ANOTHER season of SANFL Women’s action is just around the corner, and while the league year is a little later than usual, South Australian footy fans have the brand new AAMI Talent League to look forward to starting February 28. As has become an annual tradition for Rookie Me Central, we name our top juniors from the league to keep an eye on for the year ahead with the only criteria being either top-age or younger.

We continue our top 15 players to watch countdown – which will run over the three weeks to finish on the eve of the Talent League season – with Norwood young gun Lani Cocks, who alongside Maia Freemantle loom as the top two South Australian prospects for next year.

Norwood Women's, South Australia

Lani Cocks

Height: 161cm

Weight: -

DOB: 15-09-2009

Positional Analysis

Cocks has drawn comparisons to Port Adelaide’s Shineah Goody, having shown similar high-end ability coming through the South Australian talent pathways. Cocks is versatile enough to play on any line, with her decision making and skills right on par with the former Eagles talent. Much like Goody, Cocks has relocated from the country in order to reduce the travel time from home to her SANFLW club. She could very easily play midfield, wing or off a flank this season.

2025 Stats

SANFLW | 21.3 disposals | 2.3 marks | 5.3 tackles | 2.7 clearances | 3.7 inside 50s | 2.7 rebound 50s | 3 goal (3 games)

AFLW U16s | 23.0 disposals | 4.5 marks | 2.5 tackles | 2.5 clearances | 5.0 inside 50s | 3.0 rebound 50s (2 games)

Key Strengths

As mentioned, Cocks’ ability to use the ball both through decision making and execution stands out. Not only that decision making with ball in hand, but the decision making and footy IQ off the ball, which allows her to get into the right spots, find space and be a facilitator going forward. Be it in the middle or half-forward, Cocks is a promising player who teammates will look to get the ball in the hands of, and let her go to work. She showed glimpses last year when restricted to three games due to travel distance, but with a full season, watch out.

2026

Looking ahead to her bottom-age season, Cocks is one who could become a household name for the following year. She is an eye-catching player who looks that class type with plenty of upside still to come. New coach Ben Hunt has overseen the likes of Jasmine Evans and Sophie Eaton who bear similar skills by hand or foot, and Cocks – through the comparisons to Goody – has an even more developed and well-rounded game. It will be fantastic to see how she goes to another level in 2026.

Summary

Lani Cocks is a name to remember for the 2027 AFLW Draft, and both her and Freemantle will be inextricably linked as the two standouts from the league for next year. Even though she is a year younger than many on this list, her natural upside and talent has her well deserving of a top five spot on our players to watch.