
A trailblazer’s journey from AFLW stardom to life beyond football
THE 10th AFL Women’s season is set to play out in 2025, and the competition has come a long way since its first round of matches about eight years ago to the date. As a way to celebrate the milestone, Rookie Me Central will be catching up with some of the pioneers of the early […]

AFLW Draft Q&A: Meg Lappin
POTENTIALLY looming as the second father-daughter selection tied to an interstate club, Geelong Falcons’ Meg Lappin has been one of the big improvers the last 12 months. A raw tall who really found her feet as a bottom-ager, the daughter of Brisbane triple premiership player and 279-gamer Nigel enters her top-age year as one to […]

Travelling teacher becomes coach for the future
THE 10th AFL Women’s season is set to play out in 2025, and the competition has come a long way since its first round of matches about eight years ago to the date. As a way to celebrate the milestone, Rookie Me Central will be catching up with some of the pioneers of the early […]

Zielke the leader, on and off the field
The 10th AFL Women’s season is set to play out in 2025, and the competition has come a long way since its first round of matches about eight years ago to the date. As a way to celebrate the milestone, Rookie Me Central will be catching up with some of the pioneers of the early […]

Kaslar a trail blazer wherever she goes
The 10th AFL Women’s season is set to play out in 2025, and the competition has come a long way since that first round of matches about eight years ago to the date. As a way to celebrate the milestone, Rookie Me Central will be catching up with some of the pioneers of the early […]

Georgie’s going west after realising dream
EASTERN Ranges star Georgie Brisbane has got a big few months ahead of her, with a move to the other side of the country on the cards after being drafted by Fremantle in last week’s AFL Women’s Draft. But, despite how huge the move is for anyone of any age let alone an 18-year-old, Brisbane […]

Birds of a feather bring quartet to Adelaide
IT IS no secret that Adelaide has been looking to regenerate their list after a preliminary final appearance ended in heartbreak for the third consecutive year. With exceptional stars at the helm and young talent finding its feet, the Crows will look to go again in 2025. The club has regenerated its list through a […]

Paterson excited for new challenges at Port Adelaide
WEST AUSTRALIAN midfielder Lily Paterson will move across the country to join Port Adelaide after being taken with their first pick of the 2024 AFLW Draft. The 18-year-old joins a number of Port Adelaide players who originated in Western Australia, such as Gemma Houghton, Abbey Dowrick and Jasmin Stewart. With players on the list having […]

Effects of the nationalisation of the AFLW Draft: a case study ft. GWS
THE 2024 AFL Women’s Draft was a historic one for the competition, with the first truly national draft taking place. With the way that the draft has been run in the past and the varying strengths of the various state competitions across the country, this change to a truly national draft has obviously some clubs […]

2024 AFLW Draft review: Western Bulldogs
FILLING out some key position needs at the 2024 AFLW Draft while picking a couple of Oakleigh Chargers premiership players proved to be the strategy for the Western Bulldogs. The Dogs managed to grab a much needed forward target to partner up with Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, as well as an experienced ruck, and gut-running midfielder. >> […]

PREVIEW | CTLG R5 – Chargers set for Sun-day clash
A MASSIVE weekend of eight games takes place across the Coates Talent League Girls competition, with the four Queensland and New South Wales Academies in action once more. We take a look at the Suns Academy hosting Oakleigh Chargers as our feature game of the weekend.

2025 SANFLW Round 7: Saturday preview
A REMATCH of the 2023 SANFLW Grand Final – that saw just one point separate the sides when they last played in Round 4 – as well as two teams keen to chase that fourth spot as part of a mid-table log-jam do battle when SANFLW action returns for Round 7 tomorrow.

AFLW Draft Q&A: Macy Philpott
FROM doing cartwheels around the field having fun with an opponent to hoping to crack into South Australia’s state side, top-age Rooster Macy Philpott has enjoyed her journey through football. The North Adelaide prospect is a tall, developing talent who is yet to crack through for a League game but has set that as one […]

AFLW Draft Q&A: Maya Louvel-Finn
EAST Fremantle top-age defender Maya Louvel-Finn has had a rollercoaster journey leading up to 2025, with plenty of highs and lows since crossing to football as a relative latecomer to the game. She has established herself in the Sharks’ back five this season and looms as a quality draft smokey with the form she is […]

2025 AFLW Draft | Five mature-age prospects
AS THE AFL Women’s preseason fast approaches and the opening match set for August 14, clubs are taking stock of their lists to ensure a full bill of health for the upcoming season. In the past couple of weeks, players such as Poppy Stockwell (Fremantle), Maddison Torpey (Carlton), Tessa Boyd (North Melbourne) and Maggie MacLachlan […]

2025 CTLG RMC MEDAL | Forward rises among top-age contingent
OAKLEIGH Chargers goalkicking machine Bailee Martin is one of only two bottom-agers in the top 10 of our Rookie Me Central Medal count. Having only played three games due to Oakleigh’s bye in Round 3, Martin has polled two best on grounds (for nine and seven goals respectively, as well as a three-vote game for […]

2025 VFLW Player Focus: Isla Baldwin (Box Hill)
CLASSY Box Hill midfielder Isla Baldwin delivered a composed and hard-working performance in her side’s commanding win over Casey in Round 3 of the VFLW. Baldwin stood out with her sharp positioning, tireless running, and composure under pressure, showing a real maturity to her game. >> Three Players, One Dream: Isla Baldwin Her ability to […]

Scouting Notes: 2025 Coates Talent League Girls – Round 4
ANOTHER busy weekend in the Coates Talent League Girls competition saw three of the four Northern Academies salute again, while Eastern Ranges and Oakleigh Chargers continued on their merry ways. We took note of just some of the players who caught the eye over the weekend, with all notes the opinion of the individual author. […]

AFLW Draft Q&A: Josie Bamford
EASTERN RANGES tall Josephine Bamford is one of the top rucks in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, having already represented Vic Metro at a bottom-age level, and consistently putting up high hitout numbers. In 2025, Bamford has spent more time forward and hit the scoreboard with three goals in a big win over Western […]

2025 CTL Girls Team of the Week: Round 4
WINNING sides made up three quarters of our Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Week for Round 4 with 11 of the 14 teams featuring in the team. No club had more than three representatives in an even spread across the weekend, with Geelong Falcons, Eastern Ranges, Oakleigh Chargers and Brisbane Lions Academy all […]