TALENTED top-ager Sophia Gaukrodger is a draft smokey in the sense of having less exposure compared to some of her peers, but is making up for lost time in 2025. Unluckily overlooked by the Giants Academy for the Coates Talent League Girls in 2024, Gaukrodger quickly made a name for herself through the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division competition, and has gone to another level this season for UTS Bats.

Her form and work within the Giants Academy over the off-season earned her a spot in the squad, where she was one of the best performed players for the orange team. Following on from that, Gaukrodger was named in the Allies’ squad and is hoping to earn her place in that combined states side for the rest of the AFLW Under 18 National Championships.

On the weekend, Gaukrodger had a stat-stuffing performance against UNSW-ES Bulldogs where she played between forward and midfield, booting three goals from 27 disposals. She was the subject of our AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division Player Focus for Round 11.

PLAYER FOCUS:

2025 AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division – Round 11:
UTS Bats 8.7 (55) def. UNSW-ES Bulldogs 1.3 (9)

#22 Sophia Gaukrodger (UTS Bats)
Stats: 27 disposals (25 kicks, 2 handballs) @ 60% CP & 66.7% DE, 4 marks, 5 clearances, 11 tackles, 4 frees for, 3 free against, 9 inside 50s, 3 goals, 1 behind, 149 AFL Fantasy points

FIRST QUARTER

Gaukrodger started in attack and was quick to set the tone for her defensive efforts in the match, locking up an opponent just outside the forward 50. She would laid an incredible six tackles in the first quarter alone, not giving any opponent an inch in that regard. Often, Gaukrodger would wrap both arms around and bring them to ground, ensuring no escape for the ball, and the chance to win a holding the ball free.

Her first disposal came early when marking in the centre she bombed long off a step looking for Madeleine Quinn, though the National Academy member was outnumbered one to two. Her highlight play from the first term came when she was able to win the ball in the middle, thump it forward, then followed up to win it again by hand in the pocket and before she was bumped, got boot to ball cleanly to snap home the opening Bats’ goal.

Another snap within the quarter went out on the full, but she always looked dangerous around the ball with a great read of the tap off hands in traffic.

SECOND QUARTER

The second term produced one of the best set shot goals you are likely to see, with Gaukrodger earning a free from an out on the full dump kick from an opponent. Stepping up to take the set shot from the boundary 25m out, rather than run around, Gaukrodger opted for the checkside and drilled it like it was a straight forward set shot. It got her side up and about for the rest of the game.

She would go on to step up another couple of scoring chances for her teammates in teh term, including a direct goal assist off hands to Jessica Quade. Throughout the quarter, Gaukrodger would maintain her defensive pressure and force mistakes from the opposition, while taking it cleanly at ground level and throwing it on the boot.

She tended to have a little bit of an awkward kicking style when under pressure with more of a jump kick – the planted foot also raising off the ground – while when having time, was more of a lower, penetrating kick forward. Not always perfect technically, Gaukrodger made up for it with the right decision and put it into dangerous spots for her teammates forward of centre.

THIRD QUARTER

Another goal assist came early in the third term where off the handball receive at the top of 50, produced a lovely kick to Brianna-Lee Wade for an important major. Gaukrodger herself had another chance off hands at the marking contest inside 50 but the quick snap went wide for a behind. She continued to lay a couple of tackles, with her work rate when playing midfield evident.

Gaukrodger won a holding the ball free kick in the back pocket, and used her vision and smarts to hit a target just inside the defensive 50 with precision. Always looking to keep the ball moving and kick to space, she backs her teammates in to win one-on-ones. While a little quieter than her first two quarters, the top-ager still remained involved.

FOURTH QUARTER

Though Gaukrodger’s fourth term was again a little quieter than the first half, she clunked a couple of great contested marks early, and put the ball long into a dangerous spot. When slung in a tackle shortly after, the Bats forward got boot to ball to get it to the hotspot not far out from the big sticks. For most of the quarter she remained in the front half with the Bats on top in the game.

Another score assist was to come for the youngster as she threw it on the boot from a forward stoppage to the hotspot, landing in the arms of Quade. Then, with the time winding down, Gaukrodger would fill her boots further with a third goal in the game, finishing with a trio of majors to accompany a massive 27 touches and 11 tackles, impacting both offensively and defensively.

CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Gaukrodger has been a big improver over the last 12 months to the point where she has earned a spot with the Allies at the AFLW Under 18 National Championships. Back with the UTS Bats, she produced a clear best-on performance in the side’s win of the Bulldogs and was damaging on the scoreboard and terrific defensively.

While still having technical elements that could further be refined, more often than not Gaukrodger is effective in the way she goes about it, and consistently hits the scoreboard in that forward/midfield role. Despite being such a wonderful offensive player with an eye for goals, as her 11 tackles suggest, she will also get her hands dirty.

In terms of the draft, Gaukrodger is one of those players who would be in the logjam of players later on who might be viewed as high-upside prospects with great value. Still a way to go until the end of the year, the Giants Academy member certainly has some great traits and has not put a foot wrong in 2025.