THOUGH they only made two “live” selections in the AFL Women’s Draft – re-listing Lucy Burke with their third one – the Kangaroos made a splash with a couple of exciting, versatile midfielders. North Melbourne picked up Ella Slocombe with Pick 26 and then Georgia Stubs with 30 in a couple of coups given there were expectations at least Slocombe, and possibly both, were likely to be off the board earlier.
Ella Slocombe (Claremont / Western Australia)
06/12/2005 | 164cm | Midfielder / Forward
Touted as a potential top 10 pick, the Roos would have been delighted and slightly shocked, that Slocombe was still on the board at their second round selection. North Melbourne was happy to snap up the explosive midfielder, who had a huge year and is also capable of playing forward and hitting the scoreboard. With a mix of athleticism and skill, Slocombe provides an all-round base for the club to work with, and high upside for the future with 2023 being a real breakout year for the recently turned 18-year-old.
Georgia Stubs (Eastern Ranges / Vic Metro)
16/07/2005 | 167cm | Midfielder / Defender
Another player who had a breakout 2023, Stubs was instrumental through Eastern Ranges’ midfield, allowing Laura Stone to rest in other positions. Stubs’ has similar explosiveness to Stone, and while not quite as developed, showed her tenacity around the contest. She is also familiar running off half-back, with the capacity to find the ball across the ground. Given her athletic traits and ability to throw herself at the contest, she could likely be the defensive version of Slocombe, where she plays off a back flank and eventually forces her way into the midfield.
SUMMARY
It is hard to fault North Melbourne’s draft haul as the Kangaroos picked up two players for terrific value. Slocombe had no right to still be on the board at Pick 26, and then to scoop up Stubs at 30 – when she was touted as a potential first rounder on the day – made it all the more sweeter. Two players who are not far off having at impact at the top level if selection allows.
WA names 2024/25 Summer squads
WESTERN Australia’s brightest footballing prospects over the next couple of years will be put through their paces in the coming months after the state named both its male and female Under 18s Summer squads. The squads, comprised of 84 athletes will take part in a three-month program that runs from the end of November – […]
Cox’s near-perfect score lights up Combine
AN INCREDIBLE athletic performance from Bendigo Pioneers’ Lavinia Cox saw her record a near-perfect Physical Performance Rating (PPR) across the four National and State Draft Combines that took place earlier this month. Following in the footsteps of now-Swan Holly Cooper who won with a score of 95 last year, Cox dazzled her way to a […]
Ross goes back to look towards future
QUEENSLAND defender Siobhan Ross switched ends to become more of a permanent back in 2024, with the Southport top-ager making the change in order to add a point of difference behind the ball. The predominantly tall forward was one of a number of impressive players up that end of the ground for the Maroons, so […]
Stevenson proves point with strong top-age year
ATHLETIC top-ager Stasia Stevenson had a point to prove in 2024. The Eastern Ranges AFLW draft prospect was overlooked for Vic Metro in her bottom-age season and for the Summer hub. However after a promising start to the Coates Talent League Girls season, Stevenson quickly started turning heads. “I remember last year I didn’t make […]
Veerhuis “100 per cent” in for AFLW dream
FOOTBALL has always been a big part of AFLW Draft hopeful Ellie Veerhuis‘ life. The New South Wales native rose through the ranks from starting out as a youngster in Woollongong, and eventually representing the Allies at this year’s AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. “I have two older brothers who grew up playing footy since […]
TOP 5s | 2024 AFLW State Draft Combines
A RECORD-BREAKING agility test and a trio of sub-3.2-second 20m sprints highlighted some incredible results across the three AFLW State Draft Combines over the past week. State Combines consist of players with fewer nominations than those at the National Draft Combine, but have still had significant AFLW club interest, with events held in Victoria, South […]
Q&A: Zali Gallagher (Gippsland Power)
A NATURAL leader, Gippsland Power captain Zali Gallagher enjoyed a breakout top-age campaign mostly off a wing, earning Vic Country representation at the AFLW Under 18 National Championships. While experiencing the highs of football, Gallagher also experienced the lows, tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the second half of the season – her second […]
Metro snub motivates Vicino to huge year
AFTER missing out on successive Vic Metro programs over the last few seasons, the hunger and desire to reach the top level was something that never went away for Oakleigh Chargers top-ager Abbey Vicino. The talented midfielder who identified adding extra strings to her bow was the key to being a point of difference for […]
TOP 10s | 2024 AFLW National Draft Combine
A SERIES of blistering runs and jaw-dropping jumps headlined the 2024 AFL Women’s National Draft Combine that was held yesterday at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC). After the 2km time trial was completed on Friday, the remainder of the indoor tests – conducted by Rookie Me – took place on Sunday. One of the […]
