STRENGTHS:

+ Speed
+ One-on-ones
+ Creativity
+ Vision
+ Upside

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Kicking efficiency
- Contested marking

There is plenty of upside in Horne's game that is evident to see, and while she is not quite the finished prospect yet, has those traits which catch the eye. Having really locked in to that tall defensive role, Horne moved away from being a pure negator, to offering both defensive and offensive qualities in 2025 and that showed on the stats sheet.

While only marginally lifting her disposal average (7.6 to 6.0), Horne doubled her tackle count and her rebound 50 numbers went up 50 per cent as she was starting to get closer to the contest rather than just spoiling and occasionally getting a touch. Most disposals she had came with serious metres gained, and while her final execution at times could be sharpened up, the decision making behind each disposal was still sound.

Horne generally makes good decisions, with her vision and creativity two keys to the way she plays when streaming out of the back 50. One of those defenders who hits the ground at full pelt and takes off, Horne sometimes doesn't even have time to compose and steady, but when she does, more often than not she will put it to advantage, or at least to space for teammates to run onto.

While the preciseness of the kick can definitely improve, by the time it lands, it is usually 50 or 60 metres down the ground thanks to her run of 20 or 30 metres prior to the disposal. That is where her value lies with ball in hand, but what really stands out is her athletic traits and defensive abilities which standout when in one-on-one contests.

Horne has such rare speed for a player who stands at 179cm. Clocking a sub-3.3-second 20m sprint and to be honest at times it looks sub-3.2 seconds on-field. Her main issue at the moment is clunking more marks - she averaged just 0.6 marks at Coats Talent League level and 0.7 at the national championships - but fortunately her ground level speed enables her to follow-up exceptionally well.

One-on-one she is quite often a spoil-first defender anyway, looking to do the team thing and ensure the opponent does not mark it. Once the ball hits the deck, it is anyone's game, and there was one instance where Horne spoiled the ball in defence against Western Australia, kicked long to space and somehow burst past a couple of other smaller players to gather her own kick then handball clear to a teammate on the wing.

That follow-up work is an underrated quality of Horne's, and while her marking and kicking can still develop, her athletic profile is great, and at 179cm, it is even better. The fact she does have that ability to make good decisions coming out of the back half and is not afraid to switch and use the open option is also a critical quality.

There is much to come for Horne who is a long-term prospect, but she has the foundation to suggest she can build up her improvement areas, because a fair bit of what she already possesses is far harder to teach.