REIGNING back-to-back premiers on a 27-game winning streak and 29-game unbeaten streak North Melbourne does not have an overly exciting AFLW Draft hand, nor should it considering the ladder position. Instead of worrying about the top end of this year’s AFLW Draft, the Roos picked up an additional first-rounder next year – as well as a slew of third-rounders – in what will be a stronger draft crop.

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2025 RECORD: 1st (H&A) | 12-0 | 321.5% | Premiers
2025 PICKS: 37, 48, 55, 73, 91
FUTURE PICKS: ’26 R1 (Carlton), ’26 R1 (North Melbourne), ’26 R3 (Collingwood), ’26 R3 (Port Adelaide), ’26 R3 (Sydney), ’26 R3 (Carlton), ’26 R3 (North Melbourne)

LIST CHANGES:

IN
Maddison Torpey (trade, Carlton)

OUT
Georgia Stubs (trade, Richmond), Ella Slocombe (trade, West Coast), Ariana Hetherington (trade, Collingwood)

North Melbourne opted to trade its depth to preferred destinations, with talented youngsters Georgia Stubs and Ella Slocombe moving to Richmond and West Coast respectively where they should get more opportunities. Tall forward Ariana Hetherington spent a season at the Roos but has moved on to the Pies where Collingwood is searching for a player of her position so she should also get more minutes in 2026. The Roos bring in Carlton injury replacement player Maddison Torpey to fill that tall departure, and she can be a backup ruck if injuries strike.

FIRST PICK:
Pick 37

North Melbourne has committed to drafting former number one pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner with this selection after a deal with the Western Bulldogs was unable to be reached. The Roos offered up the pick to the Dogs who refused it, and then despite North’s best efforts to secure a future second-rounder – which was the asking price from the Bulldogs – the premiers fell short.

Weston-Turner nominated for the draft and will now wait the two rounds until North Melbourne can read out her name, which for most clubs is expected. Despite it only being two seasons removed from being called out first at the same event, the childhood Bulldogs fan played just eight games across that period and therefore the value from both sides was varied.

She might not crack in early given the depth of the Roos lineup, but considering the age of North Melbourne’s forwards – mainly Kate Shierlaw and Emma King – there is a place inside 50 for Weston-Turner in the coming years.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 48, 55

It is all guess work for the remainder of the selections, with North Melbourne just as likely to go for mature-agers as they will top-age draft prospects. Given the Roos are such a juggernaut with depth across all lines, they can quite literally just pick best available at each selection.

That might end up being Collingwood VFLW midfielder Tahlia Sanger who won the Rising Star this year in the competition, while Matilda Van Berkel, Stasia Stevenson and Paige Price are some Box Hill options on the table. From their own VFLW side, Nyakoat Dojiok dominated in front of goal once more, while ex-Sun and Bomber Alana Barba, and Maddie Di Cosmo were fantastic as well.

From a top-age perspective, the Roos love players who run so maybe Dandenong Stingrays’ Matilda Argus, Eastern Ranges’ Ashleigh Thatcher or Bendigo Pioneers’ Ella Jeffrey are all options. Western Jets duo Alex McBride-Loane and Charlie O’Connor Moreira also can help with that regard as tall defender and wing/forward options respectively.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Will Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner get to the Roos at Pick 37?
– Does North Melbourne just pick up a couple of readymade players?
– What positional needs will coach Darren Crocker look to fill in a well-balanced side?