{"id":178153,"date":"2024-12-15T14:46:17","date_gmt":"2024-12-15T04:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=178153"},"modified":"2024-12-15T14:46:18","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T04:46:18","slug":"2024-aflw-draft-positional-analysis-midfielders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/12\/15\/2024-aflw-draft-positional-analysis-midfielders\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 AFLW Draft Positional Analysis: Midfielders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>IN THE lead-up to next week&#8217;s AFLW Draft, we&#8217;re breaking down some of the available prospects in each area. Today we finish with the most common role the pure midfielders, though this group is as star-studded as it gets, with no less than three top 10 players and a host of potential top 30 prospects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/12\/10\/2024-aflw-draft-positional-analysis-general-defenders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GENERAL DEFENDERS<\/a><br>&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/12\/11\/2024-aflw-draft-positional-analysis-general-forwards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GENERAL FORWARDS<\/a><\/strong><br><strong>&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/12\/12\/2024-aflw-draft-positional-analysis-versatile-midfielders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">VERSATILE MIDFIELDERS<\/a><\/strong><br><strong>&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/12\/12\/2024-aflw-draft-positional-analysis-wingers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WINGERS<\/a><\/strong><br><strong>&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/12\/13\/2024-aflw-draft-positional-analysis-kpp-rucks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">KPP\/RUCKS<\/a><\/strong><br><strong>&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/12\/13\/2024-aflw-draft-positional-analysis-utilities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UTILITIES<\/a><\/strong><br><strong>&gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/12\/14\/2024-aflw-draft-positional-analysis-tall-defenders-forwards\/\">TALL DEFENDERS\/FORWARDS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-midfielders\">MIDFIELDERS:<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"86932\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/zippy-fish\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zippy Fish<\/a> (East Fremantle \/ Western Australia)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Height: <\/strong>160cm<br><strong>DOB: <\/strong>04\/06\/2006<br><strong>Key Strengths: <\/strong>Explosive speed, athleticism, kicking<br><strong>Main Improvement:<\/strong> Contested work<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most recognisable names in the AFLW Draft class, the West Australian speedster certainly lives up to it, and looms as a top five pick this year. Fish has explosive speed, terrific evasion and an outstanding leap for a 160cm player, with the midfielder able to carve up any opponent that gives her space. Her kicking is sublime and Fish&#8217;s highlights coming out of a stoppage to lower the eyes inside 50 and drill a pass to a leading target is something all fans love to see. She will continue to build on her first-possession winning ability, but can also play off a wing or half-back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DnodDs7LGX4?si=DueqE7rp5qbwL9Cs\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"79338\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/sara-howley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sara Howley<\/a> (Geelong Falcons \/ Vic Country)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Height: <\/strong>173cm<br><strong>DOB: <\/strong>29\/01\/2006<br><strong>Key Strengths: <\/strong>Explosive speed, run-and-carry, production<br><strong>Main Improvement:<\/strong> Defensive pressure<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What a couple of years it has been for Howley who dominated across the Coates Talent League Girls competition and stood up for Vic Country at the national championships. Along with All-Australian honours and then the Country MVP in 2024, Howley also collected the Rookie Me Central Medal and Coates Talent League Girls Best and Fairest in her bottom-age season. Her run-and-carry, which is underpinned by her explosive speed helps her get from contest to contest, racking up ridiculous stat-stuffing performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/V40XbdkL8Xo?si=e5PBSQmLCPZCHmER\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"76200\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/sierra-grieves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sierra Grieves<\/a> (Western Jets \/ Vic Metro)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Height: <\/strong>163cm<br><strong>DOB: <\/strong>18\/05\/2006<br><strong>Key Strengths: <\/strong>Production, contested work, defensive pressure<br><strong>Main Improvement:<\/strong> Polish<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like Howley, Grieves is a high production player, though while she has shown she can provide run on the outside is the ying to Howley&#8217;s yang for clubs, with her elite inside game that is centered around first-possession winning and defensive pressure. She is not as polished or explosive as Howley, but her outstanding contested work and sheer work rate sees her dominate games and Grieves deservedly earned Vic Metro and the overall AFLW Under 18s MVP, as well as All-Australian honours. One of the most guaranteed talents in the draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ViUkxF3el1k?si=jaf8I6DdHcE2uAHA\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"88539\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/tara-harrington\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tara Harrington<\/a> (Bond Uni \/ Suns Academy \/ Queensland)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Height: <\/strong>167cm<br><strong>DOB: <\/strong>24\/03\/2006<br><strong>Key Strengths: <\/strong>Clean hands, contested work, defensive pressure<br><strong>Main Improvement:<\/strong> Scoreboard impact<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harrington missed the national championships due to injury, but she is a quality player. The smooth-moving midfielder with terrifically clean hans and great defensive pressure can hurt the opposition in a variety of ways. Though not a huge goalkicker, her best traits come in her ability to retain possession via hand or foot, and she will be able to slot into just about any role. Tied to the Gold Coast Suns Academy, expect them to match a bid for the talented National Academy member to add her to the club&#8217;s depth through the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WdFFRTjpRfE?si=o2SEmcayAZH16XJm\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"134801\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/mia-salisbury\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mia Salisbury<\/a> (Bond Uni \/ Suns Academy \/ Queensland)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Height: <\/strong>169cm<br><strong>DOB: <\/strong>27\/06\/2006<br><strong>Key Strengths: <\/strong>Clean hands, stoppage craft, footy IQ<br><strong>Main Improvement:<\/strong> Endurance<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another Suns Academy member who really came along in leaps and bounds in 2024, Salisbury arguably benefited from Harrington &#8211; and others &#8211; being unavailable, with the fellow Bond University midfielder getting full-time midfield minutes and showing her ability on the inside. She has great hands, knows her way around a stoppage and her high-level footy IQ enables her to get to the right spots and make good decisions with or without ball in hand. Given she played half-back in her bottom-age season, Salisbury could begin her career there as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ziNIBj74rzA?si=cmCeF-G11z2yZeTN\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"126096\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/lily-paterson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lily Paterson<\/a> (Swan Districts \/ Western Australia)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Height: <\/strong>173cm<br><strong>DOB: <\/strong>02\/05\/2006<br><strong>Key Strengths: <\/strong>Kicking, clean hands, strength<br><strong>Main Improvement:<\/strong> Speed<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It has been a whirlwind year for the West Australian who starred through the WAFL Women&#8217;s competition to earn a call-up to the WA squad for the national championships. Racking up the ball with ease as a full-time midfielder since being a forward, Paterson had a big off-season that was the catalyst for her huge year. Her kicking and disposal by hand are strengths of the big midfielder&#8217;s game, with her strength at the coalface a feature making her more readymade for senior footy compared to others. She will look to further improve her speed to round out her game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vZ-ckWuwMfA?si=eVqRtiLxruBJMc0-\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"97454\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/maggie-mahony\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maggie Mahony<\/a> (Oakleigh Chargers \/ Vic Metro)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Height: <\/strong>163cm<br><strong>DOB: <\/strong>19\/10\/2006<br><strong>Key Strengths: <\/strong>Competitiveness, contested work, groundballs<br><strong>Main Improvement:<\/strong> Speed<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hard-running midfielder who has spent time forward in the past, Mahony is one of those players who provides consistent, competitive output regardless of the game or opposition. She only stands at 163cm, but cracks in hard and is clean at ground level. Being able to use both sides of her body naturally certainly helps, and she will do the dirty work to support her teammates. Mahony&#8217;s ability to get to the outside ensures she can find the footy out there as well, and while she will be honing in on improving her speed, has a lot of traits clubs will love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B2NdweU_Dlg?si=tYCbMHqjNJBKcLyY\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"96728\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/violet-patterson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Violet Patterson<\/a> (Glenelg \/ South Australia)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Height: <\/strong>169cm<br><strong>DOB: <\/strong>09\/01\/2006<br><strong>Key Strengths: <\/strong>Competitiveness, defensive pressure, character<br><strong>Main Improvement:<\/strong> Kicking precision<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first father-daughter to be tied to a club outside her home state, Patterson is set to make history when Collingwood presumably matches a bid for the Glenelg teenager. The South Australian captain is regarded with the highest character, and she is a terrific player as well. Boasting brilliant competitiveness and fantastic defensive pressure, Patterson does not back down from a contest and is among the toughest in the draft crop. She will tidy up some areas of her game, but her understanding of footy, along with her athletic traits make her an exciting one for Pies fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i8w1-B2tDGg?si=2UwOgpLJ2z-o-s5C\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"151709\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/lavinia-cox\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lavinia Cox<\/a> (Bendigo Pioneers \/ Vic Country)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Height: <\/strong>173cm<br><strong>DOB: <\/strong>31\/01\/2006<br><strong>Key Strengths: <\/strong>Agility, athleticism, defensive pressure<br><strong>Main Improvement:<\/strong> Fundamentals<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cross-code basketballer has one of the widest draft ranges out there, with some clubs ultra-keen on the athletic talent. She is raw and will continue to develop her fundamentals, but she was the best athlete at the Draft Combines in October, breaking Monique Conti&#8217;s long-held agility record. Her defensive pressure along with her growing understanding of the game will only make her better, and with her 173cm size, clubs will see her as a blank canvas they can further develop to make into a high-upside talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0ukWMsanaL8?si=nefJoVNlymSIQ1Tc\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"100221\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/asha-dufour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asha Dufour<\/a> (West Adelaide \/ South Australia)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Height: <\/strong>170cm<br><strong>DOB: <\/strong>31\/08\/2006<br><strong>Key Strengths: <\/strong>Production, clean hands, work rate<br><strong>Main Improvement:<\/strong> Kicking precision<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The West Adelaide midfielder can play inside or outside, and competes well all over the ground. She does well in the air and is clean at ground level, with a high work rate that shows off her contest-to-contest work. She will look to round out her profile by tidying up the precision on her kicking, but she is a versatile prospect who could be on a wing or on the inside, with the aerial strength to also be a target up forward. Has room to further develop in an elite program and will not leave a stone unturned to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QcPvnuLOrWw?si=QvEgY7d6v_7-gozC\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-dc-block-dc-mention _dc_mention\"><div class=\"section-heading_wrap\"><span class=\"section-heading is-small\">Mentions<\/span><span class=\"hor-border\"><\/span><\/div><ul class=\"js-overflow-list overflow-list\"><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/zippy-fish\/\">Zippy Fish<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/sara-howley\/\">Sara Howley<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/sierra-grieves\/\">Sierra Grieves<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/tara-harrington\/\">Tara Harrington<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/mia-salisbury\/\">Mia Salisbury<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/lily-paterson\/\">Lily Paterson<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/maggie-mahony\/\">Maggie Mahony<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/violet-patterson\/\">Violet Patterson<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/lavinia-cox\/\">Lavinia Cox<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/asha-dufour\/\">Asha Dufour<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"js-dropdown dropdown overflowed\"><button class=\"btn btn-icon-only\"><span class=\"icon btn-icon\">\n                    <!-- icon - plus circle - 20px-->\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\">\n                        <path d=\"M15,9.28h-4.3V5h0A.72.72,0,1,0,9.28,5h0V9.28H5a.72.72,0,0,0,0,1.43H9.28V15a.72.72,0,0,0,1.43,0h0V10.71H15a.72.72,0,0,0,0-1.43Z\"\/>\n                        <path d=\"M10,0A10,10,0,1,0,20,10,10,10,0,0,0,10,0Zm0,18.57A8.57,8.57,0,0,1,10,1.43h0a8.57,8.57,0,0,1,0,17.14Z\"\/>\n                    <\/svg>\n                <\/span><\/button><div class=\"popover\"><div class=\"popover-content\"><ul class=\"popover-menu\"><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IN THE lead-up to next week&#8217;s AFLW Draft, we&#8217;re breaking down some of the available prospects in each area. Today we finish with the most common role the pure midfielders, though this group is as star-studded as it gets, with no less than three top 10 players and a host of potential top 30 prospects. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":178169,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14920,18239,8,137],"tags":[19362,21317,18923,18693,20561,16483,18490,17903,18271,17133],"class_list":["post-178153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aflw-draft","category-aflw-draft-analysis","category-news","category-womens","tag-asha-dufour","tag-lavinia-cox","tag-lily-paterson","tag-maggie-mahony","tag-mia-salisbury","tag-sara-howley","tag-sierra-grieves","tag-tara-harrington","tag-violet-patterson","tag-zippy-fish"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=178153"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":178171,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178153\/revisions\/178171"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/178169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=178153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=178153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=178153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}