STRENGTHS:

+ Explosive speed
+ Versatility
+ Size
+ Reading the play
+ Agility
+ Upside

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Kicking
- Composure

PROFILE:

Rigoni has had her ups and downs over the past couple of seasons, showing promising signs in her bottom-age year back in 2021, returning after the pandemic to play 10 games. However disaster struck on preliminary final day. Rigoni tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), missed the grand final and her entire top-age season in 2022.

In 2023, she returned in a blaze of glory, quickly establishing herself as a key member of the Chargers' defence. Her offensive nature and determination to take the game on as often as possible caught the eye of Vic Metro selectors and AFLW clubs. She was named for the Under 23 All-Stars and then Metro where she played two of the three games, missing the middle one against South Australia due to a knee injury.

Luckily it would not keep her out for long, as she returned against Vic Country, then finished the year with the Chargers, this time completing the fairytale premiership success story having missed out two years prior. Perhaps most impressive was her last month and a half of the Talent League Girls season, where she did not dip below double-digit possessions playing largely off a wing.

Without a doubt, Rigoni's major asset is her explosive speed, which for a 173cm player, holds her in good stead. She will compete well in the air, then if she does not mark it, will recover well and explode away, with few opposition players able to easily take her down. Sometimes Rigoni's biggest challenge is the next step, with her kicking and composure with ball-in-hand areas that could further improve.

Her understanding of the game behind the play both as a defender and a winger holds up well, as she can find the spots to get into, or run up and look for the overlap handball receive. It is more when moving in transition herself, she can tend to rush her possessions going forward and either bomb the ball - after a running bounce goes astray - or pick a destination before assessing all the potential options.

Despite those areas that could still be tweaked, it is unlikely to hold her back at the top level, given her athleticism is outstanding. Both her speed and agility are as good as anyone else's and she finished equal fourth in Victoria at the Draft Combine with a Physical Performance Rating of 0.88. That rating combines the player's score on vertical jumps, 20m sprint and agility test, providing an overall score out of 100 (or one).

Along with her natural athleticism, Rigoni's versatility will also appeal to clubs, as she can slot in anywhere. Given she has had a relatively consistent season - bar the slight sidelines delay in July - Rigoni is one that all clubs will likely have somewhere on their board. They might see her as a running defender or wing, but will understand she is more of a long-term prospect who has the capability to be a very good player.