BACK for another year, Rookie Me Central’s 24 to Watch in 2024 returns and this time around, the focus is on underage players, being those who are yet to have an AFLW Draft chance. For the list of 2024, it will range between players who are predominantly 2006 (top-age) and 2007-born talents likely to take the SANFL Women’s by storm or set themselves up for the future.

Central District has no shortage of draftable talent in 2024, and one of those is top-age midfielder/forward Jasmine Evans. In what was her first season at SANFL Women’s level, Evans went from unknown prospect to match-winner, standing up in big moments, and helping play a key role in delivering the Bulldogs their premiership flag.

JASMINE EVANS PROFILE

DOB: 05/02/2006
Height: 165cm
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Club: Central District

SUMMARY

Evans is a naturally gifted footballer with enormous upside, and she came along in leaps and bounds last season. Predominantly playing up forward and rotating further afield, Evans kicked 13 goals in 14 games for the Dogs, and while she only averaged the 8.2 disposals in her debut season, looked as comfortable as anyone out there, not wasting many touches.

For South Australia, Evans got greater opportunities between the arcs, and stepped up against her peers, averaging 13.3 disposals, 3.0 marks and 4.3 inside 50s to be a brilliant distributor going forward. Her ball use is sublime and her footy IQ – which allows her to get into the right spots and do damage both on the scoreboard and by setting up others to do the same – shines wherever she plays.

Twelve months ago, Evans would not have been on any draft radars, but after a promising season which included highlights such as her match-winning goal and three consecutive majors in her two matches against Norwood, and a momentum-swinging goal in the grand final, she is among the top prospects in this year’s AFLW Draft.

Her bottom-age season form was rewarded with a place in the AFLW Academy, where she is one of three Central District prospects in the prestigious squad. Evans is a player who always seems to have time and space, as well as great composure, and though softly spoken, is one who packs plenty of punch when on the field.

SANFLW 24 TO WATCH IN 2024:

>> #5 Poppy Scholz (Glenelg)
>> #6 Jemma Charity (North Adelaide)
>> #7 Lucy Boyd (West Adelaide)
>> #8 Violet Patterson (Glenelg)
>> #9 Sophie Eaton (Central District)
>> #10 Monique Bessen (Sturt)
>> Ruby Ballard (West Adelaide)
>> Shae Archbold (South Adelaide)
>> Asha Dufour (West Adelaide)
>> Coby Morgan (Norwood)
>> Esther Schirmer (South Adelaide)
>> Emma Kilpatrick (West Adelaide)
>> Lily Baxter (South Adelaide)
>> Grace Martin (Woodville-West Torrens)
>> Laela Ebert (North Adelaide)
>> Steph Tredwell (West Adelaide)
>> Matilda Wilmore (Glenelg)
>> Charli Hazelhurst (Norwood)
>> Chloe Tonkin (West Adelaide)
>> Imogen Trengove (Woodville-West Torrens)