STRENGTHS:

+ Goal sense
+ Defensive pressure
+ Kicking
+ Work rate
+ Versatility

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Contested work
- Production

PROFILE:

Leitch has always had the talent to go to the next level, it has been about lifting the production, and doing it consistently. In 2023, the East Fremantle utility has been able to do the latter to an extent, though could still improve the former. With ball-in-hand, Leitch can do a lot of damage, and it is about getting the ball in her hands more often for her to go to work.

After a quieter start to the WAFL season and then missing a chunk due to injury including Western Australia's opening AFLW Under 18 Championships match, Leitch came back in for Round 15 of the WAFLW season. There, she kicked a goal and laid five tackles before finishing off the regular season with her best game of the year.

Leitch racked up 16 disposals, eight marks four tackles and booted two goals against Peel Thunder to be best on ground in an outstanding performance working up the ground. She kicked two more goals across three finals, but also had some promising moments playing higher half-forward. On Grand Final day, Leitch finished with six disposals, one mark three tackles, but kicked an important goal.

The East Fremantle AFLW Draft hopeful has put a strong focus on her skills over the off-season, and while not perfect, generally she is very good at lowering the eyes and pinpointing passes inside 50. Her ability to hit targets more often than not, and also create scoring opportunities makes her a damaging player inside 50.

Further afield, Leitch brings the same defensive pressure that catches the eye, laying an average of four tackles per game for the Sharks and Sandgropers this year. At the national carnival, Leitch had an averaged of nine disposals and two marks, again playing higher up the ground, having spent time as a wing prior to her forward foray at East Fremantle.

That versatility and work rate is another tick in Leitch's profile, and her outside game in general is rock solid. The main area to improve on for the 160cm talent is her contested game, which recruiters got a glimpse of at the national carnival, winning 50 per cent of her touches at the coalface. Though she is a lighter bodied player and more suited to the outside, being able to compete on the inside is a great asset to have.

That element, along with a lifted production rate are ways that Leitch can further improve, but as a whole, her general footballing abilities, particularly inside 50, really stand out. She is likely to be more of a forward at the top level if selected, and no doubt a few clubs could take a punt on her and she could do a fair bit of damage close to goal.