Up the Grades: Ryan dazzles on debut
WEST Adelaide unveiled another youngster at League level this past weekend, with promising midfielder Kobe Ryan dazzling in his senior debut. The top-age AFL Draft prospect had been in sparkling touch across five Under 18 games, and needed just one outing in the Reserves grade to earn his place among the SANFL’s top flight. Testing […]
“Fastest and fittest” Smith leads from the front
MENTORS are a key factor in all walks of life, and that is no different in the path towards Australian football’s top flight. For Melbourne Grammar School (MGS) 1st XVIII captain and Rookie Me Academy athlete Ethan Smith, inspiration has seldom been far away. Now, the well-travelled youngster is also providing exactly that to others. […]
Variety of experiences helping Mason succeed
HAVING being mentored by variety of coaches over the years, Sydney Swans and AFLW Academy representative Dakota Mason values the vast array of opinions. Along with her mother, Mason credits them all as inspirations on her journey, that has lead her from playing local football, to representing her state – NSW/ACT – and the Allies […]
Up the Grades: Ashcroft’s Lions debut a roaring success
BRISBANE Lions father-son candidate Will Ashcroft made his VFL debut this past weekend, and the top-age talent was ultra impressive. Son of triple premiership Lion, Marcus, Ashcroft is set to make his nomination call later this year but currently lives and goes to university in Melbourne, while playing for the Sandringham Dragons. Freed up amid […]
2022 AFLW U18s team review: Allies
AFTER an internal clash between the Allied states that resulted in Tasmania and the Northern Territory triumphing over NSW-ACT, the four states and territories combined to tackle Western Australia and Queensland. The Allies pushed Western Australia all the way, falling five points short at Werribee, before closing out their campaign with a 50-point defeat at […]
2022 RM Central Team of the AFLW U18s
SOUTH Australia and Vic Metro have the most representatives in our 2022 Rookie Me Central Team of the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. With the All-Australian team set to be announced over the next couple of days, we took the time to name our own team of the championships. The only rule in place was […]
Perfect 10 for Queensland to cap off AFLW U18s
AN impressive 10 unanswered goals from Queensland – after being held scoreless in the first term – saw the Sunshine State come away with the 50-point win over Allies to close out the 2022 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. The Allies slotted the first two goals of the match, but from that point on it […]
AFL Sydney Player Focus: Ella Morris (Pennant Hills Demons)
THOUGH the result was not what the Pennant Hills Demons may have wanted – going down to Inner West Magpies by 11 goals in a Round 3 Anzac Day clash – there were a number of young shining lights who stepped up for the red and blue. One of them is Sydney Swans-aligned midfielder Ella […]
AFLW Present & Future Draft Watch: Stars rise at national championships
IN a new weekly piece on Rookie Me Central, we hone in on those players to remember for the AFLW Draft, present and future. With four new AFLW clubs joining the competition, spots will heat up, and players will be looking to put their best foot forward. For this piece, we have looked at those […]
2022 NAB League Boys Team of the Week: Round 4
A SANDRINGHAM Dragons goal fest sees four players from the region feature in our NAB League Team of the Week for Round 4. Fellow victors Oakleigh and Murray boast three members apiece, and 12 clubs are represented overall despite nine games making for a selection squeeze. Check out who made the full 24-man squad, and […]