The clear standout Victorian coming into the year and genuine pick one prospect, Centra is almost certainly set to be the first name read out on draft night barring a bid from the Magpies on Harris. Either way, she is the best available non-club tied player and is a natural footballer to boot. She boasts elite skills, vision and decision making, and finds the ball with ease wherever she plays. Arguably the best kick in not only the draft crop, but likely the AFLW when she gets there.

Given Collingwood holds the number one pick, expect her to be in black and white unless trades take place.

The explosive speedster out of Western Australia maintained her form throughout the season, starring for East Fremantle and coming runner-up in the WAFLW Best and Fairest award. She has the best of both Harris and Centra when it comes to her athleticism and skills, with only her smaller size (about 16cm-plus shorter) and more uncontested nature arguably putting her down to the third spot. Still, she’s a gun and will complement a side that has a strong inside brigade.

The South Australian has been long touted as a top prospect in this year’s AFLW Draft and it is easy to see why. She has a high impact-per-possession game both up forward – kicking miraculous goals – or through the midfield where she continues to rack up touches and clearances. A damaging left-footer who has elite footy IQ and goal sense, watch for her to play a mix of the two roles. It will be fascinating to see where she ends up with the entire eastern seaboard making up the first half dozen picks.

One of the most well-balanced players across the board, it was hard to leave O’Hehir out of the top five. She has terrific speed as well as skills, and at 179cm, offers a profile that rarely has both footballing and athletic strengths at that size. She can play anywhere, though expect her to start as a tall defender who uses her speed and skills to advantage, though her natural competitiveness means it will not be long before she works her way into a club’s leadership group.

A highly damaging player who aside from perhaps her speed, is right up there with the top five in terms of her impact. She can play on all three lines, is as powerful as they come, and just seems to find the ball regardless of her role. Her versatility is a huge tick and in most draft she would be a top three player, so there is terrific value here. Won the Vic Country MVP as an Under 16s talent before injury ruined her bottom-age campaign. Will only get better with another full preseason in an elite environment.

While Howley was always touted as a top prospect to watch, she produced a starring top-age season that backed up the hype coming out of her bottom-age campaign. While as a 17-year-old she won the Rookie Me Central Medal and Coates Talent League Girls Best and Fairest, in 2024, the Geelong Falcons and Vic Country representative took out the latter’s MVP and earned All-Australian honours again. Among the top few Victorians and a reliable ball-winner.

The standout key forward in the AFLW Draft, it would not be surprising to see her crack into the top five given her unique position compared to a lot of the other top 10 prospects. In what was only her second season in the code, McDonald continued to present as a contested marking star inside 50, and showed her versatility with the occasional switch down back. Her hands, mobility and smarts around the ground are key, and she will fill a club’s need for a target inside 50.

The Carlton father-daughter prospect is tipped to land at Ikon Park without too much trouble, but the big question for Blues fans will be whether it is with their first or second round selection. As it stands, the daughter of Andrew and sister of Abbie is ranked ninth in our Power Rankings, while Carlton holds the fifth selection. It stands to reason the Blues should get through their first pick, but absolutely will cough up their second rounder for a Top 10 talent who has outstanding offensive impact.

It is incredible to think the AFLW Under 18s MVP could be as low as 10th overall, but that is the strength of this draft crop. Grieves is a natural accumulator, has elite defensive traits and really worked on her game to impact even more on the outside. She can play as a small forward as well as an inside midfielder, and had several moments throughout the year that saw her take multiple bounces running down a wing. Quiet in her nature, Grieves will leave no stone unturned to be the best she can be, and is a lock to be a long-term player at the elite level with her attitude and consistency.

Port Adelaide’s run to the preliminary final has seen the Power finish the season with Pick 15, which is hit and miss whether or not they will grab the talented Scholz with their selection to join sister Matilda at Alberton. The fact Poppy has missed a large chunk of the season – including two out of three national championships matches – means she might fall a little later, though her talent is clearly verging on – if not inside – the top 10. Another bargain for the Power if they can get her.

Another unique prospect who provides a different look to a lot of the top 10 talents. A ruck and tall forward at junior level, Symonds began her progression as an inside midfielder once she returned from a stress fractures injury mid-season. Her explosive speed for a 178cm talent is so rare, and she has great strength and is equally competent at ground level as she is in the air. While she still has some fundamentals to build on, her upside is among the best in the draft and is another player who might jump inside the top 10 given her unique versatility.

Speaking of versatility, Central District big Riggs has spent time as a key defender, key forward and ruck, with outstanding athleticism particularly her vertical jump. She provides an intercepting force out of the back half of the ground and then can be thrown into other roles to provide a target and throw off the opposition. If good vibes are considered a strength, then Riggs is one of those players that has those in spades.

The Oakleigh Chargers skipper has continued to knuckle down and work hard on her game, stepping up on the biggest stage twice now and winning the Coates Talent League Girls best on ground in the grand final. She is a dual premiership player – one as skipper – and co-captained Vic Metro to the AFLW Under 18s title as well. While athletically she is a touch behind some others, her natural footballing ability is off the charts, and her disposal by foot out of the defensive 50 is as good as anyone’s in the draft crop.

McKee is the wildcard in the draft. On talent she is a top 10 prospect, but while her best is unbelievably good, she has only been able to reach that in seldom throughout 2024. Possibly the best dual-sided player with the greatest goal sense, McKee gives opposition defenders heart palpitations whenever it hits the deck, as she can swing onto her right or left just as comfortably. Adelaide the club with McKee’s strongest ties, having come through the Crows’ Academy.

The Gold Coast Suns have committed to Harrington and it’s easy to see why with her well-rounded midfield craft that involves her winning it on the inside or outside. She has class in spades and is not afraid to get her hands dirty. Given the second round selection might end up being a matched bid for Harris, all eyes will be on whether or not the Suns can grab another second round selection in order to match Harrington. No doubt other clubs might see themselves in with a chance depending on how the trade period goes.

One of the top AFLW Draft bolters for this year, Belloni did not put a foot wrong either for Eastern Ranges or Vic Metro. She stepped up from being a forward who pinch-hit in the midfield to the opposite for the Ranges, while going back into attack for Metro and winning All-Australian honours. Another unique talent who, while having areas to polish up on, can provide outstanding contested marking and impressive ground ball skills making her the perfect midfielder-forward.

The third Central District talent within the top 20, Evans is a natural footballer to a t. Her athleticism and endurance need work, but just get the ball in her hands and let her skills and decision making do the talking. She can hit passes that very few can, and would be in the top few kicks for the draft crop. A lighter bodied player, Evans can step through opponents in congestion thanks to her footy smarts, but will likely start as a forward where she can both hit the scoreboard and be a distributor to her teammates.

What a year it has been for the Vic Metro co-captain, who after a strong bottom-age campaign had a little bit of a slow start for the Ranges. Once she got going through, there was no stopping Brisbane, who booted five goals against the Allies and consistently looked like a threat inside 50. While her hands and goalkicking standout as traits, she has a high-level endurance base which is rare for key forwards so expect that to be a huge factor in clubs considering her for the elite level.

Possibly the most well-rounded player in the AFLW Draft crop, Poustie is one of those prospects that while not having one particular standout trait, no glaring weakness either. She can tidy up a few things, but overall does everything well, and with an elite endurance base that helps her run opponents off her feet, the Oakleigh Chargers and Vic Metro midfielder can play both inside and outside which gives clubs options at the top level. Will take out pretty much any 2km time trial in preseason too.

The Queensland midfielder looms as the third Gold Coast Suns Academy member to land in the AFLW Draft, and once again makes it tricky for Gold Coast to try and balance all of its picks. Expect the third rounder to be enough to match given the system, in which will be a huge coup for the Suns. She is a tough midfielder with great skills and fantastic around stoppages and coming off half-back as she did in her bottom-age season.

Another rare key forward in the AFLW Draft that has enormous upside if given the opportunity. She is not a huge accumulator like some of the others higher up, but her hands are arguably the best of anyone. She will clunk grabs in packs three or four deep, can do it in attack or defence, and when she wheels around to kick inside 50 is more often than not able to connect up with a forward just like she would like. Will be an exciting prospect to say the least.

The first of the Allies players to land in our Power Rankings, Williams is a well-balanced prospect who can play both offensively and defensively. She is best suited to roaming from half-back, often taking the kickouts and launching the ball far from danger. Strong one-on-one and reading the ball in flight like a book, she is able to compete in the air and at ground level, then run down the ground with a thumping kick.

Another AFLW Draft bolter this year, Paterson would not have been on many, if any clubs lists 12 months earlier, having shown some signs but largely inconsistent as a forward. Fast forward to 2024 and a massive off-season saw the Swan Districts talent transform into a ball-winning midfielder where she starred for the Black Ducks and then for her state. A reliable accumulator who is strong at the coalface and uses the ball well by hand or foot.

Injury meant Baba had an interrupted top-age campaign, but her natural traits are there for all to see. She is raw with her approach to football and has areas to tidy up, but has a vertical jump that is the best of the key defenders. She loves to run-and-gun with explosive speed, and she can play further afield as well. More of a long-term prospect, but one with great upside and will get better in an elite environment.

Another of the AFLW Draft bolters who took her game from good to great in the last 12 months, with her footy IQ and ball use always fantastic. Knuckling down to improve her speed and consistency, Martin has now become a triple threat, playing up forward, through the middle or down back, and on sheer numbers alone and the impact the Eagles young gun has, it is hard to deny she is a top 30 prospect now. A real all-rounder.

The first of the State Draft Combine invitees to land in our Power Rankings, it was perhaps a touch surprising to see the talented Stingray left off the National Combine list. She has that quick first few steps to breakaway from the stoppage, and can play both inside and up forward with great smarts and an ability to ‘slow time’. While still getting more precise with her kicking and is a more predominant second-possession winner, Reynolds improved her deficiencies further in 2024.

Tied to the GWS Giants Academy, Patton is a player who could land anywhere from the second to third rounds and could be a good chance for other clubs to try and secure the talented forward. Though consistency is an area for the AFLW Academy to work on, her best is right up there with the best in the draft, with her agility and kicking among the top traits. A former baseballer, Patton is another high-upside talent for clubs to consider.

Unfortunately injury meant Wright did not get to test herself at the national championships, but did don the Australian jumper for the AFLW Academy and played out a full WAFLW season. While unlucky injuries have been a talking point in the utility’s career, Wright seems to be in the “too talented to ignore” box, and her well-rounded profile playing in just about every position really helps her. One who had plenty of interest at the Draft Combine too.

Another player who missed out on a National Draft Combine invite which was perhaps a touch surprising, but is club-tied with the Magpies in a great position to secure her. Patterson is as competitive as they come, with elite defensive traits, great footy smarts and can play inside and outside. Character-wise, few will come with bigger wraps from anyone who is involved in her football, and no doubt the black and whites should be able to match with no earlier than their third round selection.