STRENGTHS:

+ Defensive pressure
+ One-on-ones
+ Physicality
+ Run-and-carry
+ Footy IQ
+ Versatility
+ Leadership

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Aerial ability
- Kicking consistency
- Explosive speed

A defence-first team player, Thorn stands at 167cm and has the capacity to play on a variety of opponents. While more suited to smalls and medium players given her aerial work is a clear improvement area, Thorn is ultra- competitive and once the ball hits the deck, you would back her to win more contests than most. She thrives in the contest and is not afraid to wear tackles or bumps, and will give as good as she gets too.

For a medium-sized player, Thorn has great physicality in the way that she plays, and is capable of winning the ball both on the inside and outside of the contest, which is how she has been able to succeed in a number of roles. Though she only kicked two goals this season, Thorn spent the bulk of the year off half-back or on-ball, with her forward stints more so showing she can fill that position.

Even when forward, Thorn plays like a defender in the sense that she remains accountable to her opponent and does not let them run off easily. She reads the play well thanks to her high footy IQ, and finds the gaps to work into and win the ball. While her aerial ability is lacking, she is clean at ground level and shows a fierce intent to win the ball, or win it back for her side.

From her defensive traits to her offensive ones, this is where Thorn cuts a point of difference amongst a lot of backs. She is more than capable of moving the ball in transition, and while still applying the team-first mentality of immediately looking for the best option, Thorn will back herself to give-and-go or take the game on by tucking the ball under the arm and running off.

Thorn is not explosive by any means, and her athletic traits are an area for the Oakleigh skipper to improve on. But her understanding of the game and ability to get into the right spots and use her strength enable her to let any deficiencies take a back seat, and she plays to her strengths exceptionally well.

While that lack of speed is always a question mark when looking at modern day prospects, Thorn does so much right outside of that, and her style of game does not require it to be a necessity. She is just as capable of playing a defensive role on an opponent be it through the middle or down back, even as a defensive forward, with her accountability and leadership key qualities.

Last year Sienna Tallariti had a similar athletic profile - albeit with better aerial work - and she still landed in the first round. Thorn won't go that high, but the main point is that some of her strengths can be applied to the top level, and her natural leadership - much like Tallariti - is something that cannot be taught.

As a whole, Thorn is a prospect with an all-round base that can impact on both sides of the ball and play on any line which further accentuates her importance to any side she plays in.