2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Lacey Nihill
ALL-ROUND draft prospect Lacey Nihill showed plenty in her bottom-age season with Bendigo Pioneers to progress through to the Vic Country summer hub and prepare herself for a big 2026. The midfielder has spent time across the ground but anticipates a wing role is where she will land for the Pios. We spoke to Nihill […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 Summer Series – Giants Academy vs. AFL Sydney U22
THE GIANTS Academy has run out of gas in its opening Summer Series clash, going down to AFL Sydney Under 22 by 26 points at Henson Park on Saturday. After leading at the first break, the Giants were made to rue lapses in concentration, but showed good fight in the 6.5 (41) to 9.13 (67) […]
Swans Academy flex muscles in opening summer series game
SYDNEY Swans Academy has kicked off its year on a massive high with a 138-point demolition of AFL Canberra in the NSW/ACT Under-22 Women’s Summer Series on the weekend. The Swans took control early and never looked like losing, having 34 scoring shots to one in a 21.13 (139) to 0.1 (1) blitz. In a […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Emily Rankin
A CLEAN and tough natural inside midfielder, Emily Rankin has been one of a plethora of exciting Eastern Ranges prospects coming through the pathway in the program. Already impressing for Vic Metro at Under 16s level then holding her spot through the Ranges’ last two seasons, she enters 2026 set to take control of the […]
State(s) in Focus: Hypothetical Allies squad
A CHANGE in the Allies selection process has seen no preseason camp held this year for the budding squad of players ranging from the Northern Territory, NSW/ACT, Queensland, and Tasmania. Instead, they will come together for trials in June, ahead of the 2026 Under 18 National Championships. >> SCROLL to see the full hypothetical squad […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Stella Scott
ONE OF a number of Brisbane Lions Academy members who already has state experience from her bottom-age season, Stella Scott is a player to watch in 2026. Coming from a rugby background, Scott has found her place in the Lions Academy and Queensland squads, and is looking to build on past work to produce a […]
Preseason Q&A: Ethan Matthews (Giants Academy)
AMONG another strong crop of club-tied talent this year is Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Academy standout Ethan Matthews. The smooth-moving defender is hoping to earn more midfield minutes as a top-ager, bringing Allies exposure and five games of VFL experience into season 2026. We sat down for an interview with Matthews at the Giants Academy’s […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Freya Ross
GAINING great experience as a winger last season, Brisbane Lions Academy prospect Freya Ross is looking forward to what 2026 holds. A soccer convert from a rugby household, Ross has always enjoyed the physicality of the code, and is now preparing for her top-age season to be her best yet. We spoke to Ross at […]
2026 AFL Draft | Race to #1: Cody Walker
FOR FANS of AFL clubs starved of on-field success, draft and trade wins often provide beacons of hope. Nostalgia helps too, and that’s exactly what the emergence of father-son gun Cody Walker is providing Carlton fans. >> SCROLL for player highlights The son of 202-game former Blue Andrew last year declared his intentions to pursue […]
TOP 5s | 2026 Tasmanian Preseason Testing
THE BUDDING class of 2027 is shaping up nicely for Tasmania, if the recent preseason testing combine is anything to go by. Several 2009-born prospects produced top-five results across the event held in Hobart, headlined by dual-podium finisher Benjamin Russell. >> SCROLL to see the Top 5s for each test Lauderdale’s Russell exhibited his elite […]
