2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Sophie White
DANDENONG Stingrays ruck Sophie White enjoyed representing Vic Country as a bottom-ager and her performances impressed selectors enough to secure a spot in the National Academy squad. White comes into 2026 as one of the top talls for her state and is looking to build on that strong 2025 form. We spoke to White at […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Ava Bilyk
GEELONG Falcons utility Ava Bilyk is a natural footballer with great smarts, decision making and skills, while having the ability to play anywhere on the field. The Vic Country Under 16s MVP had an injury-interrupted bottom-age campaign, but is ready to make her mark on the field in 2026. We spoke to Bilyk at the […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Lara Williams
EASTERN Ranges top-ager Lara Williams has played across all three lines along her journey, but the predominant forward-turned-defender at the Ranges is ready to make 2026 her year. Having plenty of ups and downs along the way, Williams is fully focused on making every post a winner entering her top-age campaign. We spoke to Williams […]
Knapp the name to note in Talent League
EASTERN Ranges midfielder Jordan Knapp is primed for a big season according to his teammates. A total of 41 top-age (2026 draft eligible) prospects from the Vic Country and Metro summer squads were surveyed at Saturday’s Talent League preseason testing event, asked for a teammate to watch for 2026. >> ONES TO WATCH: South Australia […]
Preseason Q&A: Blake Justice (Calder Cannons)
AFTER the recent success of its recent Next Generation Academy (NGA) graduates, Essendon will be buoyed by the emergence of current member Blake Justice. After an impressive bottom-age campaign which yielded 15 Talent League appearances, the 17-year-old is seeking to play every game this year. Justice has cut his teeth as a utility across the […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 U22 Women’s Summer Series R2 – Academy sides
AFTER another two big wins by the NSW/ACT Academies in the Under 22 Women’s Summer Series, we take a look at some of the Giants Academy and Swans Academy members who impressed at Henson Park over the weekend. The Giants crushed AFL Canberra with a triple-digit scoreline, while the Swans ran out 75-point winners over […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Grace Tracey
OVERCOMING an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury throughout her bottom-age season, talented tall Grace Tracey made up for lost time late in the year. She squeezed in for a game with the Allies, made the Under 17 Futures squad and won the MVP for her side, which propelled her into the National Academy. We spoke […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Gabrielle Mehrmann
DANDENONG Stingrays defender Gabrielle Mehrmann put her name on the radar in last year’s Talent League Girls finals series, capping off a consistent year by becoming the first person to keep Bailee Martin to under three goals in a match (just one). Mehrmann earned a spot in the Vic Country hub, and has the ability […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Bailee Martin
ONE OF the top pick contenders in this year’s AFLW Draft, Oakleigh Chargers star Bailee Martin has proven to be a goalkicking machine across multiple levels. Winning the goalkicking at both Oakleigh and for Vic Metro, Martin had a day out against Vic Country with seven goals to earn All-Australian honours as a bottom-ager, and […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 Summer Series – Swans Academy vs. AFL Sydney U22
THE SYDNEY Swans Academy has maintained its perfect record in the 2026 Summer Series after defeating the AFL Sydney Under 22s by 62 points at Henson Park on Saturday. After conceding the first goal and going without one in the opening term, the Swans set up their victory with the next 12 majors. Returning star […]
