SANFLW 15 to Watch in 2025: #1 Monique Bessen
IN TERMS of sheer impact last year from a bottom-age cohort, Sturt midfielder/forward Monique Bessen stood clearly on top from a SANFLW production perspective. The talented National Academy member already looked liked a veteran in the way she went about it, and now entering her top-age season as a readymade midfielder who can drift forward, […]
Coates Talent League Boys: Must-watch fixtures in 2025
THE 2025 Coates Talent League fixtures were announced on Thursday, with a 19-round regular season set in stone. Three-time defending champions Sandringham Dragons are chasing their fourth crown at the end of a schedule littered with landmark occasions. We highlight some of the must-watch events. Stay tuned to Rookie Me Central, where we’ll also cast […]
AFLW Draft Q&A: Ava Stewart
SWAN Districts tall Ava Stewart added 11 games to her League career in 2024, with the now top-ager finding her place in the defensive half for the Black Ducks. Stewart earned an invite to the West Australian Summer Squad for her form throughout her bottom-age season, and now has hopes to further improve in 2025. […]
2025 NSW/ACT Under 22 Summer Series preview
A QUADRUPLE header at Margaret Donoghe Sports Complex takes place tomorrow as the 2025 NSW/ACT Under 22 Summer Series gets underway. The competition serves as a perfect lead-up event for the Swans and Giants Academies ahead of their Coates Talent League seasons in the respective boys and girls competitions. In the first round-robin of matches, […]
Star Turn: Hurricane Hetherton arrives in Futures trial
WITH preseason shortly set to make way for season proper, many AFL Draft prospects will be champing at the bit to impress in 2025. With that in mind, our new Star Turn series highlights some of the breakout moments and performances which put players on the map during their bottom-age campaigns. First under the spotlight […]
2025 Coates Talent League fixtures released
FEATURING up to 19 rounds and 18 clubs, the 2025 Coates Talent League fixtures for both the boys and girls competitions were released today. Kicking off on the weekend of March 29-30 and April 6-7 for the boys and girls seasons respectively, both will run until the end of August before a three-week finals series. […]
Preseason Q&A: Raphael Geesu (Lions Academy)
A CRAFTY, speedy small forward who plays in the mould of Kysaiah Pickett and Charlie Cameron, Raphael Geesu has talent to burn. The Brisbane Lions Academy member played in last year’s National Futures match and is hunting down an Allies berth in 2025, his top-age season. We spoke to Geesu at this month’s Queensland preseason […]
AFLW Draft Q&A: Bronte Parker
QUEENSLANDER Bronte Parker is one of a number of Gold Coast Suns Academy prospects who enters her top-age season with plenty of runs on the board from 2024. A natural midfielder who can also go forward, Parker spent time between not only the Suns and her state, but Bond University in the QAFL Women’s as […]
SANFLW 15 to Watch in 2025: #3 Sophie Eaton
WINNING an MVP at Under 16s level a couple of years ago, Central District young gun Sophie Eaton has remained a top prospect in the 2025 AFLW Draft having impressed as a bottom-ager for South Australia last season, and earning a spot in the National Academy. She kicks off a podium of stars who could […]
Preseason Q&A: Noah Chamberlain (Swans Academy)
THE NORTHERN Academies are set to boom in 2025, and a large part of their star power is Sydney Swans Academy product Noah Chamberlain. The versatile talent is a National Academy member and spent time training with the Swans’ senior group in preseason before a slight ankle sprain. Having already debuted for the Allies, the […]
Zielke the leader, on and off the field
The 10th AFL Women’s season is set to play out in 2025, and the competition has come a long way since its first round of matches about eight years ago to the date. As a way to celebrate the milestone, Rookie Me Central will be catching up with some of the pioneers of the early […]
Kaslar a trail blazer wherever she goes
The 10th AFL Women’s season is set to play out in 2025, and the competition has come a long way since that first round of matches about eight years ago to the date. As a way to celebrate the milestone, Rookie Me Central will be catching up with some of the pioneers of the early […]
Georgie’s going west after realising dream
EASTERN Ranges star Georgie Brisbane has got a big few months ahead of her, with a move to the other side of the country on the cards after being drafted by Fremantle in last week’s AFL Women’s Draft. But, despite how huge the move is for anyone of any age let alone an 18-year-old, Brisbane […]
Birds of a feather bring quartet to Adelaide
IT IS no secret that Adelaide has been looking to regenerate their list after a preliminary final appearance ended in heartbreak for the third consecutive year. With exceptional stars at the helm and young talent finding its feet, the Crows will look to go again in 2025. The club has regenerated its list through a […]
Paterson excited for new challenges at Port Adelaide
WEST AUSTRALIAN midfielder Lily Paterson will move across the country to join Port Adelaide after being taken with their first pick of the 2024 AFLW Draft. The 18-year-old joins a number of Port Adelaide players who originated in Western Australia, such as Gemma Houghton, Abbey Dowrick and Jasmin Stewart. With players on the list having […]
Effects of the nationalisation of the AFLW Draft: a case study ft. GWS
THE 2024 AFL Women’s Draft was a historic one for the competition, with the first truly national draft taking place. With the way that the draft has been run in the past and the varying strengths of the various state competitions across the country, this change to a truly national draft has obviously some clubs […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: Western Bulldogs
FILLING out some key position needs at the 2024 AFLW Draft while picking a couple of Oakleigh Chargers premiership players proved to be the strategy for the Western Bulldogs. The Dogs managed to grab a much needed forward target to partner up with Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, as well as an experienced ruck, and gut-running midfielder. >> […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: West Coast
WEST Coast capitalised on a truly National AFLW Draft by picking up four players outside of Western Australia. Two Victorians and two South Australians made their way to the blue and gold, with strength and pressure key elements for the Eagles at this year’s AFLW Draft. >> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Recap DRAFT HAUL […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: Sydney
WITH a large gap between its first and second selections, Sydney opted for a trio of familiar faces with its last three picks after grabbing one of the fastest players in the AFLW Draft at Pick 5. >> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Recap DRAFT HAUL National Draft: 5. Zippy Fish55. Amelia Martin58. Caitlin Reid59. […]
2024 AFLW Draft review: St Kilda
AFTER trading out its first round selection on AFLW Trade Deadline Day, St Kilda headed into the AFLW Draft with the three selections, and just one inside the Top 50. They secured an athletic tall out of the Dandenong Stingrays, as well as an ultimate utility, and and ex-Gold Coast Suns top 20 pick. >> […]
SANFLW 15 to Watch in 2025: #1 Monique Bessen
IN TERMS of sheer impact last year from a bottom-age cohort, Sturt midfielder/forward Monique Bessen stood clearly on top from a SANFLW production perspective. The talented National Academy member already looked liked a veteran in the way she went about it, and now entering her top-age season as a readymade midfielder who can drift forward, […]
Coates Talent League Boys: Must-watch fixtures in 2025
THE 2025 Coates Talent League fixtures were announced on Thursday, with a 19-round regular season set in stone. Three-time defending champions Sandringham Dragons are chasing their fourth crown at the end of a schedule littered with landmark occasions. We highlight some of the must-watch events. Stay tuned to Rookie Me Central, where we’ll also cast […]
AFLW Draft Q&A: Ava Stewart
SWAN Districts tall Ava Stewart added 11 games to her League career in 2024, with the now top-ager finding her place in the defensive half for the Black Ducks. Stewart earned an invite to the West Australian Summer Squad for her form throughout her bottom-age season, and now has hopes to further improve in 2025. […]
2025 NSW/ACT Under 22 Summer Series preview
A QUADRUPLE header at Margaret Donoghe Sports Complex takes place tomorrow as the 2025 NSW/ACT Under 22 Summer Series gets underway. The competition serves as a perfect lead-up event for the Swans and Giants Academies ahead of their Coates Talent League seasons in the respective boys and girls competitions. In the first round-robin of matches, […]
Star Turn: Hurricane Hetherton arrives in Futures trial
WITH preseason shortly set to make way for season proper, many AFL Draft prospects will be champing at the bit to impress in 2025. With that in mind, our new Star Turn series highlights some of the breakout moments and performances which put players on the map during their bottom-age campaigns. First under the spotlight […]
2025 Coates Talent League fixtures released
FEATURING up to 19 rounds and 18 clubs, the 2025 Coates Talent League fixtures for both the boys and girls competitions were released today. Kicking off on the weekend of March 29-30 and April 6-7 for the boys and girls seasons respectively, both will run until the end of August before a three-week finals series. […]
Preseason Q&A: Raphael Geesu (Lions Academy)
A CRAFTY, speedy small forward who plays in the mould of Kysaiah Pickett and Charlie Cameron, Raphael Geesu has talent to burn. The Brisbane Lions Academy member played in last year’s National Futures match and is hunting down an Allies berth in 2025, his top-age season. We spoke to Geesu at this month’s Queensland preseason […]
AFLW Draft Q&A: Bronte Parker
QUEENSLANDER Bronte Parker is one of a number of Gold Coast Suns Academy prospects who enters her top-age season with plenty of runs on the board from 2024. A natural midfielder who can also go forward, Parker spent time between not only the Suns and her state, but Bond University in the QAFL Women’s as […]
SANFLW 15 to Watch in 2025: #3 Sophie Eaton
WINNING an MVP at Under 16s level a couple of years ago, Central District young gun Sophie Eaton has remained a top prospect in the 2025 AFLW Draft having impressed as a bottom-ager for South Australia last season, and earning a spot in the National Academy. She kicks off a podium of stars who could […]
