STRENGTHS:

+ Goal sense
+ X-factor
+ One-on-ones
+ Forward craft
+ Reading the play
+ Scoreboard impact
+ Defensive pressure

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Speed
- Athleticism
- Accuracy consistency

When it comes to naturally gifted forwards, Evelyn Connolly is one of the most talented close to the big sticks. While at times her accuracy wavered in 2025, when she is on, she is a deadeye from any range or distance inside 50. Her pure instincts make her a scoring machine, and if everything aligns, can be a damaging player at the next level.

Connolly has spent time through the middle as a powerful clearance player, and even down back with her one-on-one ability and smarts coming to the fore. Her natural instincts allow her to anticipate the ball drop inside 50 and position herself accordingly, getting a lot of shots on goal. In fact, throughout the Coates Talent League Girls competition, Connolly booted 31.27 - a massive 58 shots on goal - the same amount of shots that leading goalkicker Bailee Martin had with 38 majors.

Bookending the season, Connolly was booting them from anywhere. She was nailing set shots, marking them, handing them off, doing everything you could expect of a forward. Then came the game against Sandringham where Connolly still kicked a couple of goals but missed some easy majors for her, including one running into an open goal from practically the goalsquare.

It triggered inaccuracy across the course of the season until she found her grove just when her team needed her, kicking the four straight against the Chargers, including the final goal after the siren to be mobbed as her team secured its grand final spot. All in all, with her confidence high she can not even look like missing, but as can be the case for forwards, confidence can also waver.

However Connolly's traits do not, and her one-on-one ability after reading the ball in flight and winning the contest enable her to do a lot of damage on the scoreboard and punish the opposition. With outstanding forward craft to be there at the feet of her talls, or to be the leading target herself, she knows where to be, and when to pounce, often bobbing up out of nowhere to deliver a six-pointer.

What has really developed over the course of the last two seasons is her defensive pressure, with Connolly moving away from being a pure offensive talent, to add serious aggression and defensive work to her forward game. She hunts defenders and wins free kicks, crucially adding that aspect to her repertoire.

Given her main areas of improvement come from her athletic profile - such as speed, agility or her athleticism - Connolly does well to maximise what she can do well. Her anticipation and footy smarts enable her to react quickly, and she can be upon unsuspecting defenders in a flash. If she continues to work on her athletic qualities, then Connolly - who built a bigger tank over last off-season - can certainly make her mark at a higher grade.