STRENGTHS:

+ One-on-ones
+ Competitiveness
+ Speed
+ Kicking penetration
+ Ground level game
+ Defensive versatility

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Intercept marking
- Raw

PROFILE:

Cronin was one of the more consistent players outside the Victorian representatives squads this season, with the Oakleigh Chargers defender coming back from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Though she only returned in Round 6 and took a little while to find her feet, Cronin was still included in Vic Metro's extended squad and competed at the trials.

Not ultimately selected, Cronin worked on her game in the second half of the season, and upped her production rate to an average of 17.1 disposals in her last eight games after being just 7.0 in her first five matches. Had the national carnival been post-Talent League season, there is every chance Cronin would have squeezed into the lineup.

What stands out about Cronin is her speed and ground level game for a 177cm player. Tall enough to play on key position types, and fast enough to match smaller players in a foot race, she provides some great defensive versatility. Very hard to beat one-on-one due to her strength, she will aim to halve contests and then run away with the ball to begin transition from defence to offence.

In the Round 16 rout against Bendigo Pioneers, Cronin kicked her only goal of the season with a rare foray up forward, though she is capable of offensive drive. As he confidence rose in the second half of the season, so did her offensive run and carry. She took grass and backed herself to break lines, while clearing the danger zone with her penetrating kick.

That long kick helps her when coming from defence, and she was able to put it into safer areas for teammates to run onto. Though she could further develop that aspect of her game, she is still raw in many ways having missed substantial time due to that knee injury.

Similarly, Cronin could also improve her intercept marking, with the key defender better at ground level than in the air. She can provide a timely spoil or force an opponent to drop the mark, but is far less accustomed to plucking her own grabs. She averaged just the 1.1 marks per game for the Chargers, and no more than two in a match.

Most of her touches come from either intercepting it at ground level, or getting the handball receive or loose ball and taking off from that point. Like many coming back from a long-term injury, Cronin built up her body of work to prove her capability by year's end, earning an AFLW Draft Combine invite. She might have a way to go, but it was a great start and she showed the traits that could see her picked up in next month's draft.