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. For this piece, we have looked at those players who might not be catching the headlines, but are worth both clubs and fans keeping an eye on. 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)

Gypsy Schirmer settles in defence

Former AFLW Academy member Gypsy Schirmer burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old in the SANFL Women’s competition, winning flags for South Adelaide and looking like one of the most damaging forwards going around. Her eye for goals, and her athleticism really caught the eye, but entering her top-age season, it was about transitioning into the midfield. There, Schirmer spent plenty of time on a wing, and on the inside, gradually building up minutes across the board. She was a player who had equal measures of hardness with her offensive flair. Late in the season, Schirmer was also thrown into defence, a move that no doubt was spurred on by an interest from the top level to see her perform in that role and utilise her athletic gifts.

Despite the move, Schirmer ended up overlooked by the Crows, with fellow AFLW Academy member Zoe Prowse joined by the rapidly improving Brooke Tonon and the equally tough Abbie Ballard in the tri-colours. One of the most unlucky to miss out in her top-age year, Schirmer – captain of the Port Adelaide Next-Generation Academy – is one who would be near the top of the list to head to Alberton when the Power enter the league. At times her kicking can be inconsistent, and an area of improvement, but Schirmer’s athletic traits, coupled with her courage and hardness at the football make her a great project player who is also a readymade talent. She is someone who can slot into all three lines, inside or out, and play just about any role.

In 2022, Schirmer is averaging 15.0 disposals, 2.0 marks, 2.0 clearances, 2.8 rebound 50s, and unsurprisingly, 6.5 tackles per game. Against Norwood on the weekend, Schirmer had the 16 disposals and seven rebound 50s, playing deeper and mopping up for the Panthers. It is fair to say the role is one identified for her to fit into, and she has been able to perform well. In Round 2 against North Adelaide, Schirmer still played further afield, racking up five inside 50s and three clearances, as well as booting a goal to go with her 18 disposals.

Additionally, one for the future is Schirmer’s sister Esther. Making her debut this season, she has joined Gypsy in defence, averaging the 10 disposals, 2.3 marks, 5.0 tackles and 3.0 rebound 50s, baring striking similarities to her older sister in both her attack on the contest, and running style. In Round 4, the junior inside midfielder played in defence, and racked up eight rebound 50s and 14 disposals – the most for her season thus far, whilst also amassing three clearances, five tackles and two inside 50s.

Norwood duo enjoying purple patch

Though the official AFL Women’s expansion rules around pre-listing are yet to be confirmed, a couple of Norwood midfielders in Lana Schwerdt and Sachi Syme have had back-to-back impressive performances. After discussing Jade Halfpenny‘s ridiculous 2022 form last week, two of her midfield cohort have been going about their business well on the inside. Both hard-at-it midfielders, Schwerdt and Syme have combined for 47 and 44 disposals in the past two weeks, and are ones to consider for the expansion club.

Syme is a neat user of the ball with good decision making, able to cover the ground well and play both inside and outside roles. Schwerdt shows no fear when burying herself under packs, possessing a high-level of courage, but also an ability to get forward if need be. Like Syme, Schwerdt can play an outside role, but thrives when attacking the hardball in close.

Breguet back in form

Over-age talent Lauren Breguet earned an AFLW Draft Combine invitation last year, and would have been considered by multiple clubs, with the former Mildura-resident and South Adelaide State Academy member having high upside. Still raw and sometimes inconsistent, Breguet is one of those players who when she is on, she is a game-breaking talent. She has good hands, is competitive in the air and at ground level for her size, and knows her way around goals. Playing higher up the field than when she first start as a dangerous forward initially, Breguet may not be an accumulator of the ball, but her 10 touches are usually equivalent of 20 for most, such is her impact. The Central District talent is a name to keep in mind for the draft this year.

West Australian junior leaders building nicely

Western Australia’s Under 18s squad at the 2018 AFLW Under 19s Championships is one that featured 13 AFL Women’s draftees. One that missed out, but continues to stake her claim at the top level is Claremont captain and – then WA vice-captain – Ella Smith. The Tigers leader and reigning Dhara Kerr Medallist (league best and fairest winner) is one of the more readymade inside midfielders clubs could consider in the AFLW Draft. She is a four quarter performer who wins the ball in all thirds of the ground, and whilst she is still ironing out her finishing at times, her hands in close, and sheer volume of contested ball numbers are what makes her standout from the pack.

Fast forward three years and at the 2021 AFLW Under 19s Championships, Peel Thunder’s Jaide Britton captained the state side. Possessing top-level athleticism both from an endurance and speed perspective, Britton had to improve both her kicking and her on-field impact, utilising those athletic gifts to do more damage. An off-season after missing out in her top-age draft year, and the basketball convert has had a strong start to the WAFLW season.

Ranking seventh in the league for disposals per game (17.5), Britton had a league-high eight inside 50s and provided plenty of metres gained, three more inside 50s than anyone else in the competition for Round 2, bar Smith (seven). The pair remain a couple of names to keep an eye on in the WAFL Women’s competition later this year.

McKee pick of the over-age NAB League Girls forwards

Given the threat of expansion clubs poaching established players, the existing Victorian AFLW clubs are on the look out for readymade talent that can slot straight into a system. When key position players are tricky to come, those who can pull down contested marks, hit the scoreboard and show a reasonable amount of athleticism are ones to watch. Geelong Falcons’ Analea McKee ticks all three boxes and the interest in the over-ager is growing. Whilst teammate Elizabeth Dowling has caught headlines with her back-to-back five-goal hauls at NAB League Girls level, McKee’s strong hands, nice leap and work rate up the ground has not gone unnoticed.

The 183cm talent is still only 18-years-old – she turns 19 in June – and has booted 10 goals in six games, including both of the Falcons’ majors on the weekend. She has averaged 12.2 disposals, 4.8 marks, 3.5 tackles and 2.2 hitouts in her fourth season with the Falcons, celebrating her 25th game in Falcons colours against the Western Jets. Given it is her fourth season, many might ask what has renewed interest in the player that did not make Vic Country nor receive an AFLW Draft combine invite last year. The simple answer is her positional change. McKee has been able to better showcase her leap, and work at ground level, getting more involved in the play, and find the ball around the ground. Her combination of strong hands and impressive jump enables her to play well inside 50, and she has the nous to know when to present. A name to remember for the 2022 AFLW Draft.

Whiting continues stellar state league career

Williamstown key defender Sharnie Whiting has continued her impressive state league career, going from strength to strength over the past few seasons. Last year she made her name as one of the most prominent key defenders for West Adelaide in the SANFL Women’s, averaging 14.6 disposals, 2.7 marks and 4.1 rebounds against quality opposition most weeks. She was an intercept machine and a lovely long kick of the ball, disposing of it effectively 89 per cent of the time. She has returned to the Seagulls in 2022, and already been a standout player for the Gulls, picking up 18 disposals, four marks, six inside 50s and seven rebound 50s in the loss to the Magpies. As a rare tall who can play forward as well, Whiting is one who has more than enough runs on the board to be considered a readymade option to step up to the top level.

FUTURE (2023 AFLW DRAFT AND BEYOND)

Zippy Fish makes Sharks debut

Talented Under 16s prospect Zippy Fish had an impressive Under 17s carnival last year as a double-bottom-ager, and the 2006-born forward certainly showed signs of being one to watch for the future during East Fremantle’s win over Swan Districts on the weekend. Though at times the zippy – by nature as much as name – Fish rushed a touch with her disposal, her forward craft and footy IQ was evident. She ended up kicking a goal and almost having a second – an early chance in the match – finishing with eight disposals, three marks and two tackles on her League debut. It might not seem like massive numbers, but the 15-year-old who averaged 20.5 disposals, 3.0 marks, 5.0 tackles and 7.0 inside 50s as a midfielder for Western Australia in the Under 17s Championships – was playing against far stronger and more experienced players, and still has three total WAFLW seasons before being able to be picked up in the AFLW Draft.

Window back on-ball and back in business

Reigning SANFL Women’s premiers Glenelg has ridiculous midfield depth to the point of where one of the most promising bottom-age midfielders could be utilised as a forward. In the absence of captain Ellie Kellock on the weekend, the 2005-born Piper Window returned to the Bays’ on-ball rotation and racked up eight clearances and five inside 50s to go with her 19 disposals. It was a throwback to her Round 1 midfield game where she dominated against Norwood. Over Rounds 2 and 3, Window played forward and provided that pressure inside 50, with strong overhead marking capabilities and footy IQ that suits in any role.

It is anticipated she will see plenty of midfield minutes in the future, and when she gets her chance, she will grab it with both hands. Window has a huge case of being included in the AFLW Academy next year alongside fellow current inductees Lauren Young and Shineah Goody. Window is a contested-ball winning beast with great strength, a powerful kick and a knack for extracting the ball out of stoppages.

Ash Centra a shining light for winless Power

Though never shy of putting up four-quarter performances in terms of effort, Gippsland Power is yet to get a win on the board in the NAB League Girls season. The Power are a young side, and have some promising talents, but Ash Centra has been a shining lightning throughout all of her games this year. The tall 2006-born utility has predominantly started forward and moved into the midfield, but even rucked a couple times for the Power on the weekend.

Centra stands at 173cm and is only due to turn 16 in June, having recorded four games of 16 or more disposals in 2022. All up, Centra has averaged 16.8 disposals, 3.6 marks, 2.6 tackles and 4.6 inside 50s in the NAB League Girls competition, and her strength overhead, leading patterns inside 50 and ability to just find the ball are among her highlights. She is almost always involved in the Power’s limited scoring chains, and when in full flight is hard to stop. Centra is a name to keep in mind for 2024.