2025 AFLW Draft Q&A: Sienna Burnham
A DELAYED start to the season due to injury and being part of an incredibly stacked Gold Coast Suns Academy, Sienna Burnham is one of those players who could be fantastic value for another AFLW club. The Suns have nine Draft Combine invitee-tied players with six or seven of them expected to land at the […]
Well-travelled Wain determined to succeed
DRIVING 12 hours return to train and play football, it is fair to say talented athletic ruck Amaia Wain is hellbent on chasing her AFL Women’s dream. The top-age talent lives on New South Wales’ north east coast, with a six-hour trip one-way to Sydney where she has represented the Swans Academy, and played for […]
Match practice the key for determined Janschek
ASPIRING AFL Women’s footballer Yasmeen Janschek is under no illusions she has a long way to go to succeed at the top level. The former netballer spoke to Rookie Me Central about her journey recently, with part one of the two-part series looking into her background and decision around choosing the code. Part two will […]
Bridge rises above sea of uncertainty
THE BRIDGE family is seemingly made for the big stage. 2025 AFL Draft prospect Harrison has picked up several accolades en route to his top-age year, feats which are now being rivalled by 16-year-old brother, Jackson. >> FREE TO ACCESS: Rookie Me Central’s 2025 AFL Draft Guide While the more junior sibling was named Pool […]
Janschek puts netball “on hold” to chase footy dream
A RISING star in the netball world, Yasmeen Janschek got a taste for what Australian rules football had to offer and has instead opted to pursue the code professionally. A member of the New South Wales Under 19s squad and talented defender, Janschek ran out for the Giants Academy, Sandringham VFLW, North Shore Bombers and […]
2025 AFLW Draft Q&A: Jade McLay
NATIONAL Academy member Jade McLay suffered a season-ending shoulder injury early in the year, but kept herself involved in the game through Calder Cannons where she was appointed captain at the start of the season. While 2025 might not have gone to plan for the talented tall, she has put enough runs on the board […]
2025 AFLW Draft Q&A: Charlie O’Connor Moreira
WESTERN Jets big improver Charlie O’Connor Moreira was a late call-up to the State Draft Combine and the hard-running winger got her opportunity to flex some of her biggest strengths. After having a delayed start to the season. O’Connor Moreira moved though the pathway from local football to the Jets, and had a blistering end […]
Usher “super grateful” for support after frustrating 18 months
ONE OF the brightest young talents to have ever graced a football field, Ava Usher had ‘future star’ written all over her after an incredible double bottom-age campaign where she made a living breaking ankles and producing highlights that many would dream of being able to do. However life, and in her case, injury does […]
2025 AFLW Draft Q&A: Baia Pugh
A TRUE draft bolter in every sense, few would have had the name Baia Pugh in contention even eight months ago. However the top-age talent who played her first year of Coates Talent League football in 2025 had a brilliant season that saw her rise from newcomer to a standout at Gippsland Power, and then […]
2025 AFLW Draft Q&A: Chloe Thorn
CAPTAINING Oakleigh Chargers this year, top-age talent Chloe Thorn has spent time across all three lines and further emphasised her consistency at multiple levels of competition. We spoke to Thorn at the National Draft Combine about her footballing journey, experiences and future goals. Q: Chloe, tell us a little bit about your footy journey? CT: “I […]