AN ALLIES representative and bottom-age draft prospect, the hard-running Frances Walsh is another player to watch out of NSW/ACT for 2026. Plying her trade for the Sydney Swans Academy this season, Walsh – who goes by ‘Frank’ or ‘Frankie’ – is enjoying plenty of opportunities across multiple competitions.

For the Swans, Walsh averaged 19.5 disposals, 2.3 marks, 2.8 tackles, 2.0 inside 50s and 1.5 rebound 50s playing off a wing, before being named for the Allies where she came in for game two and showed some similar high-level athletic traits. Now back at AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division level, Walsh is deep in a finals series with Sydney University.

The Students defeated UNSW-ES Bulldogs on the weekend to advance through to the preliminary final, and Walsh was a massive part of the win, providing plenty of run on the outside and positioning herself well to be a ball-winner in transition. She was the subject of our Player Focus.

PLAYER FOCUS

2025 AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division: Semi-Final
Sydney University 7.4 (46) def. UNSW-ES Bulldogs 5.5 (35)

#6 Frances Walsh (Sydney University)
Stats: 19 disposals (13 kicks, 6 handballs), 3 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 75 AFL Fantasy Points

FIRST HALF:

Walsh started the game with a strong tackle inside the defensive 50 a few minutes after it commenced, having pushed up to add an extra number around the ball to force a turnover and her teammate run clear off half-back. A defensively-minded wing naturally, Walsh spent time in the defensive rotation and six minutes into the term won a handball off the wing. While her kick just missed the target, as a whole she was clean and effective.

Getting more involved around the middle of the first term, Walsh’s defensive pressure was very good, earning two free kicks, first from a tackle in the back pocket, then from being taken high when going in hard at half-back. What stood out in her game through the first half was Walsh’s ability to work into space and when she received it, looked to the short, sharp passes to keep the ball moving in transition.

Her second term was a little quieter and it did start when pinged holding the ball at half-forward, but Walsh attempted to spin out trouble and break lines to get it forward. Still developing some fundaments in terms of her game understanding, she backs herself to find space and then create opportunities down the ground. She did just that through a series of touches over the next 15 minutes as each time she either received by hand or marked the ball and delivered effective passes to teammates in space.

SECOND HALF:

Walsh’s first disposal in the third term took a while to come, with her gather off hands on the wing at the nine-minute mark resulting in a one-two followed by a launch inside 50. The kick went to a one-on-one and was technically sound, but got spoiled and the Bulldogs’ numbers at the drop of the ball were able to clear.

Another couple of kicks over the next five minutes went more to space than direct, but still to advantage and she always followed up with some hard running. Her pressure in the final minute of the third quarter forced a spill and turnover for her side, before having a late couple of disposals with the siren imminent. One such disposal was taking smart advantage from a teammate’s holding hte ball free kick on the wing and pumping it inside 50. Unfortunately despite being in front of her forward, the ball took a right turn bounce and straight to the defender.

The fourth term was similar to the second in the sense it was a little quieter for Walsh, but she remained involved, usually providing a lot of unrewarded running. Positioning herself on the defensive side of the stoppage four minutes into the term, she received the handball from the ruck, went to clear it by foot but was smothered. She followed up with a tackle to force a repeat stoppage.

Her last couple of kicks were also forced bombs forward while under pressure, but with the time ticking down and the Students on top, field position became more vital than earlier in the match. As a whole, it is an area she can continue to work on, but across the board she was clean by hand and neat by foot across the first three quarters.

CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Walsh projects as a winger going forward, having played there for the Swans and has both the endurance and speed that will worry opposition players. Her ability to drop back and help the defence is very good, and while she will still look to build more strength, is not afraid to go in and lay a strong tackle by pinning an arm or taking the opponent to ground and locking the ball up.

Walsh is an outside player and more suited to a second or third possession winner, often mopping up behind the contest or being an outside switch option to take the ball down the ground. From a disposal point of view, her kicking has been developing nicely, and while her kicking under pressure is still a work in process, when on the move she has the capacity to weight the ball well and hit those short-45s well.

One of her strengths is her clean hands and she is quick to dispose of it as well, so Walsh can deliver some one-twos on the wing or off half-back and create space, breaking open the game in that fashion. Her form in 2025 has earned her a place in the Under 17s Futures squad which plays at Ikon Park on Sunday. It does mean that she will miss the preliminary final, but instead hope that the Students can get it done, cause an upset and she can play in the following week’s grand final.