IT IS all about the future for Calder Cannons with a bottom-age and double bottom-age draft crop that has some serious talent to watch out for going forward. While the Cannons only ended up with one full-time Vic Metro representative and no Draft Combine invitees, that is sure to change next year with promising 2027 and 2028 AFLW Draft prospects making their way through the ranks.

SEASON 2026

SNAPSHOT

Played: 14
Won: 8
Lost: 6

BEST PERFORMANCE

Round 19: def. Murray Bushrangers by 33 points

Calder Cannons would finish off their regular season with an impressive win on the road, defeating eventual preliminary finalists Murray Bushrangers by 33 points at Wangaratta. The Cannons kept the Bushrangers to three goals across the first three quarters, piling on six goals to one in the middle two terms before. final term flurry resulted in the Bushrangers reducing the deficit back to 33. Victoria Goudy (28 disposals, three marks and four tackles) and Coco Balmain (21 disposals, five marks, six tackles and a goal) were both strong, while Isabelle Hannon and competition equal leading goalkicker Chloe Bullen both booted three goals in the win.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE

Nil.

STATE DRAFT COMBINE

Nil.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Coco Balmain had a ripping year across her 11 games, announcing herself as a consistent onballer who covered the ground well and hit the scoreboard too. Just one day inside the bottom-age bracket (born January 1), Balmain was one of the more stiff players not to earn and Under 17 Futures invite. Holly Clough was Calder’s sole permanent Vic Metro representative, booting nine majors in 13 games, while hard-running wing Elebertina Schuliga has explosive speed and was a train-on for Vic Metro as well as a Futures representative with Clough.

The depth of talent doesn’t end there though, with Jayda Scarafilo kicking13 gaols in 11 games to finish second overall in the Cannons’ goalkicking, while Tilda Sinclair in defence was a mainstay, and the tackling pressure of former Gold Coast Suns Academy talent Renee Ford will also be around next season. Tessa Berryman and Radha Butters were other bottom-agers who played key roles, as did North Melbourne and St Kilda father-daughter prospect Hollie Capuano.

Speaking of father-daughter talents, the Roos have another one in Olivia Goldstein with the daughter of Todd more of a running half-back/wing than the ruck position her dad was renowned for in his time with North Melbourne and most recently, Essendon. Victoria Goudy is the most intriguing 2010-born prospect for the Cannons, already shaping as a key prospect across multiple lines next season, while Marlo Atkins is another name to note down, showing signs in her three games for 2026.