WHILE it will be tough to beat 2024 as an AFLW Draft, the 2026 draft crop is shaping up to be the next best, with plenty of talent and stacks of depth across the board. Several players are competing for pick one contention, and as has been the case for a number of years now, we have named our 26 Players to Watch in 2026.

>> FEATURED IN: 2025 AFLW Draft Guide

TOP PROSPECT:

Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers/VicMetro)
Tall Forward | 176cm | 03/09/2008

Bailee Martin has earned the front-running spot for Pick 1 off the back of a ridiculous season in front of goal for Oakleigh Chargers and Vic Metro. A seven-goal haul against Vic Country at the national championships was a highlight, but she booted 42 goals in 10 games at Coates Talent League level, including hauls of seven and nine. Elite athleticism, aerial ability and goal sense, she is the complete forward and just needs to work on her accuracy to go to another level again. Has competition for the top spot in 2026 though.

Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
Midfielder | 172cm | 25/03/2008

Vic Metro’s 2023 Under 16s MVP followed up that effort with a really consistent 2025 and will lead both Eastern and Metro’s midfield next year. She is a natural ball-winner, provides run and carry, dominates the clearances and lays plenty of tackles too. Will be producing plenty of stat-stuffing performances next year and be right there at the pointy end. In the top three Victorian prospects for sure.

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

An injury-impacted year and unlucky omission from Vic Country should not have the supremely talented Bilyk out of mind for next season. One of strangest omissions from the National Academy squad, Bilyk is an MVP winner at Under 16s level, and while she only played the seven games in 2025, is an elite ball user who can play across all three lines. One player who just does it all and is a star in the making.

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

A genuine candidate for Pick 1 and the most consistent of the top-end talents heading into 2026. Charlton is the younger sister of Adelaide’s Teah and bears similar traits. Charlton is the safest selection in the draft crop, but she is also one of the most damaging, winning BOG in the SANFLW Grand Final and South Australia’s MVP as well as All-Australian this year. A bonafide Rolls Royce with a V8 engine. Does it all.

Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
Wing/Forward | 174cm | 30/06/2008

‘Upside’ is the key word when it comes to Cunnington, and even what she offers now is very, very good. A standout choice from the Vic Country region, Cunnington is great in the air, able to win it through the middle or go forward and hit the scoreboard. So damaging and smart, she oozes hurt factor and match-winning ability. Will lead Dandenong’s charge to try and go one better in 2026.

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

One of the rare Giants Academy players who will front up for Oakleigh Chargers – due to schooling – rather than Murray Bushrangers, Curry is a powerful unit who will assume Chloe Bown’s spot in the Chargers’ midfield next season. She can go forward and beat anyone overhead, but her powerful charge out of stoppages where she can easily break tackles, will make her a difficult opponent.

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

A similar prospect to Bailee Martin, albeit with a club-tie in toe, the Giants Academy forward booted 30 goals in 11 games for Murray and Giants last season, making it 47 from 22 across her past two years. Looked the goods for Allies as well, earning All-Australian, with her aerial ability brilliant and set shot goalkicking reliable. Has upside to go to another level, and it will be fun watching her and Martin pile up the goals.

Cara Dziegielewski (West Perth/Western Australia)
Ruck | 181cm | 19/04/2008

It will be a fascinating watch to see who ends up being called out first out of Dziegielewski and close friend Lexi Strachan with West Perth having both potential top 10 talents. Dziegielewski is an ultra-athletic ruck who earned All-Australian honours in 2025. She not only flies high but uses the ball well, has clean hands and can go forward. If she has a big off-season to add strength, watch out opponents.

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

Touted as one to watch from a young age, the Adelaide Crows Academies NGA prospect has spent time across the three key lines. Successor to the draft Charlotte Riggs at Central District, Endersby is outstanding in the air, knows how to read the play and has a lovely long kick. On traits alone should go high, and it will be fascinating to see if she can piece all of her top-end qualities together next season.

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

Unfortunately injury ended the talented midfielder’s national carnival early in 2025, but Ferguson is all class. A nice balance of inside and outside ball-winning, she has the potential to follow the rise of Sunny Lappin after being left out of the National Academy but has all the traits to go very high in the draft. Highly rated internally, Ferguson is a terrific ball-winner with toughness and class. One to watch rise.

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

Glenelg seemingly found a way to find another talented inside-outside ball-winner, with Fielder bearing a similar style and look to that of now Port player Piper Window. Fielder is tough, runs hard and is able to impact games linking up between midfield and attack with a deadly sidestep. Given the Bays will improve in coach Talia Radan’s second season, Fielder will have a key role around the ball.

Ruby Geurts (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
Utility | 171cm | 17/09/2008

A naturally gifted player who has spent time across multiple positions, but really settled into life as a forward for the Stingrays. Great in the air by ball drop exceptionally well, Geurts has fantastic ball-to-boot speed and kicked the sealer for Dandenong to book a grand final spot. Did not have an ideal 2025 with injury putting a line through her national campaign, but impressed at 16s and will only get better.

Mia Geere (Wilston Grange/Lions Academy/Queensland)
Utility | 170cm | 08/04/2008

A prestigious talent in the QAFLW for a number of years now, Geere looms as that explosive midfielder with upside in 2026. She will pair nicely with Molly Ferguson around the ball for the Lions and Queensland, then go forward and launch goals from long-range. Has a great running capacity and can also play off a wing, so adds versatility with her positioning which the Lions will love.

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

If there is a pure Rolls Royce in the draft class then Mableson would make a great claim to that title. Her smooth-moving and composed traits off half-back for West Adelaide and South Australia are evident, and the Under 16s MVP winner and All-Australian showed midfield ability last year. One of those ‘does everything well’ types who is a lock to be a very good player for a very long time.

Taya Maxwell (South Adelaide/South Australia)
Key Utility | 184cm | 02/12/2008

If Maxwell hadn’t gone down with injury early in the first game of the national carnival, she could very well have been our choice for Pick 1. ‘You can’t do that at 184cm’ is on repeat when watching Maxwell who is athletic despite being ridiculously strong, has a penetrating kick and is dual-sided, and can play on any line. On traits and upside, is absolutely in the top pick contention if she gets a clean run.

Greea McKeegan (Geelong Falcons/Vic Country)
Tall Forward/Wing | 176cm | 15/12/2008

A developing utility who has elite aerial ability and endurance which helps her work over any opponents on the ground. McKeegan clocked up a 17-plus yo-yo test score, then went about developing her eye-catching highlights up the field in 2025. She is not just an aerial specialist but lays stacks of tackles too and hits the scoreboard. Terrific upside and one who can go to another level in 2026.

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

Yet another tall forward in the draft class, McIlwain is possibly the most rounded of that group. She is great in the air like them all, but her work at ground level is where she sets herself apart. Few tackle like the Lions Academy member, and she will get her hands dirty setting others up. Overcame a nasty knock in game one to finish the national carnival strong and has claims to the top Queensland spot.

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

After winning an MVP in the Under 17 Futures trial match, it was a head scratcher not to see the talented midfielder included in the National Academy, but no doubt the South Australian will use it as motivation in 2026. She has an explosive burst, tackles with vigour and has some of the cleanest hands going around. An elite clearance player who got the job done against senior opponents. Star.

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

Pritchard runs like the wind and has a limitless ceiling on her game which makes her one of the most intriguing prospects entering 2026. A serious athlete, Pritchard looms as a record-breaking type at Draft Combines, and while her finishing can improve, just about everything else is outstanding. Good in the air and fierce at ground level, really had a breakout season and booted six goals in four games for Queensland.

Darcie Prosser-Shaw (East Coast/Giants Academy/NSW-ACT)
Utility | 171cm | 02/06/2008

The younger sister of former Giant and National Academy member Amelie, Darcie is similarly versatile and can play on any line. She can clunk marks, lay tackles and drive the ball out of defence, with plenty more to come from the East Coast teenager. Prosser-Shaw missed out on Allies selection last season which was a surprise, but her talent is undeniable and is very much in the first round frame.

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

Riding shotgun to Brylee Anderson in the Eastern midfield, Rankin has the toughness and class that will impress plenty of people in 2026. Another one unlucky not to make the National Academy, she is highly touted at the Ranges, and her year of 23.1 disposals, 5.7 tackles, 4.9 clearances and 3.7 inside 50s only further illustrated that point. Can play off half-forward and be a distributor going forward.

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

Semple joins Brylee Anderson and Emily Rankin as the likely starting Vic Metro midfield with the Eastern trio ensuring the club has another big draft haul. Great goal sense and smarts to get herself out of trouble, Semple is the type of player who pops up to hurt you on the scoreboard, but is comfortable around the clearances too. Spent more time at half-forward this year, but expect that to change in 2026.

Lexi Strachan (West Perth/Western Australia)
Utility | 168cm | 30/09/2008

A powerful inside midfielder who did get to spend time both forward and off a wing this season, playing between West Perth and Western Australia. She has a penetrating kick that can inflict maximum damage, and once she is anywhere within or on the 50m arc, then defenders start to sweat. Defensively brilliant and she hurts you the other way as well. Will be battling it out with friend Cara Dziegielewski for the top WA spot.

Charlotte Tidemann (North Shore/Swans Academy/NSW-ACT)
Defender/Wing | 169cm | 08/08/2008

An explosive outside talent who runs all day and can get the job done off half-back or the wing. Her metres gained and bounces taken are off the charts, and Tidemann is one who uses the ball well too. She won a senior flag with North Shore Bombers this season under coach and father Craig, similar to Sunny Lappin at Southport, and caught the eye through the Swans Academy. A facilitator and distributor.

Grace Tracey (East Coast/Giants Academy/NSW-ACT)
Key Utility | 182cm | 11/07/2008

Starred as a 15 year-old before injury really put her junior seasons on ice over the last couple. Tracey returned to play for the Swans in 2025, then got a game as a call-up for the Allies and impressed. Her star kept rising to the point where she won an MVP in the Under 17 Futures trial match as that intercept defender, and was named in the National Academy. Strong with a damaging long kick.

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

Deceptively athletic for a stronger built player, Turner is one of the few club-tied players through the father-daughter rule. Her dad Peter played five AFL games – three for Adelaide and two for Carlton – which is enough to make her eligible for both. Turner is an exciting talent in her own right, with velcro-like hands and an ability to play up both ends, while having a lovely long raking kick to clear the danger.

IN THE MIX

While a handful of non-National Academy members made our list which meant those current National Academy members missed out, there are several right on the verge of being included. Giants Academy’s Morgan Stevens is at the top of that list and would arguably be the 27th player included, while Mia Carlshausen (Perth) and Summer Browning (Suns Academy) are not too far away as well.

Outside the National Academy not on this list, Norwood’s Charlee Brooksby, Gippsland Power’s Grace Dillow and Giants Academy’s Rose Bell are also around the mark. From Queensland, classy small forward Zoe Petrides (Lions Academy) was in contention, as was hard-running wing Frances Walsh (Swans Academy).

From Vic Country, Lacey Nihill would be on our extended list, as would her Bendigo Pioneers’ teammate Georgia Garlick. Milly Shortal (GWV Rebels) and Sophia Green (Murray Bushrangers) have the potential to go to another level next season, while a trio of South Australians was mighty stiff, including two who missed out on the Under 17 Futures squad altogether. Hope Taylor made it in, while South Adelaide teammate Layla Vizgaudis should have, as should Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Julia Faulkner.

From the other states, Tasmanian Evie Ward and her fellow National Academy member Evie Bingham lead the charge there, while Vic Country ruck Sophie White is also an exciting prospect. Northern Knights’ Maddison Meagher, Gippsland Power’s Lily Milner and a pair of Swans Academy prospects in Heidi de Saxe and Evie Bowie were also in the mix.

Add in Queensland’s depth in 2026 that includes Lions Academy raw tall Ella Gibson and hard-running defender from the Suns Academy in Stephanie Aguinaldo, and there is no shortage of talent. Western Jets Kiara Boyd is another name to keep in mind, with the Jets actually having a number of under-the-radar prospects for 2026.