PREDOMINANTLY a bottom-age oriented side, the Western Jets showed great promise in the second half of the season, winning a few games and looking dangerous in others to the point where they almost jagged a metropolitan finals spot.

SEASON 2025

SNAPSHOT

Played: 14
Won: 4
Lost: 10

BEST PERFORMANCE

Round 14: def. Tasmania Devils by 18 points

Western Jets produced an incredible upset win down on the Apple Isle, knocking off Tasmania Devils by three goals. While the Devils were missing a host of Allies representatives, it was the work of Piper Dixon who had a legacy game to steer the Jets to a memorable 7.10 (52) to 5.4 (34) victory.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE

Nil.

STATE DRAFT COMBINE

Alex McBride-Loane (Maribyrnong Park)
Tall Defender | 174cm | 03/04/2007

Stats [10 games]: 17.4 disposals, 3.0 marks, 1.3 hitouts, 3.3 tackles, 0.9 inside 50s, 5.0 rebound 50s, 1 goal

The sole Western Jets combine invitee, McBride-Loane has risen through the pathways to consistently represent Vic Metro and be a force behind the ball. McBride-Loane has a terrific vertical leap, strong hands and a powerful kick which make her a reliable intercept defender. Though she has had stints through the ruck in past years, her 174cm size suggests a third-tall defender who can play up is where she slots in, and she has done that well in recent years. A highly aggressive prospect who takes grass and is not afraid to switch play to open up the ground.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Dual sports star Kiara Boyd oozes class and has expanded her versatility from being a marking forward, to a player who can roll through the midfield, or even down back. A reliable kick and strong overhead, she is one with plenty of upside and looms as Western’s top prospect for 2026 having already experienced Vic Metro representation as a bottom-ager.

It is hard to knock the form of midfielder Tayla Olivieri who has been a standout for the Jets and will be one to watch improve in 2026. Piper Dixon had some huge games for the Jets as a roaming half-forward, while Paige McHutchison as an athletic tall forward and Addison West being an inside-outside prospect were also names to note down for next year. In the last few games, winger Ruby Jones also caught the eye, as did running defender, Jacinta Eteuati.

Looking ahead to the 2027 AFLW Draft and classy small forward Alana D’Ambrosio – sister of Hawthorn’s Massimo – has upside, running out for Vic Metro at Under 16s level and impressing with the highly talented Charli Parsons-Jones who played the two Jets games as well.