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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
2026 WA Girls Summer squad announced
WESTERN Australia has announced its Girls Summer Squad talent program for the upcoming off-season with some of the brightest AFLW Draft prospects for the 2026-27 drafts. The squad of 38 players – which includes bottom-age All-Australian Cara Dziegielewski – features a league-high nine West Perth players, two more than Peel Thunder, while East Fremantle has […]
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 […]
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 […]