GIPPSLAND Power have arguably the top player in this year’s AFLW Draft, and certainly from a Victorian standpoint. While pick one contender Ash Centra will bring plenty of eyes on the Power this season, Gippsland coach Nathan Boyd outlined quite a few others who have caught his eye on the training track this preseason.

TOP PROSPECTS

Ash Centra (Utility)
02/06/2006 | 174cm

One of the pick one contenders this season and it is easy to see why. From her elite skills to incredible vision and decision making, Centra stands out in every single team she plays. Standing at 174cm, she can play midfield, forward or back and she is a natural match-winner with her aerial ability and one-touch ground level play an element of beauty. Near impossible to contain, she is a player people will come to watch for many years to come.

Nathan Boyd says: “She’s going really well. Probably one of those ones who over the last 12 months has come out of her shell and had a real presence in our program. We’ll look to play her through the midfield/forward and there will be times where we throw her down back. She’s very versatile and can cover off on most positions. We’ll see her playing majority probably forward-mid and work from there and then might thrown her down back to give her a look.”

Jasmine Sowden (Midfielder)
17/12/2006 | 164cm

Bursting onto the scene last year, Sowden caught the eye with her speed and defensive pressure, while also being able to hit targets on either side of her body. She predominantly played midfield, but would rest forward and set up plays, but is a natural first possession winner at the stoppage. Has the balance of inside and outside ball-wining capabilities.

Nathan Boyd says: “She’s come in really fit. She’s leading the way in terms of all the competitive, contested stuff we do. Another player who’s come a long way in terms of how her personality’s really shining in our program. Super tackler, we done some match sim and she’s a first-in and lays a lot of tackles and puts a lot of pressure on. She’s really smart when she uses the ball, she’s come in and really elevated her standards when she’s come into the program.”

OTHERS TO WATCH

Nathan Boyd says: “We’ve got Ella Stoddart as a bottom-ager whose really starting to emerge. She’s a great left foot rebound defender whose a huge bubbly presence in terms of her environment. She’s come in, she’s training really well, she’s leading the group with voice and energy. She’s doing really well.

“Zali Gallagher is one. Her athleticism, her speed is incredible. Lilly Leighton are a couple who stand out and Zahri Burn as a ruck she’s developing and showing some real good strength in terms of her ruck craft.

“Then some of our bottom-agers in Abby Hobson and Kiera Gibbs, Soph Hamilton have come through and had some really good moments through preseason.

Then we’ve got a couple of new girls who are quite tall, so we’ve got Charlize Dent and Maya Crestani who are both big, tall athletes who are going to give us some focal points going forward as well.”

FIRST MATCH

Round 2: vs. Murray Bushrangers | Sunday, April 14 @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

SEASON EXPECTATIONS

Nathan Boyd says: “Just keeping it really competitive environment where the girls test each other and challenge each other. We’d love to get out and win a couple of games but we just want to keep seeing the growth in our region and trajectory that our girls are on keep getting better.”