IN a new weekly piece on Rookie Me Central, we will be honing in on those players to remember for the AFLW Draft, present and future. With four new AFLW clubs joining the competition, spots will heat up, and players will be looking to put their best foot forward. Already this week one player has been listed for an incoming AFLW club, whilst some mature-agers and bottom-agers have been producing some terrific performances week-in, week-out. Here’s what we took out of the NAB League Girls, SANFL Women’s, WAFL Women’s and VFL Women’s.

PRESENT (2022 AFLW Draft)

Hawks sign Deed

One player who will surpass the 2022 AFLW Draft is Eastern Ranges captain Bridget Deed. The hard-at-it ball winner has averaged a whopping 31.5 disposals this season, not dipping below 27 in any of her four games, whilst also averaging 3.0 marks, 7.5 tackles, 5.3 inside 50s and 2.0 rebound 50s. That form was rewarded by Hawthorn coach Bec Goddard, who announced after the Ranges’ win on Friday that Deed would be the first player signed to the brown and gold for 2023.

The midfielder played four games for the Hawks’ VFLW side in 2021, predominantly in defence averaging just over three rebound 50s per game to go with 4.5 disposals and 2.0 tackles in those outings. Deed has shown remarkable improvement over the off-season and into the new year, hardly putting a foot wrong and earning an AFLW contract.

Sturt defenders start strong

With Port Adelaide coming into the AFL Women’s competition next year, the Power will be looking to establish themselves as a strong defensive side, whilst still having plenty of attacking flair. Two players that should come into consideration are Sturt duo, Kiera Mueller and Alex Ballard. Mueller has picked up where she has left off last season, having a standout first few games, providing plenty of drive out of defence for the Double Blues. Her work rate to get to multiple contests, and efficient kicking style makes her a reliable player out of defence. Ballard on the other hand, has a different style, possessing a booming kick, but some of the strongest hands in the game. She might not outsize many of her opponents, but the centre half-back is able to pull down plenty of contested marks.

The over-age Mueller is averaging 16 disposals – 15 kicks – at an elite 98 per cent, as well as 4.7 marks and 5.3 rebound 50s. Ballard – turning 20 in October – only stands at 170cm, but has pulled down no less than six marks per game, and is averaging better than a contested mark per match. This goes with her 12.7 disposals and 3.0 rebound 50s. Mueller is more of your pinpoint offensive running defender, whilst Ballard can nullify and opponent but also swing forward and have an impact.

Halfpenny’s mind-blowing 2022

Touted as a potential draftee in just her second full SANFL Women’s season last year, Jade Halfpenny, the versatile mid-forward has all the traits to make it to the top level. Last season Halfpenny’s athleticism and marking was never in doubt, but it was more about her getting to the right spots – footy IQ – and having a sustained impact. Not only has the Norwood tall achieved that, but she has put an exclamation mark on her performances. In her three games, she has been Norwood’s top player, looking good in a heavy loss to Glenelg in Round 1, and then in back-to-back wins has averaged 26.5 disposals, 6.5 marks – 2.5 contested – 5.5 clearances – 4.0 inside 50s and 1.0 goals, to really put her hand up as a potential mature-age pick.

Halfpenny could well be the best 2002-born player outside the AFLW at the moment, and it is not just the stats that suggest that. Whilst her field kicking could improve to be more pinpoint, she can cover plenty of distance, and her aerial ability is second to none. Now she is finding the ball, covering the ground with ease and still having an impact in the forward half, the Norwood talent should be one to keep in mind.

Wakfer stands up as premier ruck in 2022

Though it should hardly be surprising given her AFLW Academy status, South Fremantle ruck Lauren Wakfer had a huge start to her top-age season, dominating against newcomers West Perth in a massive 74-point win. Wakfer was influential in the ruck and when forward, but it was her work in transition that stood out more than anything else, able to win the ball in general play and keep it moving quickly, also looking to kick long rather than dish off a quick handball. Though Wakfer can get nudged under the ball at ruck stoppages by stronger opponents, her athleticism is superior to most, and she is more nimble when on the move than others her size. Though the opposition will only get tougher from her, the Bulldogs ruck will be one that both West Coast and Fremantle will keep an eye on.

Murray strikes Gold in Zarlie

Murray Bushrangers dynamic mid-forward Zarlie Goldsworthy has gained plenty of attraction with her start to the season in the NAB League Girls. Bursting onto the scene with a 30-plus disposal, four-goal game on her Bushrangers debut, she has maintained a solid 26.2 disposals, 3.2 marks, 7.0 inside 50s and 9.8 tackles, as well as slotting 9.8 in her five games. Though an unknown coming into the season having played soccer and cricket as well as local football, Goldsworthy was touted as a potential player to watch after an eye-catching preseason with the Bushrangers. It is fair to say that she has far exceeded those expectations.

Glenelg’s Goodwin grows in stature

Last year SANFL Women’s premiers Glenelg managed to bring out the best in Brooke Tonon, transforming her from a talented teenager in patches, to one who consistently performed on the big stage. In 2022, the Bays appear to have done it again, this time with silky wing/half-back Sarah Goodwin. Playing an eerily similar role to Tonon, Goodwin has more than doubled her output in 2022 compared to last year, going from 10.8 disposals, 2.2 marks and 3.0 inside 50s, to 21.3 disposals, 4.7 marks and 4.7 inside 50s. She earned a Breakthrough Player nomination in Round 1 after a huge effort against Norwood, but has been just as impressive since, possessing silky skills, clean hands and the required toughness to win her own ball.

FUTURE (2023 AFLW DRAFT AND BEYOND)

Oh Gee McKee!

South Australia has no shortage of future talent, and the latest Under 16s star to emerge is Central District’s mid-forward Georgia McKee. Though small in stature, McKee has some ridiculous traits that cannot be ignored. For starters, the ambidextrous 15-year-old is able to kick more than 40 metres on both feet, and has ankle-breaking athleticism and incredible footy IQ and goal sense. After a solid debut where she caught the eye with some impressive disposals, McKee blew everyone away with a 27-disposal second game playing more in the midfield, before kicking three last quarter goals in Round 3 to single-handedly get the Bulldogs over the line against West Adelaide, finishing with four from the match. Not eligible until the 2024 AFLW Draft, McKee looms as one of the top picks in that draft.

Pisano class in session

Having won the NAB League Girls leading goalkicker as a 15-year-old, Eastern Ranges star Alyssia Pisano was never going to fly under the radar in 2022. Still a year away from being draft-eligible, the 162cm forward had a modest start to the year. She kicked a goal in each of her first three appearances, but always looked dangerous, kicking six behinds in that time. In case anyone forgot what she was capable of, Pisano slotted 4.1 from 12 touches and four marks on he weekend in the win against Oakleigh Chargers, just to remind everyone of her potent left foot, fantastic forward craft and goal sense.