STRENGTHS:

+ Contested work
+ Defensive pressure
+ Work rate
+ Endurance
+ Leadership

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Game sense
- Decision making

A member of the Southport Sharks' Reserves premiership, Burnham continually found herself in high performing sides between her QAFLW and AFLW Under 18 Championships. While Gold Coast Suns Academy has no shortage of top-end talent, Burnham is very talented in her own right and unfortunately just found herself bumped down the list given the depth at the Suns. But quite often the Suns' Under 16s skipper was the glue that made others stand taller.

Burnham does all the non-negotiables really well, with a terrific contested game, high work rate, fantastic defensive pressure and natural leadership. She leads by example with the way she plays, and though not necessarily the most polished at times, Burnham offers a hunger for the footy that cannot be taught. She improved on her bottom-age season, and had she been in an Academy with less star quality, she might well have received more interest.

Burnham comes with plenty of wraps internally, with both Queensland talent staff and Southport Shark hierarchy singing her praises. Not a huge ball-winner, Burnham said she could further sharpen her game sense to get into more ball-winning positions to lift the 11.0 (Queensland) and 14.3 (Suns Academy) disposal averages from 2025. One who can get better with more responsibility and midfield time.

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS: