Q&A: Archer Day-Wicks (Bendigo Pioneers)
BENDIGO Pioneers prospect Archer Day-Wicks plays with serious flair and a bit of swagger, fitting of the high-end talent he is. The classy forward has lined up alongside some of the best junior talent in recent times and is continuing to learn off them as he approaches his top-age campaign. We spoke to Day-Wicks at […]
Q&A: Ruby Ballard (West Adelaide)
SETTING her sights on following in the footsteps of her older sister, Abbie, West Adelaide’s Ruby Ballard is determined to forge her own journey, coming into 2024 as a top-age AFLW Draft prospect. We spoke to her at the South Australian Preseason Testing Day. Q: Ruby, tell us about your footy journey? RB: “I started […]
Q&A: Lilly Baker (Lions Academy)
AFLW Academy ruck Lilly Baker is one of the most developable talls in this year’s AFLW Draft. Though by her own admissions she has not spent as much time in the code as her peers, she is rapidly improving, having played predominantly through the ruck, but will hone her craft in defence this year. We […]
Q&A: Sid Draper (South Adelaide)
SID Draper is not just a pick one contender. He’s a kid who loves getting out to surf, and an Adelaide fan who bases his game off Port Adelaide stars Connor Rozee and Zak Butters. He’s a thoughtful trainer, leader, and arguably the most decorated junior in the country right now. With plenty of experience […]
Q&A: Charlie McCormack (Giants Academy)
GIANTS Academy tall Charlie McCormack made waves during last year’s Under 18 National Championships with his high marking and goal conversion rate. Now, the spring-heeled forward is back as an over-ager looking to have another crack at being drafted. McCormack hails from Ariah Park – about a three-hour drive from Canberra and five hours to […]
Q&A: Rome Burgoyne (Woodville-West Torrens)
WHAT’S in a name? For the Burgoyne family it’s class, silky skills and smooth movement. Rome Burgoyne is the latest member of his clan looking to reach the pinnacle of Australian rules football as his father Peter, Uncle Shaun, and brothers Trent and Jase have done before him. The Woodville-West Torrens top-ager is clearly cut […]
Q&A: Austin van der Struyf (Claremont)
WESTERN Australia is primed to bounce back on the national stage this year, and smooth moving small utility Austin van der Struyf is among the state’s leading prospects. The Claremont premiership Colt already has state Under 18 experience under his belt and is ready for a big top-age campaign. Speaking at WA’s preseason testing event […]
Q&A: Tara Harrington (Suns Academy)
QUEENSLAND AFLW Draft prospect Tara Harrington is a top-ager who has cut her teeth in a range of positions, with the predominant midfielder boasting skills and smarts. We spoke to the teenager at the recent Queensland Preseason Testing Day. Q: Tara, tell us about your footy journey, and what did you take from that? TH: […]
Q&A: Indiana West (Swan Districts)
ATHLETIC top-age talent Indiana West was one of the top performers at the recent West Australian Preseason Testing. Recording the second fastest 20m sprint time of any WAFL Women’s player at the event, West clocked a time of 3.195 seconds, while also jumping 56cm in the standing vertical to also be second in that test. […]
Q&A: Lenny Douglas (Tasmania Devils)
TASMANIA has produced a couple of bumper AFL Draft crops recently, and after arguably the state’s best ever haul last year, prospects like Lenny Douglas are looking to take the same path to the top. The top-ager was one of three Devils to be included in the 2024 Allies preseason camp. Douglas, a midfielder-forward who […]
