IN a new addition to season 2024, Rookie Me Central will take a weekly look at players who caught the eye outside the traditional draft pathway. This means the only players who will feature on this list are those outside the State Academies so are either mature-agers, or juniors that have not made it into the State Academies yet.

Elle Lineage (Norwood)
20/05/2005 | 171cm | Midfielder

An over-ager who had a taste of being a part of the extended State Academy squad last year, Lineage has returned to the Redlegs in some great form. After battling it out in Round 1 against Central District, Lineage had a breakout Round 2 match against South Adelaide.

Spending the majority of her time at the coalface, the inside midfielder was able to rack up four clearances and five tackles to go with her 15 touches. But perhaps her most eye-catching work was being able to get on the end of a couple of plays and kick two goals when forward.

Lineage kicked her first goal after winning a free kick for a high tackle late in the second term, before sealing the win with a great running major in the last couple of minutes of the match. That goal iced the game, handing Norwood a 19-point lead which was insurmountable.

Though 15 disposals might not jump off the page for a midfielder, just about all of them were won in tough situations, and Lineage has increased her strengths and midfield IQ at that level, having already played two games to add to her four from last year.

Considering Lineage is sharing on-ball time with some top-end talents, the over-ager will build confidence for the season ahead, particularly when the AFLW players depart the program. Overall, she is still building her game, but her Round 2 performance was ultra impressive.

Poppy Stockwell (South Fremantle)
24/10/2003 | 165cm | Forward

A dual sport athlete, Stockwell is a highly coveted cricketer who turns 21 later in the year, but is not without her talent on the footy field. In a ranking of mature-age prospects from the state leagues currently in action, Stockwell would be top of the list for her season start.

Boasting strong hands, a knack for goals and some great strength both overhead and at ground level for a 165cm player, Stockwell does not need a lot of touches to do a heap of damage. Playing as a wicketkeeper batter on the pitch, Stockwell is best known for her craft inside 50 for the Bulldogs.

In the first two rounds this season, Stockwell has averaged 14.5 disposals, 4.5 marks, 3.0 tackles and booted 4.4, including three majors on the weekend against Claremont. Considering South Fremantle lost both its matches so far this season, Stockwell has caught the eye with her work in the forward half of the ground.

Consistency and four-quarter impact has always been an area for Stockwell to improve, though she started that rise last season where she kicked the 10 goals in nine games, with nine of them coming in a six-game stint. Already she has made her mark on the season, and is finding more of the ball as evidenced by her 19-disposal Round 1 game.

If Stockwell can continue her form, and show that desire to compete in both sports at a high level, there should be no reason AFLW clubs do not take a close look at her. Especially given the likes of Arianna Hetherington and Tahleah Mulder were picked up from the Bulldogs last year as mature-age selections.