NEXT Monday the latest edition of the AFL Women’s Draft Power Rankings is released, with plenty to consider. The AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships are done and dusted, and with the exception of the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division and the Coates Talent League, the majority of the state leagues are wrapped up.

In this article, we give you an insight into some of those players on the fringes and in consideration to make the Power Rankings when they are extended.

Charlotte Adamson (Gold Coast Suns Academy/Queensland)
18/06/2004 | 167cm | Midfielder/Forward

The soccer convert was ranked 32nd last month, just missing out on the overall top 30 count, and with Mackenzie Webb (31st) being drafted, Adamson is one of a number in line to squeeze into the squad. Her power and strength, as well as her ability to stand up and play both midfield and forward catches the eye, it is just maintaining consistency and continuing to learn the new code.

Isabel Bacon (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
11/04/2005 | 172cm | Midfielder/Defender

When talking upside, Bacon is one of those players that clubs would gamble on to build from her athletic foundational traits. She is an eye-catching player through the midfield and can play off half-back as well, drawing club interest for her line-breaking capability and a capacity to even roll off a wing in the future.

Jacinta Baldwick (Brisbane Lions Academy)
14/11/2005 | 169cm | Midfielder/Forward

A series of players on this list are here because at the end of the day, weight of numbers eventually stack up. Baldwick is one of these players who has hardly played a bad game and been able to impact both offensively and defensively. She has some great athletic traits, able to hit the scoreboard and work hard through the middle, she is one who has constantly been thereabouts.

Alissa Brook (South Adelaide/South Australia)
23/05/2005 | 176cm | Defender

Though much has been spoken about the South Australian top six players, Brook is arguably the next in line. Still developing, she has great athleticism for a tall, reads the ball well and competes aerially while still impacting at ground level. A raw young gun but one with great upside that clubs will take a close look at.

Sophie Butterworth (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
11/12/2005 | 181cm | Forward

The Victorian draft crop is devoid of key forwards, and Butterworth emerges as one of the most consistent at Talent League level. Her championships were not as she might have hoped, but the powerful left footer has kicked 27 goals in 12 games, including 13 goals in her past three rounds. She is very much a contested mark, set shot goalkicker but she does it well and has a booming kick.

Holly Cooper (Swans Academy/Allies)
23/02/2005 | 164cm | Midfielder

Do not be shocked if Cooper ends up the first taken from the Swans Academy or even attracting interest from the GIANTS with her high upside traits. Though not as developed as some other Swans Academy members, she moves well, uses the ball effectively and can play inside or outside with a willingness to take grass.

Mackenzie Ford (Tasmania Devils/Allies)
27/04/2005 | 163cm | Midfielder

Ford is another player who just keeps popping up on the radar after solid performances for both Allies and Tasmania Devils. When looking at her top traits, it is hard to deny she has some really eye-catching moments using her speed, ability to cover the ground and get forward, and bring enormous amounts of defensive pressure.

Amy Gaylor (Calder Cannons/Vic Metro)
23/08/2005 | 171cm | Midfielder

The Calder Cannons midfielder and AFLW Academy has some nice traits and just needs some continuity to show it as she is a clear top 30 talent at her best. A natural left-footer, Gaylor is a contested ball-winner with some nice pace out of a stoppage. A knee injury earlier this season curtailed a lot of her season, but Gaylor is now back and starting to build some form.

Emily Gough (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
01/12/2005 | 180cm | Utility

Known for her booming kick, Gough is seen as a long-term prospect who has developable traits. Standing at 180cm, Gough is also a strong contested and intercept mark, has an elite endurance base and moves well for a tall, and though some of her fundamentals such as execution need improving, she ticks a lot of boxes.

Tamara Henry (Western Jets/Vic Metro)
05/07/2005 | 170cm | Forward/Midfielder

An exciting, high-upside player, Henry does not have the consistency of others, but certainly has potential to develop. She is strong overhead for a player of her size, can play as a forward, on a wing or at the coalface, and do a lot of damage forward of centre. One to keep an eye on going forward.

Jacinta Hose (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
05/09/2005 | 184cm | Ruck

Coming back from injury this season, the 184cm tall has potential for the future. She did have to come off with injury on the weekend, but her form over the past month since returning has been pretty solid. She is a strong contested mark and works well around the ground, and though she needs continuity and some further development of fundamentals, has developable traits.

Holly Ifould (South Adelaide/South Australia)
02/09/2005 | 168cm | Wing

A specialist outside player, Ifould has the traits that will catch the eye with her speed and work rate to get into space. The South Australian won the MVP in the exhibition match against the SANFLW All-Stars, and though her contested work is the question mark, her outside game is very solid across the board.

Ava Jordan (Northern Knights/Vic Metro)
29/04/2005 | 148cm | Forward/Midfielder

The ‘if they’re good enough, they’re tall enough’ will get the ultimate test when it comes to Jordan, who if drafted, would comfortably be the smallest AFLW player. Aside from her size, her speed is a knock, but when it comes to just about everything else she is elite. Her understanding of the game, forward craft and general smarts are off the charts and she makes outstanding decisions with ball-in-hand.

Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons/Vic Metro)
06/07/2005 | 169cm | Midfielder

If there is a physical embodiment of consistency in this year’s draft, it deservedly goes to Kavanagh who has not put a foot wrong all year. Through sheer work rate and ability to get better she has surpassed a lot of players to the point of earning All-Australian honours and winning the Vic Metro MVP. A dominant contested ball-winner with great defensive pressure, she is hard to deny at this point.

Josie McCabe (Gold Coast Suns Academy/Queensland)
18/04/2005 | 174cm | Midfielder/Forward

Though she plays an inside role that is very similar to many other players, the Queensland captain has a point of difference when forward. The knock will come on her speed and disposal under pressure, but her defensive traits are elite, and she is a strong contested mark who can hit the scoreboard. With power to break tackles, she is one that is readymade to play against senior bodies.

Anjelique Raison (East Fremantle/Western Australia)
07/09/2005 | 181cm | Utility

Another player whose footballing traits are very good, Raison is a strong contested mark and has already played in literally every position from key forward to key back, in the ruck and even as a midfielder. Her speed and agility will be the main knock, but few are better contested markers and reliable long-range set shots.

Jemma Ramsdale (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
07/05/2005 | 174cm | Defender

The Stingrays skipper has had some big performances this year and is not to take it up to highly touted opponents. Boasting an impressive understanding of the game and reading of the play in the back half, she is strong overhead and good at positioning herself one-on-one. Still working on some areas of her game, she has developed across the course of the season.

Marnie Robinson (Swans Academy/Allies)
08/06/2005 | 172cm | Defender

Winning the Allies’ MVP, Robinson did her draft chances no harm with her national carnival, while earning All-Australian honours. She is likely to find herself in the mid-to-late draft range because she has some developable traits and great leadership, and while she is not a high accumulator and can rush under pressure, she is able to prepare well from the back half when setting the tempo.

Melanie Staunton (GIANTS Academy/Allies)
24/01/2005 | 169cm | Midfielder/Forward

One of the hardest players to try and judge, Staunton has had limited exposure at elite junior levels, with 2023 being her first proper year at it, shooting straight into the AFLW Academy. She won the MVP representing the Academy, but has been able to get out on the park since. Has nice explosive traits and can hit the scoreboard, she is sure to attract interest on upside.

Kiera Whiley (Western Jets/Vic Metro)
07/04/2005 | 172cm | Midfielder

Whiley is one of those players who when assessing their profile, does not have a glaring weakness. They are dual-sided, use the ball consistently, can win contested ball or play in an outside role and are captain of their Talent League side. The Jets skipper might not have an elite trait that stands out and is not a massive ball-winner, but she is an all-round handy player who will not stop at getting better.

OTHERS

The deeper one goes in the draft, the more it stretches out for players who have either a standout trait, or on the flipside a clear weakness that clubs will either build on or look to overcome respectively. Below are two players from each state side who are also in the mix.

Allies: Tunisha Kikoak (Ruck/Defender), Olivia Morris (Midfielder)
Queensland: Ebony Milne (Utility), Ella Calleja (Forward/Midfielder)
South Australia: Melissa Anderson (Midfielder/Forward), Zara Walsh (Forward)
Vic Country: Chantal Mason (Forward), Amber Schutte (Defender)
Vic Metro: Georgia Stubs (Midfielder), Jess Vukic (Ruck/Forward)
Western Australia: Eva O’Donnell (Wing/Forward), Mylee Leitch (Forward/Midfielder)