Steph Demeo was a really handy player for Bendigo Pioneers this season, coming out of defence and providing some much needed composure with ball-in-hand. The 162cm defender is a natural footballer, with clean skills, exceptional hands at ground level, and great decision making. Her balance of offensive drive and defensive pressure also make her a two-way threat.

Perhaps one of the more unlucky ones not to receive an AFLW Draft Combine invite, her omission is likely down to two key factors: one-on-ones and speed. She can get outbodied in marking contests, and does not have the pace of some others her size, so it would require a club to overlook these factors. However, Demeo is a player that teammates would be more than comfortable having the ball in her hands and on face value for all her traits, she can be a distributor or creator across the field.

Demeo plays to her strengths in the way she goes about it, and between those offensive and defensive traits, the Pioneers small can impact games in a multitude of ways. Her improvement from 2022 to 2023 was evident, and like many of those just outside the AFLW Draft Combine invites, if she did end up playing an extra season, she could develop her areas of improvement to become even more rounded in her game.

STRENGTHS:

- Clean hands
- Skills
- Defensive pressure
- Rebounding
- Decision making

IMPROVEMENTS:

- One-on-ones
- Speed