CALDER Cannons had a challenging season in 2025, losing skipper Jade McLay to a shoulder injury after just two games, and stand-in skipper and vice-captain Chloe Baker-West was injury interrupted at times to play the nine games. We review their year.

SEASON 2025

SNAPSHOT

Played: 14
Won: 3
Lost: 11

BEST PERFORMANCE

Round 15: def. Bendigo Pioneers by 42 points

Two of Calder’s three wins came against wooden spooners Bendigo Pioneers by a consistent 43 and 42 points respectively. The second of which was the most impressive however, keeping their opponents to just one goal and four scoring shots at Highgate Recreation Reserve.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE

Chloe Baker-West (Strathmore)
Utility | 165cm | 02/02/2007

Stats [9 games]: 24.7 disposals, 5.8 marks, 4.8 tackles, 7.3 clearances, 3.7 inside 50s, 6.8 rebound 50s, 3 goals

The back-to-back Vic Metro Under 16s MVP has had a frustrating couple of years with interruptions through injury. When she did get on the park, Baker-West was the most productive player going around, racking up the pill with ease and doing everything across all thirds of the ground. Stat-stuffing in whatever role she was assigned, Baker-West is strong overhead for her size, fierce at ground level, runs hard and can extract the ball out of congestion like few others.

Jade McLay (Diamond Creek)
Tall Utility | 178cm | 01/02/2007

Stats [2 games]: 25.5 disposals, 2.5 marks, 2.5 tackles, 5.0 clearances, 5.5 inside 50s

Just the two games alongside the AFLW Academy match where McLay went down with her season-ending shoulder injury, the National Academy member has shown enough over the last couple of seasons to suggest she can fill a role in the middle, up forward or down back, with her stronger frame able to take control around the coalface, while she is also capable of providing an aerial presence and target around the ground.

STATE DRAFT COMBINE

Nil.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Calder does have a few players to note down for the future with defensive pair Charli Calleia and Chloe Capeci both impressing. While they are still developing, both players have shown talent behind the ball and on some occasions further afield. The played 11 and 14 games respectively, and do have some potential to develop through the middle or off half-back.

Felicity Mahoney stepped into the midfield in the absence of her impressive National Academy teammates, while Chloe Bullen became a rebounding force in the back half of the ground. Late season debutant Lily Frangoulis showed promising signs when coming into the team.

From a 2009-born perspective, the explosive Elebertina Schuliga and impressive Tessa Berryman are exciting prospects, while tall marking target Holly Clough and defensive tall Coco Balmain are bookends for the future.