AFL Academy member Sofia Hurley backed up a stellar under-aged season, which saw her win the Sandringham Dragons best and fairest, taking another step in 2022 to become one of best and most consistent Victorian prospects in the pool.

Starting the season in her regular midfield role, Hurley gradually increased her time in the forward 50 as the season rolled on, showing a clear second position as she heads to the next level - even registering six goals across nine NAB League Girls games. Whilst the added versatility certainly appeals, Hurley’s strengths are best shown when running through the midfield around stoppages, with her reading of the ball off the rucks' hands and positioning at high levels. They're deadly skills when combined with her evasive technique.

Hurley’s biggest point of difference from other midfield options is her defensive game, aided by her high work rate and tackling strength. Hurley laid a whopping 84 tackles in the NAB League, the second most overall, to go along with her average of 25.3 disposals - only dropping below 20 once in the entire season

Hurley played a smaller role in the midfield for Vic Metro through the championships, spending large chunks of time in the forward half but still managing to impact games, averaging 22.7 disposals and 6.3 tackles across her three appearances. Hurley continued to play predominantly as a forward for the AFLW Academy in their clash against the Under 23 All-Stars, registering 13 disposals and five tackles.

At the next level, Hurley would benefit from some improvement on her body work around stoppages, as she can sometimes be outmuscled when receiving opposition attention. On top of that, her skill execution on her left side is an area she’s already working to improve.