AN ENTERTAINING showcase of some of the best talent for the 2026 AFL Women’s Draft saw Team Vescio come away with the seven-point victory over Team Conti at Ikon Park on Sunday. We took note of some of the players who caught the eye across both teams in what is shaping up to be strong crop of talent next year.

TEAM VESCIO:

#2 Summer Browning (Suns Academy/Queensland)
Wing | 166cm | 16/12/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s

Spent plenty of time on the wing for her side and used her speed and smarts to get into good positions in order to find the ball and propel forward forays. Was most effective by foot and could win her own ball as well as be the release player going forward. Has a nice mix of athletic and footballing traits, and after a quieter start, racked up 11 of her 15 disposals in the second half.

#7 Evie Ward (Lauderdale/Tasmania)
General Utility | 171cm | 29/10/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 rebound 50s

Ward had that huge breakout Coates Talent League Girls game in the absence of her top-age teammates later in the season, and she showed she is more than capable of finding the ball on her day. This kind of game suits her to a t as she can play anywhere and ran hard throughout the four quarters. Finished with a team-high 20 disposals for her troubles and was often the release option to take the ball forward.

#8 Aiyana Pritchard (Lions Academy/Queensland)
Tall Forward | 175cm | 21/12/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 6 inside 50s, 1 behind

Showed off her explosive speed and aerial presence in the match with several runs in the forward half. She still has to tidy up that final execution, but it will come, and with her rugby background evident given her knack for tucking the ball under the arm and going, she was able to break the lines and set up teammates on goal. Had a few looks that did not quite work out, but looked dangerous nonetheless.

#9 Darcie Prosser-Shaw (Giants Academy/NSW-ACT)
Defender/Midfielder | 171cm | 02/06/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 rebound 50s

Has some serious wheels and an aggressive gamestyle not too dissimilar to her older sister, Amelie. Prosser-Shaw started in defence and was composed with ball in hand, taking a number of intercepts and using her speed both offensively and defensively. A run-down tackle on the equally quick Tidemann was a highlight, and looked the goods particularly in that first half.

#12 Jorja Davey (Palmerston Magpies/Northern Territory)
Small Forward | 154cm | 28/11/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

One of only two Northern Territory talents in the game, Davey is a high impact-per-possession player who might not have a lot of the ball, but has some natural footballing traits. In particular her lightning quick, clean hands stood out, often diving in and in the blink of an eye had won a ground ball and fired it to a teammate in space. Hit the scoreboard after reading a shank off Lynch’s kick and converted from a tight angle.

#13 Grace Dillow (Gippsland Power/Vic Country)
Forward/Midfielder | 167cm | 03/06/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

Spent a lot of time on-ball early and went forward to eventually kick the match-winner out of a stoppage. It was a clever snap around her body to seal the game with a few minutes left, though she was productive throughout the match. An exceptional user of the ball, Dillow ran at 88 per cent disposal efficiency, while winning 13 of her 16 contested possessions at the coalface. An outstanding performance from the Gippsland Power player.

#17 Lexi Strachan (West Perth/Western Australia)
Midfielder/Forward | 168cm | 30/09/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 7 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Flew under the radar a little in the game because she did a lot of the work in close and went about her business unassumingly. Her ripping goal from 50m is a sight than many West Perth fans are familiar with, and Strachan showed her hard forward running, while also still recording an equal game-high seven tackles, and five clearances with possibly the most midfield minutes of any player on the ground.

#18 Rose Bell (Murray Bushrangers/NSW-ACT)
General Defender | 170cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 9 rebound 50s

Spent her time at full-back or pushing up to half-back, and continued her run as a rebound machine. Bell recorded a game-high nine rebound 50s and competed well in the air, even if she did not pull the ball in. Strong when tackled and clean enough to get it away, even under pressure she can thump the ball to safety which helps her defensive back six.

#19 Grace Tracey (Swans Academy/NSW-ACT)
Key Defender | 182cm | 11/07/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 8 rebound 50s

Deservedly earned her side’s MVP after a brilliant display on the last line. While she spent some time on Day, Tracey was largely the general going where she needed to go, and clunking some strong grabs. Taking four marks – two of which were contested, she generally used the ball well and was tasked with the kickouts at times too. Has had an injury interrupted couple of years since impressing at the School Sport Australia 15 and Under Championships, but is quickly making up for lost time with some outstanding performances.

#23 Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
Tall Forward | 176cm | 03/09/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 3 goals, 1 behind

The dominant goalkicker went about her business as per usual, slotting the first goal of the game and finishing with three majors. In a match that was symbolic of her year, Martin left a couple of chances out there and could have finished with five or six, but was still the most dangerous forward on the ground. Her bodywork and footy IQ were off the charts, knowing when to push up the ground, and when to drop back and lose her opponents.

#24 Polly Turner (North Adelaide/South Australia)
Tall Defender | 177cm | 16/01/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 3 rebound 50s

Stood tall in the back 50 and showed her combination of aerial ability, athleticism and foot skills when under pressure in defence. Aside from one moment where the ball slipped from her hands and Day capitalised, she generally was fantastic with her bodywork and clean hands, running at a high efficiency as well. A late spoil on Cara Dziegielewski in the goalsquare was key to stopping a potential comeback as well.

#25 Sophie White (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
Ruck | 181cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 18 hitouts, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

While not winning a stack of the ball, White was arguably the pick of the rucks on the ground, spending a lot of time through the middle and outside her obvious ruck craft, did some great follow-up work. A brilliant smother on the wing during the third term was a highlight, and she took a strong intercept mark early in the game too. Is developing well with some really standout performances late in the year after promising signs through the season.

TEAM CONTI:

#2 Mia Geere (Lions Academy/Queensland)
General Utility | 170cm | 08/04/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Started on-ball then found herself as deep as full-back at one stage while also having the freedom to push hard forward, Geere managed to find a way to impact wherever she went. Showed a clean pair of hands both in the air and at ground level, the Lions Academy member applied great pressure and did her bit linking up between the inside and the outside. Missed a set shot on goal from 35m out but other than that was effective throughout the match.

#6 Zoe Petrides (Lions Academy/Queensland)
Small Forward | 164cm | 28/09/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

Coming off a QAFL Women’s Grand Final, Petrides was lively in the front half of the ground and was really strong overhead for her size, with some nice speed and evasion to go with her footy IQ. She kept popping up from time to time, with a release handball setting up Meagher, and several kicks going forward into dangerous spots. An unselfish player who brings her teammates into the game, with a mix of strength and cleanliness around the ball inside 50.

#7 Maddison Meagher (Northern Knights/Vic Metro)
Wing/Defender | 162cm | 02/08/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Showed off her explosive speed from a wing, and then drifted back into defence. She kicked a lovely goal late in the second term off the handball receive after earlier putting a kick out on the full, but was ever-dangerous on transition. Few will ever be able to catch her once she gets up to top gear, and while at one stage she would have had some nervous moments going one-on-one with Martin deep in the backline, once the ball hit the deck, she exploded away and cleared the ball safely.

#8 Scout Semple (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
Forward/Midfielder | 162cm | 03/10/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Linked up well between half-forward and the midfield, starting the fourth term on-ball after largely being that high-forward. Though she missed a chance that bounced out of bounds in the second term, she had some slick and effective disposals going forward, then set up her Eastern teammate Rankin’s goal in the final quarter. Looked ultra-lively in that fourth term playing midfield.

#9 Ruby Geurts (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
General Forward | 171cm | 17/09/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

Has been in great form of late for the Stingrays after missing most of the national championships due to injury, and Geurts continued that form here. While not hitting the scoreboard herself, she played the role of half-forward well, applying great pressure and competing strongly in the air. Boasting nice overhead marking and footy IQ, she continually got into the right spots.

#10 Charlotte Tidemann (Swans Academy/NSW-ACT)
General Defender | 169cm | 08/08/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Exploded off half-back and up the ground going forward on a number of occasions, with the North Shore Bombers young gun having several bounding runs. Her delivery by foot was outstanding, setting up Day with a lovely hitup inside 50 in the third term, and also broke the lines to find Greea McKeegan at half-back linking up between the arcs. Aside from being run-down at one point by Prosser-Shaw, she was rarely headed and looked impressive in her aggressive play.

#13 Ava Bilyk (Geelong Falcons/Vic Country)
General Utility | 167cm | 07/07/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Given her limited game time in the second half of the season, it was an impressive performance from the 2024 Vic Country Under 16s MVP who looked so composed in traffic. She can use just about any side of her boot and find a way to extract it to a teammate, while also being a clean exponent of the long handball. Competes overhead and at ground level, Bilyk spent time in attack as well as on-ball, using the pill exceptionally well and making things happen every time she got her hands on it.

#16 Majella Day (Murray Bushrangers/NSW-ACT)
Tall Forward | 175cm | 11/03/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 1 hitout, 3 goals

While limited for opportunities and having quality opponents from Bushrangers teammate Bell to Turner to Tracey on her, Day still found a way to influence the scoreboard with three goals. Her aerial ability and positioning in marking contests was great, and once she has space in front of her, is so hard to stop. Had a couple of shots that fell short or floated, but looked dangerous when deep inside 50.

#18 Georgie Fielder (Glenelg/South Australia)
Wing | 170cm | 28/07/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

While more than capable of playing inside as she has for Glenelg at SANFLW level, Fielder was largely off a wing which she has also done successfully in the past. Her spread and ability to get into space then take it forward helped link between the middle and attack, and she even had a long-range shot from 50m that was unlucky to be intercepted on the goalline. Covered the ground well and was solid throughout the four quarters.

#19 Lucy Moore (Woodville-West Torrens/South Australia)
Forward/Midfielder | 164cm | 30/04/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 10 inside 50s, 2 behinds

Best-on for her side and it came as no surprise with a huge amount of running largely off half-forward then rotating into the middle. Her link-up as that high half-forward saw her record 10 inside 50s which came off the back of 20 uncontested possessions and 18 handball receives. In many ways it is a little crazy to see those numbers for Moore who is traditionally an inside midfielder, but with her burst speed and ground coverage, she is more than capable of filling out a role beyond the contest. Could have kicked a couple of goals two with one poster from long-range and another that just drifted off a quick shot.

#20 Emily Rankin (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
Forward/Midfielder | 166cm | 11/05/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 5 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

Powered away throughout the game and was busy unassumingly winning the ball. She played forward and rotated into the middle, having nine touches in the first term in a blistering start to the match. She also finished the game on a high with a classy goal on the run, while her work extracting the ball from congestion and getting it to the free outside runners was a highlight for the Eastern Ranges talent.

#22 Zoe Curry (Oakleigh Chargers/NSW-ACT)
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 09/10/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 behind

The skipper for Team Conti, Curry was fierce and strong at the coalface, often tackled by multiple opponents but not panicking and still able to fire the ball out to teammates. Her hands in close and ability to still get forward and present opportunities, Curry almost kicked a goal late but unfortunately the long-range shot hit the post. Was consistent throughout and as busy as any other midfielder on the day.