STRENGTHS:

+ Speed
+ Defensive versatility
+ Athleticism
+ Competitiveness
+ Rebounding
+ Ground level work

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Consistency
- Aerial ability
- Raw

PROFILE:

Brook was made to earn her spot in a strong South Adelaide outfit this year, with the Victor Harbour prospect instead coming through the Development League where she played a in flag. Despite not featuring at senior level prior to the national carnival, Brook made the South Australian side to take on Western Australia where she did well one-on-one against Sandgropers skipper Anjelique Raison.

That showed club recruiters that Brook has deceptive strength given she was competitive in each contest, and though not a high offensive player in that tournament, played her role to perfection. She cracked into the Panthers' side for Round 11 then held her spot for the final three games of the year, including the 2023 SANFL Women's Grand Final.

Though on that day at Prospect Oval she only had the three touches, she held her own in defence. A move to defence was a change up from her role at the Under 17 Championships where she showed she could play as a pinch-hitting ruck. At 176cm, that will not happen at AFL Women's level, but having that in her repertoire as an option if called upon to do so is important.

Her height does not hold her back against 180cm-plus players because of her enormous vertical leap. Boasting a 72cm running vertical jump and 58cm standing vertical jump, Brook recorded the fourth and equal fifth highest humps across the nation at the AFLW Draft Combine. That, along with her sub-3.3 second 20m sprint and impressive agility makes he an all-round athlete.

Brook is still raw and is not as influential in the air as she could be. Though in saying that, it is more about just getting into the right spots and holding onto those marks, as she showed against Norwood in Round 12. Averaging around a mark per game across the SANFLW and national carnival for the season, Brook does her best work in rebounding and at ground level.

Over time, Brook will look to focus on improving that marking and production rate, but as an underlying element in her game, the South Adelaide defender will look to build consistency across the board. There are other defenders in the draft crop who are more readymade to compete against senior bodies, and while Brook might not have the same level of experience, her athleticism would top the lot.

That is what makes the 176cm player an intriguing prospect for the AFLW Draft, with her upside evident and something the clubs will look to as a long-term developmental talent. If she can harness all her traits effectively, she will become a really valuable rebounding defender.