STRENGTHS:

+ Reading the play
+ Kicking
+ Vision
+ Intercept marking
+ Positioning
+ Clean hands
+ Strength

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Speed
- Decision making

Crane bases her game around a really strong understanding of the play and she can get into the right spots consistently and be as safe as anyone else with her hands. While not super athletic, Crane times her jumps well to be able to either pluck the ball out of the air or spoil to perfection and ensure her opponent is always having a tough time of it.

What Crane does so well compared to a lot of key defenders is the fact that she can impact the game both ways. Her offensive work is very good, but she is just as capable defensively, so if given a job, can fulfil that effectively. One-on-one you would back Crane more often than not, with only the ultra-athletic tall marking targets likely to pose her problems.

Crane is not quick so that is arguably the main setback in her game, but she makes up for it with her sublime reading of the play. By judging the ball in flight and being able to get to the right area faster than most, she often out-smarts or out-foxes her opponent as if it is a chess match. Once she has the ball in her grasp, she is a damaging left-footer who can pierce some of the best passes you will see.

It would not be too crazy to suggest she is among the top few kicks in the AFLW Draft crop, with the only improvement in that area perhaps coming in her decision making. Crane backs herself by foot which is great to see, and will not hesitate to sizzle in a 45-kick to the corridor, but at times there are slightly safer options. A high-risk, high-reward player, she is still finding the balance there, but with her ability to hit targets so well, she is given the licence even if it results in some turnovers on occasions.

A long kick as well, Crane can breakdown opposition defences with a brilliantly weighted pass that somehow floats over three defenders to hit her one forward. That vision she has to be able to spot up teammates is very impressive, and also another reason she was placed on the wing for Western Australia. Unfortunately her defensive craft and reading of the play is so good you need her behind the ball, but having that secondary role helps and she has spent time as a forward too.

It is easy to forget Crane missed a full year due to her ACL injury because she hardly missed a beat in 2025. Her early season form was some of her best, but her qualifying final performance against Claremont (19 disposals, nine marks and five tackles) was terrific in a crunch game. Naturally she has had some ebbs and flows throughout the season, but at least 70 per cent of her games she seems to have a fairly profound impact.

Going forward, Crane is a perfect fit for a key defensive post at the elite level, and aside from her speed, has just about everything else going for her. Even her endurance - considering she missed so much time - is quite impressive, and that will help her go with the more gut-running bigger forwards. Strong and clean, it is easy to see why Crane is so highly touted, and has been for a number of years.