STRENGTHS:

+ Explosiveness
+ Strength
+ Contested work
+ Athleticism
+ Hurt factor
+ Footy IQ
+ Penetrating kick

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Continuity
- Kicking at speed

It is difficult to even know where to begin when it comes to Usher's draft profile, but taking a look at her athletic qualities, it is easy to see that she has such a well-rounded power-based game that enables her to impact be it in the middle or when resting forward. Usually players burst through tackles with either strength or speed, and Usher has both which makes her incredibly difficult to bring down without her firing away a clean disposal, or leaving the opponent wondering what had hit them.

When in traffic, Usher is more than capable of weaving out of it, with her spacial awareness to spin one way then the other and find the smallest of gaps to fit through and then break out into space is just unheard of through the earlier years of the junior women's football. The difference between Usher and many others before her is she never panics, and even when confronted by two, three or four opponents, usually just dances around then or draws them and releases to the player who she she has freed up.

That footy IQ is the element Usher has said has improved rapidly over the last two seasons, getting a great understanding of a coaches eye view working with the Queensland side during the national championships. Her positioning around stoppages and getting into more dangerous spots around the ground is what she felt she has developed in her time off, and if that picks her up another five to 10 touches per game, then watch out.

As mentioned prior, her kicking as a 15-year-old was an area of improvement, but by her 16th year, she had turned it into a weapon. Still developing that kick at speed, she would still be above average in that area, and even have a few highlights to attest to the fact. But for Usher, anything that is not perfect, can be improved.

The big question mark will be how she returns after two years out of the game, and clearly the concern around a repeat injury. Too often we see ACL victims go down again, but at least with Usher, having the extra time off means additional recovery and making sure she is more than 100 per cent ready to go. If she does not end up playing in a state league competition prior to the AFLW, it will mean 29 months out of competitive action which will come with associated rust.

Usher is the kind of player and person who will leave no stone unturned to make sure it is like she was never out, but the expectations should be tempered early days. Aside from the question marks around that, she has few to no holes in her game, which is why we regard her as the best junior girl to come through the pathways.

Her athleticism, compared with her footballing abilities is so unique that she ticks the most boxes of any player yet. Usher can impact on the inside, outside, in the air, ground level, set up goals and kick them too. To give a taste of what she is capable of, at 16, Usher won the ball at the back of a stoppage just inside 50 then launched off a couple of steps from range to clear the goalline. Another, she worked it from half-back to half-forward, evading four Vic Country opponents to hit at teammate lace-out inside 50 during her Under 18s National Championships campaign.

Essentially, Usher is a special talent, and while there will naturally be that rustiness to kick off when she gets going, once she gets going, watch out. The Queenslander is a game-changer who has rare ability and will be a star for a very long time at the elite level.