Isla Baldwin is a touch of an unknown quantity as to what she has the potential to do, having only played the six games this season - after two last year - due to a shoulder injury. Rated highly internally, Baldwin certainly has some tricks to her game, and though is on the smaller side for a midfielder - 162cm - she showed in the run home that there is some genuine natural talent.

Baldwin returned to the side in Round 16 after playing in the Ranges' first game at the start of the year. In her return game against Sandringham Dragons, she racked up a season-high 19 disposals, before an highly productive 12-disposal, four-mark, eight-tackle and six-inside 50 display against Oakleigh Chargers the next week. On the big grand final stage, Baldwin had 15 disposals, three tackles, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s, working hard defensively to win the ball.

From a draft profile perspective, Baldwin has some outstandingly clean hands and a punchy short kick that can pinpoint passes. She cracks in and is not afraid to get her hands dirty and win the contested ball, lay strong tackles - she averaged four across the six games - and cover the ground well. Though most of her game centres around her attacking play - winning the ball and feeding it forward - she did win more of it in the defensive half during the grand final.

At the end of the day, Baldwin has had limited exposure and despite being an attacking midfielder has not been able to hit the scoreboard, but it was coming off shoulder surgery. The main query for a player of her size will be her speed, but if clubs can overlook that in favour of her smarts, she could be an underrated selection. In a stacked team, particularly through the midfield, Baldwin showed she could hold her own and if her chance doesn't come this year, she would be a fair consideration as an over-ager next year.

STRENGTHS:

- Clean hands
- Contested work
- Work rate
- Defensive pressure
- Kicking

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Speed
- Limited exposure
- Scoreboard impact