STRENGTHS:

+ Endurance
+ Defensive pressure
+ Contested work
+ Ground balls
+ Leadership
+ Work rate

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Kicking efficiency
- Decision making
- Aerial ability

Grace Hodder had a breakout season in 2025, taking on the role as captain of Sandringham Zebras and going to a completely different level. Career-best numbers across the board, the hard-running midfielder was able to stamp her authority on the VFLW season and ended the year as the Zebras' best and fairest, as well as being a train-on with St Kilda.

Boasting a high endurance rate and competitive appetite, Hodder thrives around the coalface where she is able to lead by example with her play and feed the ball out to teammates. While she is still polishing up some of her execution by foot and decision making under pressure, she is strong at the coalface and clean off the deck. Able to work both ways with her offensive-defensive balance, Hodder has shown great improvement in the last 12 months.

Alongside her running ability and contested work, Hodder has also built up her extraction ability on the inside and bringing it to the outside where she can bring others into the game. Her rate of development in 2025 will have impressed quite a few AFLW clubs and with the ties to St Kilda, she will be among the discussions given she was even named as an emergency for the Saints late in the AFLW season.

Photo credit: AFL Photos