OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list is completely subjective, the opinion is that of the individual author.

#13 Isabel Dawes (Brisbane)

DOB: 11/05/2001
Height: 162cm
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Games: 43

Belle Dawes is a unique player who has really forged ahead in her career over the past few seasons since stepping up from juniors. She represented Maroochydore and then Queensland in the QAFL Women’s and AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships respectively before being picked up with the 15th selection in the 2019 AFL Women’s Draft.

She did not have to wait long to make her debut, cracking into the Lions outfit in Round 1 of 2020 and has gone on to represent the club a further 42 times. Gradually building up her time on ground as she increased areas of her game, Dawes has developed into a critical player for the Lions.

She is one who adds tackling pressure and a knack for score involvements despite not actually kicking many goals herself. Able to play up the ground or as a high half-forward, Dawes is a creative player who attacks it hard and provides a rotational option at the stoppages.

SEASON 7 KEY STATS:

Games: 13
Goals: 8
Disposals: 14.1
Disposal Efficiency: 64.5
Marks: 1.6
Clearances: 2.5
Tackles: 4.5
Inside 50s: 2.8
Intercepts: 3.5
Score Involvements: 2.6
Time of Ground %: 76.8

Dawes lifted her game across all areas last season to have a career-best season, but particularly on the defensive end. Her numbers increased in Season 7, as did her ball use, and in the absence of some key Lions who have departed, expect Dawes to have an even bigger role in Season 8.

Only once in Season 7 did Dawes dip below 10 disposals, and she had a breakout 24-disposal game against Richmond in Round 5. In the Lions’ only blemish during the regular season, Dawes racked up 24 disposals – five more than any other game – and laid seven tackles, while having a season-high seven clearances and 350 metres gained.

Not always a massive accumulator, Dawes does the team things well and is able to set up scoring opportunities for her side. Despite not always playing on-ball consistently, Dawes did record a clearance in every Season 7 march, including three from 12 disposals in last year’s grand final.

LOOKING AHEAD

Still young, Dawes is ready to step up and take on more responsibility in Season 8 as the Lions look to cover some big losses over the off-season. A capable midfielder at junior level, she is likely to spend more time in there, as well as getting to the outside to be at her creative best, providing a mix of offensive an defensive talent.