EACH week leading up to the unique Over-age AFL Women’s Draft, Rookie Me Central will highlight some of the eligible players around the country who are impressing in the respective state leagues. In the first edition, the article will focus on the opening SANFL Women’s round and some of the players who impressed that clubs might consider.

DEFENDERS:

Current St Kilda AFLW ruck Leah Cutting said in the preseason she was searching for a spot on one of the South Australian clubs’ lists due to clashing with her career in the police force. On the weekend she stepped out in her new role as a key defender, taking five marks, laying eight tackles and having five rebound 50s from an equal team-high 18 disposals.

The other player from that game was Central District’s Lauren Breguet who has played both forward and wing in the past, but seemed a natural running off half-back. Her first half in particular was impressive, picking up 17 disposals, three tackles and three rebound 50s, as well as receiving seven free kicks after some attention from the opposition at times.

North Adelaide defensive duo Ella Quinn and Jamie Parish both impressed in the win over Norwood on Friday night. The 26-year-old Quinn managed 17 disposals, four marks and four rebound 50s to be a strong offensive presence in the back half of the ground. Parish, who has come through the State Academy program in recent years, is incredibly good one-on-one and does provide drive, recording the 13 disposals and five rebound 50s in Round 1.

MIDFIELDERS:

Could Sydney add a family element to the club in the form of South Adelaide’s Senna Gulden? The sister of current Swan Errol, Senna had a brilliant first game for the Panthers, laying a game-high 11 tackles as well as picking up a match-high seven clearances. She also collected 21 disposals as that contested ball-winning midfielder. Originally from the region, she fits a need for the red and white, and the 2001-born Gulden has played at the elite junior level before, alongside the likes of Alyce Parker and Georgia Garnett for the Rams at the 2018 AFLW Under 18 Championships.

Norwood pocket rocket Tesharna Maher showed her lively burst that won her a Redlegs best and fairest last year, providing dash from the stoppage and covering the ground with ease on her way to 17 disposals, two marks, five tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s and three rebound 50s. Fellow onballer Lana Schwerdt had a massive 15-disposal first half before a quieter second half as another to consider.

Glenelg utility Madisyn Freeman racked up a league-high 10 clearances from 23 disposals for the Bays in their loss to West Adelaide. Making it clear she was determined to push for the Over-age AFLW Draft, Freeman did her chances no harm with an impressive Round 1 performance.

She was at times opposed to Zoe Venning who will herself to 21 disposals, six marks, eight clearances and six tackles to do what she has done for the best part of several years and be a contested bull at the stoppages and spread hard. Venning is deceptively strong overhead, but is still working on her kicking.

FORWARDS:

Northern Territory forward Mattea Breed made a bright return to the SANFL Women’s with a strong 2.2 effort from 18 disposals, four marks and seven inside 50s. With a couple of shots being a little straighter, Breed could have finished with a bag, but no doubt caught the eyes of recruiters with her athleticism and greater impact for longer compared to her first stint at the level a couple of years ago.

Though not high on the statistical side of things, South Adelaide key forward Jorja Hooper made her presence felt upon return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. She crashed packs, presented hard and took three marks from seven disposals.

RUCKS:

Two of the most keen Over-age AFLW draft hopes went head-to-head on Friday night when North Adelaide beat Norwood by two points in a thriller. North Adelaide recruit Isabelle Starmer fitted in seamlessly since crossing from Central District, picking up 24 disposals, two marks – one contested – seven hitouts, five clearances and three inside 50s, while laying seven hitouts. Her opponent, Norwood recruit Georgie Jaques helped herself to 13 disposals, three marks – two contested – 31 hitouts, four clearances, four tackles and two inside 50s.

The pair put on a showcase of two different ruck styles, with Starmer a little undersized for a ruck at the elite level, but what she might lack in height, she makes up for in around the ground work. Starmer is more of a “fourth midfielder” as her numbers suggest, but she covers the ground with ease and can find the pill in each of the three regions. Jaques represented NSW-ACT last season at the AFLW Under 18 Championships, but has moved to Norwood to test herself in the strongest state league, and showed why the ruck seems to be the perfect role for the stronger readymade talent.

Though not as young as the aforementioned rucks, South Adelaide’s Soriah Moon returned from an ACL injury on the weekend and dominated for the Panthers against Sturt. An incredible first half in particular saw Moon finish with 16 disposals, 25 hitouts, seven clearances, six tackles, three inside 50s, three rebound 50s and a clever goal snap from a forward stoppage. Turning 30 in August, Moon would be more of an immediate replacement for a side needing ruck support.