Anderson goes to work after draft omission
SOUTH Adelaide’s Melissa Anderson was one of the many thousands of people each year who missed out on reaching the elite level in her top-age season. In what was only her first year of SANFL Women’s football back in 2023, the talented Panthers prospect never lost hope, and always had the faith that she could […]
Woolf’s “love for footy” driving force behind form
OBJECTIVELY the best player in the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier competition the past two seasons, back-to-back Mostyn Medal winner Hannah Woolf still has a deep love for Australian rules football. The former Sydney Swans Academy representative and Manly Warringah Wolves midfielder has caused more than a few headaches to opposition coaches in the Harbour City […]
Honest Mackereth concedes year was “challenging” but “unforgettable”
SOMETIMES your top-age season is not everything you want it to be, and that is okay. At least it was for South Australian draft hopeful Eloise Mackereth who conceded the “pressure” of needing to go to another level in 2025 provided challenges, though at the end of the day, she was grateful for the amount […]
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 […]
Baxter found balance in Panthers, state experiences
TOP-AGE AFL Women’s draft prospect Lily Baxter did not mind the extra time or energy it took to juggle her footballing commitments between South Adelaide and South Australia over the last couple of years, with the hard-running utility more “sad” when she couldn’t be part of training at either. While now studying occupational therapy at […]
Omission helped Lily Smarten up and blitz year
BEING dropped from the SANFL Women’s side back to the Development League was a blessing rather than a curse for Sturt’s Lily Smart who credits that as the catalyst behind her strong finish to 2025. Recalling the moment after a Round 3 win over Glenelg, Smart said her three weeks in the second tier helped […]
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 […]
Thredgold “excited for an adventure”
STURT talent and South Australian vice-captain Sophie Thredgold would pack her bags in an instant if it meant relocating to chase her AFL Women’s dream. The Double Blues star has been grateful for the opportunities she has been afforded through the state league and South Australian Under 18s program in 2025 and after receiving a […]
