Aleah Stringer Draft Profile

Queensland GirlsForward/Wing

#2

Aleah Stringer

height: 164cm

weight:

D.O.B: 30-01-2007

Leagues: AFLW U18 Championships, Coates Talent League Girls

Snapshot
Analysis
Summary

SNAPSHOT: “A smart player who loves to take the game on and applies defensive pressure as well.”

Aleah Stringer is yet another Gold Coast Suns Academy member who has come on plenty in her top-age season and put her name in the AFLW Draft frame. With improvement still to come, Stringer is more of a long-term prospect than other Suns Academy talents, but is also in the conversation for other clubs to swoop if the timing is right.

Stringer’s football journey began at Palm Beach Currumbin where she played 16 games across her opening year, including nine at Under 15s level and six at Under 14s grade despite having only turned 13 earlier in the year. She moved to Tweed Coolangatta for the following year and played there for a few seasons, with 41 games between 2021-23.

In that time, she won the Under 15s flag in 2022, before losing narrowly in the grand final at Under 17s level in 2023. While many of her future Suns teammates were running around in the National Development Championships, Stringer had to wait until 2024 to don the Gold Coast jumper in an Academy series. That was at Under 18s level where she held her own against the Brisbane Lions, then rose from there, playing Coates Talent League and the AFLW Under 18 Championships.

Everything was coming together for Stinger as she averaged 10 touches for the Suns at Talent League level, before making the Queensland squad and playing in all three games and maintaining her disposal average. A run to the Reserves grand final in the QAFLW was another highlight, and though Stringer played on the losing side for Bond University, still kicked a goal and was named among the best.

Stringer cracked in for a solitary game at senior level, and would play seven matches for the Bull Sharks in 2025, including the two finals. Back in Suns colours, she represented her Academy against the Lions and a combined NSW/ACT side, then managed all four games for Gold Coast at Talent League level again. Her numbers went up with her tackle count (five per game) the most notable of those, with her defensive pressure improving in her top-age season.

She more than held her own at the national carnival, averaging 14.8 disposals, 2.5 marks and 3.3 tackles, able to play half-forward, wing or even inside at times which showed off her versatility. Stringer has traits that catch the eye, and with her season, earned a State Draft Combine invitation.

Click the ANALYSIS tab for more

STRENGTHS:

+ Run-and-carry
+ Versatility
+ Footy IQ
+ Short kicking
+ Competitiveness
+ Defensive pressure

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Groundballs
- Aerial ability
- Polish

Stringer is one of a number of Queenslanders who has been able to step up in the absence of key teammates this season. With Ava Usher and Bronte Parker out of the side, it meant the likes of Sunny Lappin and at times, Mikayla Nurse, moved inside which enabled Stringer to shuffle up and get some wing minutes. That added versatility is a big help for the previous small forward who usually wins it around the flank and looks for a target inside 50.

Stringer prides herself on her short kicking game, and she had a neat, sharp pass with some great vision going inside 50. She is best suited to spotting up the leading target and delivering low bullets that can hit up players within range. At times when under pressure, Stringer could do with some more polish, and as the kicking action goes a little longer, it has a little bit less reliability, often going to zones rather than direct targets, which is an improvement.

While not necessarily being explosive, Stringer can find a nice top speed where she can look to break lines with her run-and-carry. Not afraid to back herself in that regard, she equally looks for the overlap handball as well as those short passes, and can link up with multiple touches. When able to use her smarts to get into space and win the ball, Stringer takes grass and can do some damage in the front half.

Noting her biggest improvement as her groundballs, the 165cm prospect can certainly be cleaner below her knees, as well as a touch stronger above her head. Both of these elements are ways in which she can further improve, with her best work done once the ball is in her hands. In saying that, she is not just a receiver, as she will go after opponents and force turnovers, reading the play nicely to try and intercept or lay a strong tackle.

As noted earlier, Stringer averaged five tackles per game for the Suns Academy this season, as well as 3.3 for Queensland, so her numbers rose through her top-age season. That defensive pressure adds another element to her game, and shows she can be deployed as that pressure forward who can lockdown on an opponent as well. Overall, she has some nice traits that will hold her in good stead, but she has much improvement left that can take her game to another level.

DRAFT RANGE: Late

SUMMARY:

Aleah Stringer is a talented prospect who is a little more raw compared to the other Suns Academy members, but has also been open about widening her horizons to potentially relocate this season. The depth of prospects at the Suns Academy makes it a little tricky to remain at home, but Stringer is one who can slot into a variety of roles be it with her local side, or anywhere else. A possible draftee later in the proceedings.

AFLW U18 Championships

Season	Team	K	HB	D	M	CP	UP	T	CLR	I50	R50	GM	K	H	D	M	T	DC
2024	Queensland Girls	18	11	29	4	16	14	4	4	5	1	3	6.0	3.7	9.7	1.3	1.3	37
2025	Queensland Girls	32	27	59	10	28	33	13	8	7	8	4	8.0	6.8	14.8	2.5	3.3	57
Total	-	50	38	88	14	44	47	17	12	12	9	7	7.1	5.4	12.6	2.0	2.4	94

Coates Talent League Girls

Season	Team	K	HB	D	M	CP	UP	T	CLR	I50	R50	GL	GM	K	H	D	M	T	G	DC
2024	SUNS Academy	18	22	40	4	0	0	6	0	3	0	2	4	4.5	5.5	10.0	1.0	1.5	0.5	32
2025	SUNS Academy	27	25	52	9	24	30	20	9	10	4	0	4	6.8	6.3	13.0	2.3	5.0	0.0	52
Total	-	45	47	92	13	24	30	26	9	13	4	2	8	5.6	5.9	11.5	1.6	3.3	0.3	84