AS THE last of the competitions come to a close and the off-season begins to take off, the 2025 AFLW Draft hopefuls are still hard at it preparing for the December draft. With the upcoming AFLW National and State Draft Combines n the horizon, we take a look at state-by-state how the prospects are shaping up.

We continue our series in South Australia, a side that split its National Championships results at 2-2, but were very unlucky in its two narrow losses.

>> AFLW U18s review: South Australia
>> 2025 AFLW State Watch: Western Australia

TOP DRAFT CHOICE

South Australia might not have the obvious top-end option that it has had in the past, but instead have an even group of players who will likely fill out from the mid-to-late first round up through the second and third rounds of the AFLW Draft.

The most likely to be South Australia’s first taken off the board is Central District’s Sophie Eaton, with her skills and smarts undeniable, and she played a key role in Central District’s SANFLW flag as a 16-year-old. Fellow skilful midfielder/forward Monique Bessen also has claims with her impact around the stoppages and going forward, while South Australian skipper Imogen Trengove has a wonderfully consistent year across all levels of competition.

Sophie Eaton

Key Strengths: Skills, vision, upside

Eaton is class with a capital ‘C’ and though she has had her quieter games at times, her skills and smarts are next level. She is so creative with ball in hand, she knows how to set up her teammates inside 50, and in a perfect world, she is the player teammate want with ball in hand. When forward, she can hit the scoreboard, and her role through the midfield is as that second or third possession winner to hit a target inside 50.

Monique Bessen

Key Strengths: Kicking, versatility, clean hands

A nice balance of tough as well as skilful, Bessen has that bit more of a contested style than Eaton and can rack the ball up more, but has been working on her explosiveness from contests. She has a smooth movement around the ground but has been honing in on improving her extraction at speed. Capable of playing on a wing as she did for the Sandgropers, as well as inside, half-forward or half-back.

Imogen Trengove

Key Strengths: Speed-endurance mix, work rate, defensive pressure

The ultimate utility, Trengove ticks a lot of boxes from an athletic and work rate perspective. She can play across all three lines and do a job, and is one of those players you almost feel exhausted just watching. The way she covers the ground for repeat contests, Trengove can be on the wing kicking to half-forward, then be the next mark in a forward pocket as she burnt off her opponent 40m up the ground. A huge top-age season.

OTHERS

Talls

Incredibly gifted tall forward Eloise Mackereth is so damaging when able to leap at the ball, and is a classy finisher on goal. She has areas to work on, but at her best, is among the most talented in the draft crop. From an aerial and scoreboard impact perspective there are few better.

The ultimate tall utility is Charli Hazelhurst, with the versatile dual-code netballer having played on all three lines for Norwood. She is viewed largely as a rebounding defender, but has the capacity to slot in wherever is required of her which is key, and has featured in both games for the All-Stars.

Contested marking forward-ruck Chloe Tonkin remains a readymade option with outstanding physicality and strength that sets her apart from her peers. Tonkin creates a presence inside 50, and has the capacity to roll through the ruck as well, with that forward/second ruck role a likely spot for her in the future.

Midfielders

Most of South Australia’s midfield options were mentioned earlier, but hard-running Sturt winger Lily Smart is a name who has shot up draft boards. Earning a State Draft Combine invite, she has the need for speed, and combined with her endurance, has the traits that catch the eye for clubs with an ability to develop strongly.

Though she has largely played as a high half-forward, Lucy Waye is one who strikes as a future midfielder, having looked comfortable around the stoppages she has attended. Like Trengove, Waye has a nice speed-endurance mix with a high work rate, and she does use the ball exceptionally well too. Has Top 30 potential.

Medium-Smalls

South Australian vice-captain Sophie Thredgold started the year as a rebounding defender, but got some valuable midfield minutes. An explosive player who is also tough and great defensively, Thredgold has the athletic acumen that clubs love, and her leadership on-field is undeniable in setting up the backs.

A defender who has not had a lot of luck with injury in 2025 is Mikaylah Antony. The Central District talent had a delayed start to the season, and had limited exposure, but she has the ability to break lines and create transitional plays out of the back half. A clever outside type.

Though a couple of years out of the system, South Adelaide premiership player Melissa Anderson is considered one of the highest X-factor talents in the SANFL Women’s. Strong overhead with a booming kick, the smart forward is so good around goals. When unavailability struck the Panthers, Anderson showed she could also play on-ball and off a wing.

SUMMARY

South Australia is traditionally a talent-rich state and it will come as no surprise that the Croweaters have a stack of prospects in the mix. While there is not necessarily a top five talent like in other years, they instead have an even group that should see at least half a dozen land on AFLW lists, or remain in the minds of clubs for the future.