STRENGTHS:

+ Contested work
+ Stoppage craft
+ Clean hands
+ Ground balls
+ Footy IQ
+ Decision making
+ Defensive pressure

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Explosive speed
- Strength

Gorman is one of those players in this year's AFLW Draft crop that perhaps has flown under the radar a little. She has lifted her floor with great consistent performances, and really become one of the best pure inside ball-winners in the draft. In saying that, her taste for the outside when forward showed she has the flexibility, and hit the scoreboard on a number of occasions for the Knights.

The Northern Knights ball-winner might not have racked up the ball at the national championships in that next challenge level, but held her own, and got the keys to the on-ball role after Chloe Baker-West unfortunately went down with concussion and the side was already missing Jade McLay. Gorman defensively holds her own, but her her understanding of the stoppages and extracting it is where she shines the most.

Gorman's stoppage craft is elite, and she reads the ball off hands exceptionally well, getting to the right spots. Often she might get there and be bumped out of the way or tackled immediately, but she understands where to go, and when. For a player who has essentially spent the majority of her time inside around the bigger bodies, Gorman has done well given her size - strength - compared to many of her opponents.

She packs a punch and will no hold back, but that strength is one of her key improvements that will help her become even more damaging. Between her strength and adding some extra explosiveness to her game, Gorman is building on the aspects outside her footballing abilities to become a more complete player.

With ball in hand, Gorman is clean and her weighted handpasses through traffic are a work of art at times. She can pick out opponents through congestion and execute efficiently, while by foot she is neat and makes good decisions. Like most players working in an inside role, she can be forced to rush the ball to boot, or be forced to kick in a way that is less than ideal, which is why adding that strength and speed to her game will be important.

However with time and space she can nail passes with supreme vision and decision making, and even if she does not produce the perfect kick, her decision making usually at least allows her teammates a shot forward of the ball. Essentially, her ball use is not a concern and she has improved that aspect of her game as well over the last 12 months.

In many ways, Gorman is similar to Mia Anderson from Tasmania because both players have been terrific inside ball-winners, but in 2025, added extra layers to their game to add hurt factor outside the stoppages. Gorman is still a predominant contested player, but she will now go forward, take a mark and hit the scoreboard, all while racking up the touches consistently.