Few players have bolted from relative obscurity into the AFLW Draft limelight quite like Albury talent, Zarlie Goldsworthy. The Murray Bushrangers star wasted no time announcing herself with a massive 33-disposal, four-goal game in Round 1, and proceeded to kick a goal in every game for the season, racking up the ball at will and being the greatest overall accumulator in the NAB League Girls competition.

Goldsworthy has such a well-balanced accumulation from disposals, to marks, clearances, tackles, inside 50s, and indeed even goals. She is a contested player who puts her body on the line consistently, and hits the scoreboard with rare regularity compared to her peers. Given her split between midfield and forward, it makes Goldsworthy’s numbers all the more remarkable. Her traits and natural ball-winning ability combined with her penetrating kick that can travel 50m make her a danger anywhere in the forward half.

The major improvement for Goldsworthy that just stops her from being a complete player is her kicking consistency, which luckily for AFLW clubs, can be worked on with good development. She has a penetrating kick and can clear the danger zones, but it is just about making it more pinpoint, and being able to hit targets more consistently. Adding a touch more composure with ball-in-hand will help with that, though there is no doubt she still heavily influences matches with her current style.

Goldsworthy had a massive year for the Bushrangers and the Allies, earning the Rookie Me Central Medal for the best player in the NAB League Girls, before backing that up with the Allies’ Most Valuable Player (MVP)  in the AFLW Under 18 Championships. Goldsworthy has come a long way since effectively playing local footy 12 months ago, and now looms as one of the most talked about talents in the AFLW Draft.