SYDNEY Swans Academy have a nice blend of future prospects over the next few years with a host of top-age talents along with a few bottom-age stars making their mark. They started off with a couple of seven-goal wins in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, before going down to last year’s grand finalists. Though she only played one game, Ellie Veerhuis has now achieved her dream of being drafted, heading to the Gold Coast Suns.

RESULTS:

Round 3: def. Tasmania Devils by 41 points
Round 4: def. GWV Rebels by 42 points
Round 5: lost to Eastern Ranges by 39 points
Round 6: lost to Oakleigh Chargers by 14 points

STANDOUTS

Kiera Yerbury
Midfielder | 173cm | 24/07/2007

The powerful tall midfielder has plenty of upside and projects as the prototype player that clubs love to bring in to the mix. She can find the ball – having 34 touches in the loss to Oakleigh – and is capable of getting forward and hitting the scoreboard as well. Along with her natural progression which will come with time, Yerbury can still get more consistent from week to week, but was able to put up some huge numbers throughout the carnival. The Swans Academy member averaged 24.5 disposals, 3.0 marks, 5.8 tackles, 3.8 clearances and 4.3 inside 50s and earned a spot with the All Stars side against the National Academy last weekend.

Alex Neyland
Tall Forward | 178cm | 04/09/2007

A proper AFLW Draft bolter, Neyland should be in the thick of first round calculations after successfully returning from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that put a line through her bottom-age campaign. Neyland is a strong aerial player but her point of difference is at ground level where she puts up midfielder-tackle numbers with fierce forward pressure. Able to hit the scoreboard and set up her teammates, Neyland’s work rate is incredible and she shines as a hard-running centre half-forward. The Swans tall averaged 18.0 disposals, 4.0 marks, 6.5 tackles, 4.0 inside 50s and booted three goals, and like Yerbury earned a spot with the Allies.

Madeleine Quinn
Ruck/Forward | 185cm | 10/02/2007

The AFLW Academy ruck not only played through her preferred position, but got to taste life as a forward for both the Swans and when stepping in for the National Academy. She still managed 20.5 hitouts along with 12.5 disposals, 3.0 marks and 5.0 tackles, and her balance of athleticism as well as strength overhead makes her one of the most challenging rucks to face. The knock can be her lower production rate compared to some other rucks, but her impact is high and she also has brilliant follow-up work at ground level. Considering her 185cm height, she moves seamlessly around the ground and has great pace.

Charlotte Tidemann
Defender | 169cm | 08/08/2008

The bottom-age dynamo is the standout bottom-ager from the Swans group next year and she has all the outside traits that spectators love to see. Possessing explosive speed and the confidence to take the game on and back herself, Tidemann is a player that teammates love to get the ball in the hands of in order to set up play down the ground. She will switch or hit those 45-kicks into the middle, and occasionally go for a three-bounce run down the wing transitioning from defence to offence. Though her traits best lend themselves to that running role on the outside, Tidemann finds her own ball and averaged 19.8 disposals, 2.0 marks, 2.5 tackles and 5.8 rebound 50s per game.

Grace Parsons
Key Forward | 180cm | 10/12/2007

A contested marking forward who throws back to traditional football with the way she leads, clunks grabs and goes back and nails set shots, Parsons is a massive threat inside 50. She might stay close to home, but can also play higher up the ground as well with some eye-catching athletic traits to-boot. Throughout the four games, Parsons slotted seven goals from 5.3 disposals and 2.3 marks, and while not a massive production player, makes the most of her chances. She stands at 180cm and can leap high making her difficult to spoil. Joined Yerbury and Neyland as All Stars representatives and kicked the opening goal of the game against the National Academy.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Emma Juneja
Wing | 169cm | 08/05/2006

One of the more unlucky stories out of last season, the over-ager is among the top 2006-born prospects going about her business. She has elite work rate and her aerial presence is a point of difference compared to many other wingers. Juneja came in for game two and played the rest of the carnival, averaging 18.3 disposals, 3.3 marks, 4.0 tackles, 2.0 clearances and 3.0 inside 50s, playing her role each and every week. Not many over-agers get great opportunities once their first draft chance is gone, but Juneja showed she has kept focus on achieving her dream and was one of the Swans’ standouts throughout the carnival.

Molly Thomas
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 22/04/2007

A left-footer with some nice traits, Thomas can play both on-ball or up forward and use her burst speed to break free from congestion and use the ball in transition. Thomas played a key role riding shotgun with Yerbury in the middle, averaging 16.8 disposals, 6.3 tackles, 2.8 clearances and 4.3 inside 50s and though her aerial game for a medium-sized player can still improve, her groundlevel game is quite strong. She will provide defensive pressure and transition the ball forward, with an ability to also hit the scoreboard at times too which is important.

Lucinda Watson
Midfielder/Forward | 161cm | 25/11/2007

Though not tall, Watson competes strongly against players bigger than her, largely due to her clean hands and composure. Not panicking under pressure, Watson can scoop the ball off the deck and find an exit before delivering it to a leading teammate down the ground. One of those players who does not need too much of the ball to provide an impact, Watson showed a similar versatility to Thomas in the sense that she can play midfield or off half-forward and send the ball well inside 50. She averaged 14.8 disposals, 2.3 marks, 4.0 tackles and 2. 8 inside 50s across her four games.

INTO THE FUTURE

Frances Walsh
Wing | 173cm | 30/01/2008

The hard-running Walsh covers plenty of ground during a match and she spreads into space consistently to find the ball. She averaged 19.5 disposals, 2.3 marks, 2.8 tackles, 2.0 inside 50s and 1.5 rebound 50s, with a lot of her touches coming between the arcs. Across the board, Walsh generally cleared any danger and worked in tandem with Juneja, while pushing in to be an extra number around the stoppages on occasion. Naturally the bulk of her possessions were on the outside and given her running capacity and size, it suits her.

Heidi de Saxe
Midfielder | 164cm | 17/04/2008

The bottom-ager only played the two games but can play a role next season as a tough inside midfielder, often winning the ball under immense pressure. She averaged 10.0 disposals, 3.5 tackles and 2.0 inside 50s, and while still developing her all-round game, has been impressive in the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division competition as well. One of a number of bottom-agers who will benefit from more responsibility on-ball next year, she can be one to watch develop over the next 18 months.

Emma Haley
Small Forward | 160cm | 15/10/2008

A crafty small who finished with the equal second-most goals of any Swan, Haley has some nice smarts inside 50 and is a capable groundlevel player to the twin talls. Able to work up the ground and find the ball in congestion as well, Haley averaged 11.0 disposals, 1.3 marks, 2.5 tackles, 1.3 inside 50s and 1.0 goals per game. A good experience against quality defenders, Haley will only get better with time.

SUMMARY

The Sydney Swans Academy came away with plenty of memories from the Coates Talent League Girls competition, putting two sides to the sword and being competitive at times in the other two matches. The red and whites should have at least a handful drafted in 2025, and boast promising prospects for the coming year, with 2027-28 being bumper crops for the Academy.