TALENTED midfielder/forward Kiera Yerbury is a promising AFLW Draft prospect with plenty of upside, and upon her return to North Shore Bombers, made her presence felt. Playing up forward and then spending time around the ball, Yerbury amassed 25 disposals and had eight inside 50s, being one of the best on ground in the Bombers’ tough loss to UNSW-ES Bulldogs.

Yerbury’s Round 17 performance was the subject of our AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division Player Focus

PLAYER FOCUS:

2025 AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division – Round 17:
North Shore Bombers 3.8 (26) def. by UNSW-ES Bulldogs 6.4 (40)

#10 Kiera Yerbury (North Shore Bombers)
Stats: 25 disposals (25 kicks, 10 handballs) @ 48% CP & 60% DE, 1 mark, 2 clearances, 5 tackles, 8 inside 50s, 1 behind, 119 AFL Fantasy points

FIRST HALF

Yerbury started the game forward and was able to have an early shot on goal through a gather but it unfortunately went across the face. Moving to a higher position, she won the ball at the top of 50 shortly after with an effective kick to a two-on-one close to goal.

Using her strength, Yerbury bumped an opponent and was clean at ground level to dish off a two-three, where she had a couple of handballs with Amelia Rainbow as the pair ran towards goal. A natural left-footer, Yerbury can use her right, though rare poor kick came at half-back spinning out of trouble but connecting with the outside of her boot and bouncing out of bounds.

She would win a couple more touches to end the first term, with quarter one finishing after a clever gather at half-forward and fend-off to an opponent before delivering inside 50.

Yerbury continued to compete at ground level as quarter two started, scrapping at ground level and firing out a clean handball under pressure. She would take a nice mark at half-forward in the term – her only grab of the day and was effective going inside 50.

Another near mark at half-back where Yerbury dropped it between two opponents did not faze the top-ager, as the Swans Academy member gathered and kicked long to a one-on-one down the ground. Her half finished with a one-two on the wing, kicking to half-forward and gaining valuable meterage.

SECOND HALF

Yerbury’s third term was the quietest of the four, playing deeper inside 50 and taking a ping at goal off the non-preferred which was a brilliant effort but just touched on the line and rushed through for a behind.

She would intercept a ball at half-forward as opponents tried to exit by hand, putting on the jets and breaking free to the 50m before unfortunately turning the ball over in a one-against-two situation. Another near miss from 10m out off a snap under pressure hit hte post, before Yerbury’s last touch came via a handball near the boundary inside 50 but it was unfortunately picked off by an opposition defender.

Back to business in the fourth quarter, Yerbury won the ball via handball receive again and burst forward to kick long inside 50. Another handball receive shortly after followed by a one-two and then eventually a kick deep forward summed up her gamestyle in a play.

Another near mark on the defensive side of the wing as she went to intercept was no worries, as Yerbury gathered it at ground level and handballed away, but an opponent was able to pick it off. Working back deep into defence, the Bombers talent laid several huge tackles including in the defensive goalsquare before moving into the centre bounce and applying similar pressure in there.

Towards the end of the quarter, Yerbury won a handball receive on the wing, sidestepped and then shrugged an opponent before delivering a lovely weighted kick to Lauren O’Sullivan. Yerbury’s final involvement was a strong tackle and body work at a forward stoppage to win the ball and dump it on the left boot to tumble it forward.

CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Yerbury is a high-upside prospect who received an AFLW National Draft Combine invite this week. It is testament to her current ability and potential growth, being a tall midfielder/forward who competes well in the air and at ground level, while having explosive speed and a long kick.

She showed during her time with the Allies that she can rise to the level of competition, and is not afraid to take grass, as well as a few bounces along the way. A give-and-go player by hand to be at top speed when kicking long, Yerbury is a name to remember for this year’s AFLW Draft and one of the top prospects out of NSW/ACT.