STRENGTHS:

+ Inside game
+ Consistency
+ Production
+ Defensive pressure
+ Clean hands
+ Strength

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Scoreboard impact
- Kicking consistency

PROFILE:

Kavanagh became one of the AFLW draft bolters this season after minimising her deficiencies and improving on her strengths. The 169cm midfielder started the year with a 28-disposal game against Sandringham Dragons, and it was an inkling of what Kavanagh was set to produce, as she recorded 20-plus disposals in all of her nine games.

Though often knocked for her polish - she herself noted her kicking particularly when on the move going forward - Kavanagh definitely improved on her execution throughout the year. The Cannons talent has always been a clean ball-winner on the inside, but was largely a 1-wood midfielder in terms of how she went about her football.

Throughout the course of the season, Kavanagh increased her work on the outside, getting to good positions and even becoming an option in transition, drifting to a flank or to the outside. She took four or more marks in six matches, including four of her last five games. That form was the result of her confidence growing from a superb AFLW Under 18 Championships.

Rewind a couple of months and Kavanagh was a late inclusion to the Under 23 All-Stars squad, having not even being initially named. Her form kept building though, securing a Vic Metro spot, then came from the clouds to not only play her role, but dominate in game one with a whopping 11 clearances and six inside 50s from 23 disposals in a big win over the Allies.

Her form rarely wavered and it saw Kavanagh win All-Australian honours and her state's MVP honour to cap off a truly remarkable carnival. Returning to the Talent League, she racked up a season-high 35 disposals and took six marks against the Falcons, and maintained her high level of consistency.

Along with her consistency and clean hands on the inside, Kavanagh has always been a strong defensive player, laying plenty of tackles. She averaged 4.9 per game in 2022, but that number jumped up to 8.3 for 2023, with her disposals (15.2 to 25.3) and marks (2.9 to 4.0) also making considerable rises from year to year.

Despite her inside game being her main strength, her outside game came along in leaps and bounds and gave clubs a glimpse of what she could be capable of at the next level. In the process, she went from uncertain draftee, to a player who would be difficult to leave on the board given what she offers between the arcs.

Kavanagh still has her areas of improvement, with that kicking still developing, particularly when under pressure or on the move, as well as having a greater impact on the scoreboard. She only kicked the three goals in her 11 Talent League games, so it makes another area that the onballer could further expand her game.

Overall though, Kavanagh had a top-age year which had few knocks on her consistency, with her form remaining strong across the six months. Unsurprisingly, she earned an AFLW Draft Combine invite, and though she is not an elite athlete, she is still solid across the board, and her inside work namely her clean hands and strength, hold her in good stead.