward, while Olivia Meagher is dominating for Southport in a stacked side. Morningside recruit Laura Roy is as versatile as they come, now playing as a midfielder but has also played up both ends before.

There are plenty more on that list, but they are just a few who have caught the eye across the nation. It will be fascinating to see who else might get added to AFLW lists as injury replacement players.