WHILE the 2025 AFL National Future Girls showcase match gave an insight into next year’s AFLW Draft crop, there were still plenty of players with talent who missed out be it through injury or non-selection. We take a look at those who either would have played if fit, or were unlucky to just miss the final cut for the clash.

This first article will take a look at the seven players who made the Futures squad but were unavailable to take part in the clash.

Emma Charlton (South Adelaide/South Australia)
Midfielder/Forward | 160cm | 19/06/2008

The South Australian MVP is the younger sister of Adelaide’s Teah and is even more readymade for the big time despite being a bottom-ager. Right up at the pointy end of the draft next season, barring the Crows having a down year, she will likely end up elsewhere, but what she offers is a well-balanced gamestyle. She is tough as nails, will win the contested ball, work to the outside and influence there, and then impact the scoreboard as well. Charlton also won best on ground in the SANFL Women’s Grand Final, so is a big game player and already excelling against senior bodies.

Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
Tall Utility | 174cm | 30/06/2008

It was a heartbreaking scene to see Cunnington helped off late in Dandenong’s preliminary final win over Oakleigh, with the bottom-ager piecing together a wonderful campaign. Having impressed at Under 16s level for Vic Country the year before and through her Stingrays’ debut season, Cunnington showed how damaging she can be inside 50, while rolling through the middle or off a wing. Strong overhead with nice skills and fantastic creativity, Cunnington can adapt to a variety of positions.

Miyu Endersby (Central District/South Australia)
Key Defender/Ruck | 179cm | 01/06/2008

Drawing comparisons to former Central District now West Coast tall Charlotte Riggs, Endersby strikes a similar positional versatility with her ability to go between the ruck or a key defensive post. She can also go forward given her aerial ability, though her penetrating kick is perhaps a notch even further advanced than the talented Riggs. Endersby is still raw in other areas, but when unleashed to roam the field, she can be involved in just about everything on transition.

Molly Ferguson (Lions Academy/Queensland)
Midfielder | 165cm | 20/04/2008

Ferguson was a big loss for the Maroons midway through the national championships, having stepped up to the on-ball role in the wake of injuries to others, and showed a clean pair of heels as well as stoppage IQ and skill transitioning from inside to outside. She did get a go as a double bottom-ager the year before, but the Lions Academy member was in her more preferred midfield role this season, and will create a formidable combination with Mia Geere at the Lions and Queensland in 2026. Ferguson also won the Under 16s MVP for Pool A.

Emily Mableson (West Adelaide/South Australia)
Defender/Midfielder | 170cm | 05/05/2008

Winning the South Australian MVP for the 2024 AFLW Under 16s carnival, Mableson was able to use her smooth-moving running style and combination of smarts and skills to be the first point of contact in mounting an offensive assault on the opposition. She has proven herself through the middle at West Adelaide, and will undoubtedly get that opportunity even more so next season, though her composure and use by hand or foot off half-back is outstanding.

Taya Maxwell (South Adelaide/South Australia)
Ruck/Midfielder | 184cm | 02/12/2008

Genuinely being slept on as potentially the best player in the draft pool given her upside, South Australians and particularly South Adelaide fans will know exactly how valuable she is. A 184cm midfielder who moves well for her size, can kick 45-plus metres on either foot, and as retiring star Jess Bates described her “the strongest midfielder I have ever played on”. Maxwell does not turn 17 until December, and the fact she can play anywhere including on-ball, it is a scary proposition for anyone else. A real shame she went down with injury early in the national championships because she would have made a splash.

Harlee McIlwain (Lions Academy/Queensland)
Tall Forward | 176cm | 07/04/2008

Another tall who has impressed through her bottom-age campaign, McIlwain is a terrific competitor and aerialist, while being a reliable set shot for goal. Even if she fails to mark the ball, McIlwain is so quick to react, and her tackle numbers are off the charts for a tall. Defensive pressure in the forward half is worth its weight in gold, and when you have a 176cm prospect laying eight – not a typo – tackles a game, then what hope do the defenders have of exiting cleanly. An exciting year for the Lions between Geere, Ferguson and McIlwain, and that’s even before adding in Aiyana Pritchard and Zoe Petrides as well.