PRESEASON is well and truly underway and with the first of the AFL and AFLW Draft hopeful features being released, Rookie Me Central is preparing for a massive couple of months leading up to the 2026 football season. Rookie Me is the Official Athletic Testing Partner of AFL Pathways and will conduct the events, while the Central team will sit down with some prospects to keep an eye on this season.
While the West Australian players got their chance to test themselves in the preseason testing first over the weekend, it is just the first of the six states to complete it. Next up are the Northern Academies, with AFL and AFLW Draft prospects from the Giants Academy (Canberra) and Swans Academy (Sydney) going through their paces on Saturday.
From there, all roads lead to Brisbane on Sunday where the Lions Academy and Suns Academy will take their turn. We will chat to a host of up-and-coming talents from across all those Academies and provide an insight into their football journeys, games and goals for the year ahead.
Fast forward to the following week and the state of the newest elite-level club will be testing themselves. Tasmania Devils will step onto the courts on Saturday, with the team then jet-setting to Adelaide on the Sunday where a huge event in South Australia takes place. The Under 18 boys and Girls’ State Academy will go through the physical testing component.
In the lead-up to the season, all 12 Victorian sides from the formerly named Coates Talent League will have their separate testing days, with the girls and boys put through their paces on separate days. We’ll chat to prospects from across all those teams and bring some of their stories to life ahead of the first ball being bounced in 2026.
Along with preseason features, there will be plenty of other content across Rookie Me Central. Our annual countdowns into the SANFLW and WAFLW seasons will commence, as well as covering the AAMI Talent League in South Australia which is the first competition to kick off on February 28.
Make sure you’re following Rookie Me Central on our social channels including Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to not miss any of the content and action.
Central features to fill preseason void
PRESEASON is well and truly underway and with the first of the AFL and AFLW Draft hopeful features being released, Rookie Me Central is preparing for a massive couple of months leading up to the 2026 football season. Rookie Me is the Official Athletic Testing Partner of AFL Pathways and will conduct the events, while the […]
2026 Northern Territory U18 Girls squad released
A MASSIVE 50-player strong squad has been released as part of the Northern Territory Academy Under 18 Girls pathway. Featuring a host of over, top, bottom and double bottom-agers, the team that will compete in the Coates Talent League Girls pathway will also have a number of players vying for Allies spots at Under 18s […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Cara Dziegielewski
AN ALL-AUSTRALIAN at bottom-age level, Cara Dziegielewski is one of the leading West Australians in this year’s AFLW Draft. Alongside close friend Lexi Strachan, the West Perth duo form two thirds of the Sandgropers’ National AFLW Academy talent. We spoke to Dziegielewski at the WAFLW Preseason Testing day about her football journey, experiences through the […]
Preseason Q&A: Benji van Rooyen (Claremont)
CLAREMONT ruck Benji van Rooyen continues to grow heading into his top-age season, both on and off the field. Now standing at an imposing 203cm, he will hope to follow in the footsteps of his two elder brothers who traversed the same footballing pathway before him. With brother Jacob currently on Melbourne’s books, van Rooyen […]
Recruitment drive: Devils complete inaugural VFLW list
OFF-SEASONS can often be the catalyst for in-season success, and several state league clubs will hope that is the case in 2026. In a new series on Rookie Me Central, we highlight some of the most exciting recruitment drives from around the country. Next up is the newly formed Tasmania Devils VFLW side. >> RECRUITMENT […]
2026 AFLW Draft | Race to #1: Taya Maxwell
WHILE the 2026 AFLW Draft crop is shaping up to be one of the deepest in recent years, there is no shortage of premium talent at the pointy end. In the return of our Race to #1 series but this time for the women’s draft, we highlight the leading contenders vying for the top honour. […]
Preseason Q&A: Garrison Kenh (East Perth)
HAVING seen its club-tied talent spread across the competition in last year’s draft, West Coast will hope to hold onto its latest Next Generation Academy (NGA) star in Garrison Kenh. The soccer convert is a Carlton fan who models his game on Adam Saad, boasting similar speed and dare off half-back. The 182cm athletic phenom […]
2026 AFLW Draft Clubs to Watch: Woodville-West Torrens
REIGNING SANFL Women’s grand finalists Woodville-West Torrens Eagles are well known for their youth prospects, and off the back of another first round talent getting picked up – top 10 no less – in Imogen Trengove, the next group appears the strongest from the team to-date. >> AFLW DRAFT CLUBS TO WATCH: South Adelaide | […]
Preseason Q&A: Lucas Robinson (South Fremantle)
A RICHMOND supporter initially in West Coast’s zone, but now a Fremantle Next Generation Academy (NGA) member who idolises Nat Fyfe. That’s the unique journey Lake Grace native Lucas Robinson hopes to take to the top as he embarks on his top-age season in 2026. The midfielder helped Hale School take out the Alcock Cup […]
