STRENGTHS:

+ Left-foot kicking
+ Footy IQ
+ Clean hands
+ Clearance work
+Leadership
+ Forward craft
+ Consistency

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Contested marking
- Opposite foot

PROFILE:

India Rasheed is best known for her damaging left boot, and any time she can wheel around onto it she will take full advantage. The South Australian young gun is very comfortable to look up and hit targets consistently inside 50, and would be a brilliant distributor from half-forward for any side. She is the type of ball user that forwards would love, as Rasheed herself comes from being a forward at the Double Blues and knows exactly the type of delivery she would be after.

Her game also consists of a nice balance of aerial prowess and ground level work, with her clean hands above her head as well as at ground level really standing out in whatever role she plays. While not as strong in a one-on-one contested marking situation, Rasheed has the ability through her smarts to breakaway on the lead, gain separation and take the ball at the highest point making life difficult for her opponent.

While not explosive, Rasheed moves well and can react quickly once a ball is brought to ground. She rarely wastes a touch, and even when under pressure will generally put the ball into advantageous positions. When moving into the midfield, Rasheed showed she has the stoppage craft and clearance work to have an impact, really taking control and having some massive games throughout 2024 to emphasise that fact.

Across the course of the SANFLW season, Rasheed had six games of five or more clearances, including an absolute stat-stuffing effort of 34 disposals, seven marks, nine tackles, eight clearances, nine inside 50s and two goals in a heartbreaking seven-point loss to Central District. While that was one of her two best performance of the year, Rasheed's consistency was outstanding and she held up brilliantly across this year.

In 2024, Rasheed recorded at least 20 disposals in every game after Round 1 in the SANFLW, including two games of 30-plus disposals, with the other being a season-high 36 touches, 11 marks, eight tackles, four clearances, eight inside 50s and three goals in a five-goal victory over the Bulldogs. In other words, the 2023 premiers had some sleepless nights worrying about Rasheed's impact.

Looking at Rasheed's improvements, her contested marking and strength one-on-one is definitely one that can further develop, and an area she identified as a way to grow as a player. However also getting more comfortable on her right side will be another way to balance out her abilities as her left foot is so potent, but the smarter and more aware players at AFLW level will be onto that fact to try and force her onto her right.

However as a whole, Rasheed is right up there with the top players in this year's AFLW Draft, having consistently performed against past and present AFLW players and very good state leaguers in the SANFLW. Her leadership - which included a vice-captaincy in the state program this year - is also evident on the field with the forward-midfielder very vocal and driven. They say you can be your own harshest critic and speaking to her, Rasheed is as driven and determined to get better as anyone else in the draft pool, so will be a human highlight reel waiting to happen.