STRENGTHS:

+ Aerial ability
+ Strength
+ Footy IQ
+ Reading the play
+ Impact-per-possession
+ Leadership

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Endurance
- Athleticism
- Production

PROFILE:

Shepherd came into the season off the back of five games in her debut Dragons year, averaging 4.8 disposals as a bottom-ager. Flying under the radar, the defender came out with an impressive 17 disposals, two marks, six tackles and four rebound 50s in the opening Dragons match against Calder Cannons. She would only reach that feat once more - against the Devils in Round 9 - where she had four marks and three inside 50s to go with her 17 touches.

Her production as a whole is on the low side, though playing the role she does off half-back, it is easy to see why it fluctuates. In season 2023, she lifted her averaged up to 11.1 disposals, but for a player like Shepherd - whose next highest disposal count was 12 - it is not about the numbers, but rather the impact on matches.

The Dragons defender has an impact both with ball-in-hand and without it, often being one of the loudest on field with teammates helping steer them into the right spots to set up in defence. As the season went on, the Dragons got better, and that was in no short part thanks to Shepherd and the group as a whole developing together and building cohesion.

Her overall footy IQ is one of her strengths, with her fundamental understanding of the game clear. From a defensive standpoint, she competes one-on-one, can clunk a good mark, or if the ball hits the deck, reads it well and takes off. She is a mix of a traditional and modern defender in the sense that often she is a no frills player who just plays her role, but can still have a major influence with ball-in-hand.

What stands out about Shepherd when she is running with the ball is the fact that she will take the game on. Rather than look for the short kick to the back pocket, she will look to cover ground and kick to the trickier option further afield to try and breakdown the defensive zone of the opposition and get the ball over the top. She did this in the narrow loss to Eastern Ranges lates in the season, and really caught the eye despite only having 10 touches that day.

Shepherd is more of a natural footballer than an athlete, with her speed and agility, and her endurance all areas that can further develop. From an aerial perspective, Shepherd is able to leap up and take those intercept marks or spoil, and she reads the ball in flight so well. It is that footy IQ that has helped put her name in the ring to be drafted.

It is the age old debate of footballer compared to athlete, and Shepherd has shown this season that despite lacking in the latter, has excelled with the former. Though she admitted she is looking to "tweak" her kicking technique, as a whole she is fairly clean and makes good decisions with the ball. If drafted, it will be off the back of her game knowledge and a club honing in on improving those athletic elements in her game.