MUCH like South Adelaide yesterday, West Perth boasts a couple of key players to watch at the pointy end of next year’s AFLW Draft. In the latest installment of our Clubs to Watch, we take a look at the Falcons with a pair of National Academy members who loom as likely top 10 chances.

>> AFLW DRAFT CLUBS TO WATCH: South Adelaide

Cara Dziegielewski
Ruck | 181cm | 19/04/2008

A prototype modern day ruck with plenty of other tricks and weapons, Dziegielewski looms as a top-end talent in next year’s draft. Certainly the pick of the West Australian talls, Dziegielewski earned All-Australian honours in her bottom-age season, coming off a really strong national carnival. Often battling against more experienced opponents, the Sandgropers tall showed she could match it with them, boasting outstanding athleticism and nice follow-up work.

She has an elite jump, runs like the wind and has spent time as a forward with the Falcons as well in a secondary role. She ticks a lot of boxes and will be highly sought after for what she could become. Has enormous potential and will be exciting to see how 2026 pans out for her.

Lexi Strachan
Midfielder | 168cm | 30/09/2008

Often attached by the hip with the close bond the pair has, Strachan is the one usually roving at Dziegielewski’s feet, particularly around stoppages. Able to get proactive and find the gaps, she bursts away similar to her predecessor in Mia Russo, and has similar power both from congestion and when launching towards goal.

A powerful and penetrative right boot, Strachan had kicked a number of eye-catching, long-range goals which stand out, and she also applies a huge amount of defensive pressure too, laying 5.6 tackles for the Falcons at WAFLW level to go with her 17.9 disposals. While not having the height of Dziegielewski, Strachan was a standout at the Under 16s Championships, and is a readymade midfielder who can also play half-forward or even the wing.

OTHERS:

West Perth has the most West Australian Girls in the Summer squad, with plenty of names over the next two drafts. Rikisha Nannup played seven games for the senior Falcons this year, averaging 10.6 disposals and 2.7 marks, while Tayah Nicholson squeezed in for three. Another exciting talent is Lunay Van Den Heever who impressed at Under 15s level for her state, and also more recently came second in the Falcons’ Rogers Cup Best and Fairest.