Eloise Mackereth Draft Profile

Glenelg Women'sTall Forward

#14

Eloise Mackereth

height: 173cm

weight:

D.O.B: 27-07-2007

Leagues: SANFL Women's League, AFLW U18 Championships

Snapshot
Analysis
Summary

SNAPSHOT: “An elite offensive player who had a challenging year but on her day can be unstoppable.”

Eloise Mackereth is one of the most naturally gifted players in the AFLW Draft crop, and if every prospect had their ideal situation from which to play to their best, Mackereth is within the top five without a doubt. Her athleticism, aerial ability and deadeye set shot goalkicking make her a dominant tall forward, but her work without the ball is the main question mark in her game.

Mackereth is a Plympton Bulldog junior who showed plenty of talent from early days. By her second season she was already kicking goals for fun, finishing with 17 in 10 games. By the global pandemic year, Mackereth was unaffected, and the South Australian slammed home 26 goals in 13 games playing Division 3 Under 14s and looking a class above. She did get a game in Division 1, and then in 2021, booted 29 majors from 12 games.

It was evident that she was too good for local level, adding another 19 goals in 13 games the following year, and as a bottom-ager played in the interstate National Development Championships. However it was her top-age performances a year later at those championships that stood out, as Mackereth first played on a wing, before going and slotting four goals up forward against Western Australia.

Starting her SANFLW career in the Development League, Mackereth kicked six goals in five games that season, making her debut a month later against Central District in Round 10. She kicked her sole goal for that season in her three matches, but showed promise for the coming years.

Mackereth’s bottom-age season is where she shot right near the top of draft boards, booting 14 goals in Glenelg colours as she benefited from the Bays having a huge season. She only had the 5.9 disposals, but was clinical in front of goal, and that translated to six majors in three games at the national carnival, and was the most dominant there, clunking six marks per game from 10.7 disposals. She also earned All-Australian honours as a bottom-ager.

Put simply, when she was firing, no one could seemingly stop her. But, by her own admission, 2025 was a “challenging” year, with the National Academy member struggling in the SANFLW as Glenelg adapted to a new gameplan and plenty of new faces. The top-ager kicked just three goals in 10 games, though when she stepped up to the national carnival, found some nice form once again with seven majors in four matches from 8.3 disposals.

Despite having a few more tough games than in her previous year, Mackereth still showed more than enough talent to justify her spot among the better players in this year’s draft, and though she might not be in those top handful of names as it stands, is still very much a damaging prospect who has enormous upside if it can all click. Her National Draft Combine invitation suggests she has plenty of clubs keen to invest in a player with her traits.

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STRENGTHS:

+ Aerial ability
+ Contested marking
+ Explosive speed
+ Athleticism
+ Set shot goalkicking
+ Forward craft
+ Upside

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Defensive pressure
- Endurance
- Consistency

There are few more damaging players in the draft crop when 'on' and Mackereth has some outstanding traits that make her a quality forward. She reads the ball well in flight, judges it superbly in the air, and clunks them like they're beach balls. Not only can she safely take grabs, but she has the explosive speed and all-round athleticism that enables her to breakaway from would-be defenders and create all sorts of headaches.

More than a few times the words "they can't go with you" have been uttered to the talented defender, because she can turn a match in a quarter, and often has multiple opponents trying to quell her influence. She can fly high, or if the ball is at ground level, will more than likely beat an opponent to it, get goalside and it is generally good night from there.

Her overall forward craft is outstanding, she can kick goals from anywhere inside the 50, and her set shot routine is uncomplicated and as reliable as anyone's going around. Definitely one of those 'kick for your life' players when in form, Mackereth's offensive ability is elite. There is no doubt that if the game was played like it was 30 years ago, Mackereth would be kicking bags of goals for fun and breaking all sorts of records.

However the main knock on Mackereth's game is what she does without the ball. That is to say, her defensive pressure and running. An improved endurance base will help the talented forward in both regards, but it is about utilising her athletic gifts to cause all sorts of issues for defenders. If the ball is headed goalside, then Mackereth is more than capable - and often does - get to the pill and punish the opposition off the groundball.

If the situation is reversed and the defenders are clearing the ball from the back 50, then Mackereth is more likely to be holding her line inside 50 rather than relentlessly chasing to apply pressure. She is very good in a structured forwardline and where she can back her team to force turnovers up the field, but in her own words, she had to "adapt" to the premise of applying far more defensive pressure.

Like many incredibly gifted forwards, she is used to dominating the scoreboard and running rings around her opponents. In the new era of football, the other element is ensuring the ball remains locked inside 50. It was "definitely a challenge" as Mackereth put it, and is something that the South Australian teenager will need to work on going forward.

While that is the main concern in her game, it is impossible to overlook what she does when the ball is in her hands. Her offensive ability is outstanding, her athleticism for her height is brilliant and her forward craft and overall smarts are sensational. With further work on her improvements - which she is focused on at the moment - Mackereth looms a player with a big upside.

DRAFT RANGE: 20-40

SUMMARY:

Eloise Mackereth is a naturally gifted forward with all the offensive ability, tricks and traits in the world. She can hurt you in the air, on the lead or at ground level, rarely misses when she shouldn’t, and can kick them from just about anywhere. The defensive elements are a concern, but if you’re a club after a player who can kick lots of goals and complement a more defensively minded front half, then she is that player.

SANFL Women's League

Season	Team	K	HB	D	M	T	CLR	I50	R50	GL	GM	K	H	D	M	T	G	DC
2023	Glenelg Women's	22	5	27	6	6	3	7	1	1	3	7.3	1.7	9.0	2.0	2.0	0.3	41
2024	Glenelg Women's	51	26	77	22	14	1	5	0	14	13	3.9	2.0	5.9	1.7	1.1	1.1	28
2025	Glenelg Women's	48	19	67	17	16	2	15	1	3	10	4.8	1.9	6.7	1.7	1.6	0.3	29
Total	-	121	50	171	45	36	6	27	2	18	26	4.7	1.9	6.6	1.7	1.4	0.7	98

AFLW U18 Championships

Season	Team	K	HB	D	M	CP	UP	T	I50	GL	GM	K	H	D	M	T	G	DC
2024	South Australia Girls	25	7	32	18	15	17	2	7	6	3	8.3	2.3	10.7	6.0	0.7	2.0	64
2025	South Australia Girls	25	8	33	9	17	14	2	8	7	4	6.3	2.0	8.3	2.3	0.5	1.8	44
Total	-	50	15	65	27	32	31	4	15	13	7	7.1	2.1	9.3	3.9	0.6	1.9	108