ANOTHER AFL Women’s Draft is in the books, and as always there were plenty of talking points to come out of the night. A total of 59 new players made it onto AFL Women’s lists, including a few cross-coders and a mature-ager. The bulk of the contingent were top-age draft prospects, and we unpack what the night told us.

CLUBS HAVE THE NEED FOR SPEED

Though not a few concept, it was fairly obvious that if you possessed speed or athleticism, you were elevated up the AFLW Draft boards. If you had both that, and endurance as a package, you were worth your weight in gold. The likes of Scarlett Johnson, Kiera Yerbury and Imogen Trengove were among the first five non-Suns aligned players to get taken who went right at the top of their range thanks to elite athletic bases.

In fact, all of the top 20 players have some form of athleticism or speed, with even exciting types such as Mizuki Brothwell and Asher Fearn-Wannan bolted into the first round. On the flip side, players such as Chloe Baker-West, Olivia Crane and much later Carys D’Addario who on talent alone are easy first round choices, found themselves waiting a little longer with that explosive speed an area to still work on.

DRAFT BOLTERS AND SLIDERS

While a few of the aforementioned players bolted up, many were tipped to go high in the week or two leading up to the night. One who was chosen out of the blue was Sandringham Dragons’ Amy Smith who landed at the Pies with pick 23. While a host of National Academy members were still on the board, Collingwood opted for the versatile and smart utility who has elite skills and great footy IQ.

Perth mature-ager Fina Dethlefsen was the first out-of-the-box selection to be read out, with the Demons’ 22-year-old earning her AFLW chance with the Tigers at Pick 38. She joined former teammate and top pick Olivia Wolmarans at Punt Road. Other draft bolters were Sydney’s Molly Thomas out of the Swans Academy and North Melbourne’s Shauna McElligott, both of whom have enormous talent, and the clubs have punted on rounding out their games at the next level.

On the other side, D’Addario was the shock slider, lasting until St Kilda’s Pick 61 in the AFLW Draft before the West Australian MVP finally heard her name called out. Eastern Ranges skippers and best on ground in the grand final Tayla McMillan going to Carlton at Pick 34 was daylight robbery, while therre were handful of unlucky omissions from the draft.

LOOK TO PRESEASON DRAFT

A number of gifted AFLW Draft prospects at least have the new Preseason Draft to look forward to, and perhaps none more so than Glenelg sharpshooter Eloise Mackereth. The National Academy member and elite athlete was perhaps the most notable player left without a club, but at 173cm, she was in the same boat as a number of slightly undersized aerial players missing out. If she can build up the defensive elements of her game, she surely should get a look in, as her offensive impact, particularly in the air, is one of the best in the draft crop.

Others unlucky to miss out were Gippsland Power’s Ella Stoddart – a Vic Country Under 16s MVP – and Vic Metro pair Chloe Thorn and Alex McBride-Loane. Central District’s Mikaylah Antony is one whose top-age season was ruined by injury, so a strong start to 2026 would have her right in contention. Bendigo Pioneers’ Ella Jeffrey was the other player in our Top 50 that missed out, though with only 59 new players taken, and only just over 50 top-agers picked up, it was always going to be tough. Certainly one to watch.

WHERE ARE THE MATURE-AGERS?

If you take away the already club-aligned Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, the family-tied Maya Dear and the Irish pair of Sarah Wall – sister of Vicki – and Hannah Looney, just one mature-ager – Dethlefsen was taken. The next oldest of the non-aligned, football background players was Giants Academy prospect Yasmeen Janschek who turned 19 in February.

It is a clear message that the focus is very similar to the boys’ draft and that the bulk of new players will be first-time draft prospects. It is not impossible for mature-agers to make lists, but the Preseason Draft will be the main avenue to get onto AFLW lists.

CHANGE OF ALLEGIANCES

Aside from the Academy-tied players who found homes within their own club’s elite system, there were just four players who made it onto the AFLW list of their childhood club. Carlton fan McMillan donned the Navy Blue, while Bombers duo Maggie Johnstone – who split her allegiance with Carlton – and close friend Nalu Brothwell will re-join at The Hangar. South Australian Lucy Waye (Adelaide) was the other player to earn her chance at her childhood club.

There were also some allegiance changes with Crows fan Sophie Eaton now a Port Adelaide player, while Suns Academy member Dekota Baron knew she’d be in enemy territory pre-draft as a Brisbane fan. Hawks pair Trengove and Mischa Barwin will switch to the Magpies, Chloe Bown and Olivia Gorman are now Crows, and Alannah Welsh is as expected, a Sun.