WESTERN Jets started the year with a trio of highly touted prospects, but ended the season with a stack of draftable talents to the point where they had seven Draft Combine invitees. At their best, the Jets showed they could take on some of the top teams, and while their season ended at the hands of the Oakleigh Chargers in the quarter finals, were promising throughout 2026.

SEASON 2026

SNAPSHOT

Played: 14
Won: 8
Lost: 6

BEST PERFORMANCE

Round 19: def. Eastern Ranges by 1 point

While Western Jets were in the midst of their best season since 2022, it all came to a head with a brilliant one-point upset of a full-strength Eastern Ranges outfit. The Jets lead throughout the contest then withstood a Ranges’ fightback to get up with greater accuracy, 8.7 (55) to 7.12 (44). Skipper Kiara Boyd played across all three lines and finished with 20 disposals, seven marks, six tackles and a goal, while Addison West (30 disposals, six marks) was enormous) and both Charli Parsons-Jones and Tayla Olivieri had big games.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE

Kiara Boyd (Aberfeldie)
Utility | 173cm | 02/06/2008

Stats [8 games]: 17.8 disposals, 3.6 marks, 8.0 tackles, 2.5 clearances, 3.0 inside 50s, 1.5 rebound 50s, 1 goal

The reliable Western skipper is a genuine utility, having played in just about every role. Primarily a defender, Boyd honed in her midfield craft to a higher level in 2026, while also drifting forward and being a target. While she only kicked the one goal – in that nail-biter over Eastern – she presented well when in attack and used her great kicking skills and natural footy smarts to full advantage. Enjoyed a rock solid carnival for Vic Metro in the back half as well.

Tayla Olivieri (Keilor)
Midfielder/Forward | 160cm | 14/02/2008

Stats [12 games]: 19.3 disposals, 1.7 marks, 6.8 tackles, 3.6 clearances, 3.4 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s, 4 goals

Olivieri found the forward-midfield balance right in 2026, and earned a National Draft Combine invite off the back of a big top-age season built around pressure and smarts. She reads the ball well and understands the situations effectively, with her work in the front half particularly standing out. She was a goalsneak for Metro, and then when back at Western, gradually built her midfield minutes again, showing the same grit and contested attitude she has become known for over the years.

STATE DRAFT COMBINE

Piper Dixon (Maribyrnong Park)
Forward/Midfielder | 158cm | 16/10/2008

Stats [8 games]: 13.5 disposals, 2.0 marks, 5.0 tackles, 2.1 clearances, 3.1 inside 59s, 7 goals

Despite injury threatening to ruin her season, Dixon came back better than ever and finished the year in fine form. The top-age forward-turned-midfielder booted seven goals from her eight games and really developed from her bottom-age season to be a more damaging overall player. Always a goal sneak, Dixon’s vision and decision making improved, with her work up the ground to set teammates up a highlight, as well as her burst from stoppages.

Jacinta Eteuati (Wiliamstown CYMS)
Defender | 169cm | 27/05/2008

Stats [12 games]: 12.8 disposals, 3.8 marks, 3.9 tackles, 1.0 inside 50s, 3.6 rebound 50s

Eteuati found her niche in the back half as one of the Talent League Girls’ most consistent interceptors. Strong in the air and incredibly smart at getting to the right spots, she repelled many attacks week-in, week out. Eteuati worked up the ground throughout the season to get more aggressive, and adopted the same intercepting style for Metro, not looking out of place at that level. Has some upside to go with her natural traits.

Ruby Jones (Yarraville)
Wing | 172cm | 02/03/2008

Stats [13 games]: 16.8 disposals, 3.7 marks, 5.3 tackles, 1.5 clearances, 3.1 inside 50s, 1.3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

One of 2026’s big improvers, Jones has nailed down her wing role with the Jets top-ager’s spacing and ability to win the ball lifting across the year. She is still an outside-dominant player, but her defensive pressure is outstanding, and she uses her height to be really reliable in the air. Her groundlevel work is still developing and she could hit the scoreboard more, but defensively she holds up, and her work rate across the ground – alongside her athletic traits – stand out.

Aluk Kuol (Wyndham Suns)
Ruck | 191cm | 10/07/2008

Stats [10 games]: 11.0 disposals, 1.1 marks, 3.0 tackles, 24.1 hitouts, 2.8 clearances, 1.3 inside 50s

The last fortnight of Kuol’s season in particularly really would have made AFLW clubs take notice. At 191cm and the ability to jump makes her near-impossible to beat in the ruck, but her rawness meant impact outside the stoppages was limited. That soon changed with her last couple of weeks giving clubs a taste for what could come in the future as she got her hands dirty, got more touches around the ground and applied fantastic pressure post-contest. Still raw, but there aren’t many 191cm athletes running around.

Addison West (Williamstown CYMS)
Midfielder | 167cm | 16/05/2008

Stats [11 games]: 25.4 disposals, 3.1 marks, 4.7 tackles, 4.8 clearances, 4.3 inside 50s, 1.6 rebound 50s, 3 goals

In contrast to Kuol, there was never ever going to be any doubt about West’s footy IQ with the niece of Western Bulldogs legend Scott, and daughter of Williamstown champion Troy a natural with the oblong shaped ball. Her attack on the contest and fierceness no matter what role she plays is reminiscent of her famous relatives, while also being strong in the air for her size. She can tidy up her execution by foot a touch, but with time and space makes an impact, and produced a jaw-dropping debut for Williamstown at VFLW level. Terrific top-age season.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Western has a bright future with a host of 2009-born talents also coming through the ranks. Charli Parsons-Jones is one ready to make the jump up into her top-age season, and while still having some ironing out of areas to come, overall has been a really promising bottom-ager after her debut Under 16s season the year before.

While small, Taya Delaney showed promise in the front half and even around the ball, while the damaging left boot of Alana D’Ambrosio is another player who can fill a role going forward. Towards the end of the season, Grace Hemsley-Woolley found her place on a wing, while father-daughter prospect Mylee Lake (Brian), as well as Ruby Colebatch and Armani Mauriohooho all had double-digit games in season 2026.