A TOUGH season at times, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels blooded some exciting young players to accompany the reliable older ones. A fresh face or two helped build depth at the club, and the next two seasons should see the Rebels with a talent who is near the top-end of the draft. We review how their 2026 Talent League Girls season went down.

SEASON 2026

SNAPSHOT

Played: 14
Won: 3
Lost: 10
Drawn: 1

BEST PERFORMANCE

Round 5: def. Gippsland Power by six points

Of their three wins, the GWV Rebels’ six-point victory over Gippsland was the most exciting, getting up in a high-scoring contest that saw the visitors win 9.7 (61) to 8.7 (55) on the neutral turf of Shepley Oval. Milly Shortal, Peggy Rock and Tilly Stringer all had similar statlines with 22 touches and a the latter two kicking goals. Considering they fell 27 points down at quarter time, it was a tremenous comeback to not only win, but to hit the front by half-time.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE

Nil.

STATE DRAFT COMBINE

Milly Shortal (North Ballarat)
Tall Utility | 175cm | 24/06/2008

Stats [10 games]: 19.6 disposals, 1.3 marks, 4.8 tackles, 3.9 clearances, 3.4 inside 50s, 3.7 rebound 50s, 3 goals

The top-age tall has completed her 2026 season as the standout Rebels prospect, and while her numbers went up slightly compared to her breakout campaign last year, it is her versatility that has really come to the fore. Shortal has played across all three lines for the Rebels this season, while maintaining a key defensive post for the Rebels. While her aerial consistancy can still improve, once she has ball in hand, has a booming left boot and is not afraid to break through opposition tackles and bring as much pressure on those same players when the shoe is on the other foot.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Without a doubt the inclusion of Northern Territory talent Peggy Rock has a been a huge coup for the Rebels, with the bottom-ager bringing plenty of energy and tenacity to each match. One who will lead the midfield division – with a forward rotation – in 2027, Rock looms as a first-round prospect in next year’s AFLW Draft.

Riding shotgun with Rock are the likes of Sarah Burton and Ivy Roberts, both of whom have played a range of positions and are capable of rolling through the middle as well as holding down posts at either end. Macy Irvin showed promising signs, while a fit Jayda Wright would make all the difference to the Ballarat-based lineup.

On top of the 2009-born crop, the Rebels’ 2010 group also has some serious upside, headlined by the ultra-exciting Tilly McErlain. She was huge through the Under 16s campaign, and showed her ability to hold her own when amongst older company. McErlain and the versatile Tessa Wilson are a pair of prospects to note down for a couple of years time.