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 […]
VFLW Player Focus: Ellie Cleland (Williamstown)
RECRUITED out of Melbourne’s Eastern Football Netball League, Williamstown’s Ellie Cleland is only new to the VFLW competition this year, However, not even a full season into her VFLW career she already looks like she belongs at this level. Final Stats vs Carlton Goals: 1Disposals: 14Marks: 2Tackles: 3Clearances: 1 Cleland is one of those players […]
Dual sport Smith looking to juggle loves
BRISBANE Lions Academy talent Ella Smith is looking to follow both her sporting passions into the future, with the high-level athlete excelling at both Australian rules football and rowing. Having to juggle them currently – with the latter causing her to miss the final AFLW Under 18 Championships match – Smith has found a good […]
Seagulls, Blues play to thrilling draw as finals race heats up
THIS week’s VFLW match of the round produced only the second draw of the season, this time between Williamstown and Carlton. In windy and congested conditions, it was a contest plagued by inaccuracy as goals proved very hard to come by. The first term was even, with much of the action taking place between the […]
Ava Set-On Australian football
MUSIC to the ears of some Australian football fans sounds a little like this – “I ditched soccer because footy’s better”. Queensland Under 18s prospect Ava Seton can be attributed to the quote, and has come a long way through the native code’s pathway after switching from a different kind of football. While family ties […]
2022 AFLW U18s team review: Vic Metro
PRODUCING a much-improved effort on last year, Vic Metro was one of the team’s to beat in the 2022 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. They might have lost to South Australia by less than a kick, but charged home hard to try and get over the line. Earlier in the carnival, they held Vic Country […]
Scouting Notes: Young Guns vs. Vic Metro U18s
IN a special exhibition contest for many players to stake their names ahead of the 2022 Mid-Season Draft next month, the Young Guns – a team made up entirely of draft-eligible players – comprehensively defeated Vic Metro’s Under 18s by 58 points on Saturday afternoon at Werribee. Some of Metro’s lesser names were given exposure […]
Top AFLW Draft prospects shake off U23 All-Stars
AUSTRALIA’S best and brightest AFLW Draft prospects proved too good for an composite AFLW Under 23 All-Stars outfit, recording a 41-point victory at Punt Road Oval today. The match was tight for the majority of the game, with the Academy discovering their opposition was up for the fight, but a final term flurry of five […]
“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. […]
Ryan gets his League chance
WEST Adelaide draft prospect Kobe Ryan will make his League debut in the SANFL tomorrow, in what will be somewhat of a baptism of fire for the teenager. The midfielder, who dominated the Under 18s for a month averaging 29.8 disposals, 4.4 marks, 6.8 clearances, 4.8 tackles and 6.0 inside 50s will play his third […]
