Ava Read Draft Profile

Allies GirlsTall Utility

#22

Ava Read

height: 178cm

weight:

D.O.B: 21-06-2006

Leagues: AFLW U18 Championships, Coates Talent League Girls

Snapshot
Analysis
Summary

SNAPSHOT: “A talented utility who has performed strongly on all three lines and is an exceptional contested mark.”

Tasmanian tall Ava Read was one of only two players older than top-age draft level to receive a Draft Combine invite, such was her impressive consistency throughout 2025. The Coates Talent League Girls leading goalkicker expanded her game to play up the other end of the field as an intercepting defender, as well as even on-ball at times.

Read started her journey as a junior at Clarence on the Apple Isle and quickly established herself as a player who can hit the scoreboard. Consistently averaging more than a goal a game across her first three seasons which stretched across six years, Read made the move to North Hobart in 2022 to play in the Southern Tasmanian Junior Football League.

It was that double bottom-age year that planted the seeds for the tall to move into the Tasmania Devils side with 28 goals in 13 games for the Demons. It was very clear she was far too good in that grade at Under 18s level, booting 32 goals in eight games the following year including four goals in the grand final. Read made her debut at senior level in the same season, and then kicked 20 goals in 14 games for the Devils.

Read went on to slam home 26 goals in 13 games last season as a top-ager for the Devils, taking out the competition’s leading goalkicker award. Despite earning a National Draft Combine invite, the specialist forward was overlooked. Going back to the Devils to expand her versatility, Read was moved to defence and found more of the ball and greater consistency, while being thrown into the other areas of the ground.

By the end of 2025, Read had played every position, represented the Allies for a second successive year, and showed recruiters just how versatile she was adapting her reading of the play and aerial ability up both ends. Read still kicked eight goals in her 12 games, but almost doubled her disposal output (16.2 disposals and 4.0 marks) in what was a massive leap forward. That earned her a State Draft Combine invite.

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STRENGTHS:

+ Aerial ability
+ Contested marking
+ Kicking
+ Versatility
+ Reading the play
+ Intercepting

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Ground balls
- Strength

Read's bread and butter is her contested marking, and considering she is one of the lightest talls going around, it is a marvel to watch her clunk grabs with such consistency. What really stands out in her aerial game is for her to win one-on-ones through positioning and reading the ball in flight rather than engaging in a wrestle.

If bigger-bodied opponents get to use their strength she can be in trouble, or if she did get caught behind with a lace-out pass to the forward, but in the scenario she has clean air and a leap, she will rarely drop it. Her safe hands were on display as a top-ager, but even more so behind the ball this year where she routinely went up and pulled down some incredible marks.

When forward, Read is a reliable set shot for goal, but can also kick them from tight angles on the run, or just pouncing on a loose ball. Her groundlevel work can further improve, but she gets the bulk of her chances through her aerial work. In fact, 27 per cent of her possessions at Coates Talent League Girls level came via marks, which is a credit to her positioning and understanding of the game.

A point of difference is that Read is usually an effective user by foot and can kick the ball well over a manner of distances. She can sometimes look lapsidasicle from the outside, but that is more about her calmness under pressure. She rarely panics, and if she makes a mistake, she backs up and goes again. While compared to a lot of other players she is not a massive goal celebrator, she is a team-first prospect who will celebrate with her teammates.

However the bulk of her work in 2025 was done up the other end, and she adopted the same principles when intercepting, and was able to save quite a few goals in the process. While not a natural midfielder, Read even showed some promise around the ball, winning some clearances and pinch-hitting in the ruck on the odd occasion.

The knocks from last season were her consistency, versatility and range of impact, all of which she improved in 2025. Last year she was a mark, kick and goal forward, but after going away, she finished 12 months later as a genuine utility who can have just as much impact up the other end. While not one who can match it in a wrestle, if she gets her arms free against an opponent, then she can dictate the contest.

DRAFT RANGE: Late

SUMMARY:

Ava Read exemplified what an over-age season at junior level is all about. Having shown promise the year before, she took on board what she needed to work on, and not only impressed, but thrived in a new role. Read’s skills are adaptable at both ends, and it gives AFLW clubs the option to deploy her in the role they need.

AFLW U18 Championships

Season	Team	K	HB	D	M	CP	UP	T	HO	CLR	I50	GL	GM	K	H	D	M	HO	T	G	DC
2024	Allies Girls	13	8	21	4	10	10	9	1	0	3	3	3	4.3	2.7	7.0	1.3	0.3	3.0	1.0	31
2025	Allies Girls	5	5	10	2	5	7	3	0	1	1	0	2	2.5	2.5	5.0	1.0	0.0	1.5	0.0	18
Total	-	18	13	31	6	15	17	12	1	1	4	3	5	3.6	2.6	6.2	1.2	0.2	2.4	0.6	49

Coates Talent League Girls

Season	Team	K	HB	D	M	CP	UP	T	HO	CLR	I50	R50	GL	GM	K	H	D	M	HO	T	G	DC
2023	Tasmania Devils	92	28	120	22	0	0	46	0	0	15	1	20	14	6.6	2.0	8.6	1.6	0.0	3.3	1.4	39
2024	Tasmania Devils	97	23	120	22	0	0	53	6	0	12	0	26	13	7.5	1.8	9.2	1.7	0.5	4.1	2.0	45
2025	Tasmania Devils	174	20	194	48	96	82	41	11	18	22	57	8	12	14.5	1.7	16.2	4.0	0.9	3.4	0.7	77
Total	-	363	71	434	92	96	82	140	17	18	49	58	54	39	9.3	1.8	11.1	2.4	0.4	3.6	1.4	161