ANOTHER season of WAFLW Women’s action is just around the corner, with the season kicking off on March 28. As we did with the SANFL Women’s competition, Rookie Me Central will count down 15 players to watch in the upcoming year, focusing on either top-age or bottom-age prospects to keep in mind.

We complete our top 15 players to watch countdown on the eve of the WAFL Women’s season with ultra-athlete ruck Cara Dziegielewski who earns the top spot in our countdown.

West Perth, Western Australia GirlsRuck Forward

Cara Dziegielewski

Height: 181cm

Weight: -

DOB: 19-04-2008

Positional Analysis

Dziegielewski has enormous upside given her position and size, with the talented young ruck really have a strong season last year. Holding down her place in that role through the WAFLW and then being the go-to number one ruck for the Sandgropers, Dziegielewski honed in on her main role at 181cm, though also showed she could rest forward and be a target there.

2025 Stats

WAFLW | 11.0 disposals | 1.5 marks | 19.3 hitouts | 3.0 inside 50s (10 games)

AFLW U18s | 11.0 disposals | 1.8 marks | 20.5 hitouts | 6.0 tackles | 2.3 clearances | 1.0 inside 50s | 1 goal (4 games)

Key Strengths

Dziegielewski is incredibly athletic for a player of her size, from her vertical jump to her mobility around the ground. She uses it to get first hands to the ball at ruck stoppages, and though more and more rucks are 185cm-plus, the West Perth prospect’s jump allows her to match it with just about anyone. Alongside her natural athleticism, Dziegielewski attacks the contest at ground level too and is able to follow-up well beyond the ruck stoppage.

Her around the ground work improved last season to get involved across all thirds of the field and she was capable of being a down the line target, as well as one to receive the handball and burst away akin to a midfielder.

2026

After an All-Australian appearance in 2025, Dziegielewski will enter 2026 with plenty of confidence and believe. She has areas to improve on – such as her contested marking – but she wins enough of the ball and can get involved in a multitude of ways to make her a multi-dimensional ruck. The West Perth tall is one to watch throughout the season as she continues to develop.

Expect her to feature prominently as a number one ruck who spends a portion of the game forward to develop that craft inside 50 and secondary position to make her all the more versatile. She only kicked one goal across the two competitions last season, so will be gunning to increase that number in 2026.

Summary

Cara Dziegielewski is a star in the making and enters 2026 as one of the top prospects across the country. Alongside close friend Lexi Strachan, the West Perth pair should go fairly high in this year’s AFLW Draft, and combine more than a few times between the Falcons and Sandgropers.