{"id":212167,"date":"2026-04-14T17:42:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T07:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=212167"},"modified":"2026-04-14T17:42:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T07:42:59","slug":"swan-districts-duo-an-underrated-aflw-draft-pair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/04\/14\/swan-districts-duo-an-underrated-aflw-draft-pair\/","title":{"rendered":"Swan Districts duo an underrated AFLW Draft pair"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IF YOU ask anyone which one-two punch in Western Australia will capture all the AFLW Draft headlines this year, it is undoubtedly National Academy duo Cara Dziegielewski<\/strong> and Lexi Strachan<\/strong> out of West Perth. Fair enough too, both are elite junior talents and likely top 10 chances. But another duo has emerged for the 2026 AFLW Draft with less fanfare and perhaps less talk due to neither representing the state side last season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re talking about Swan Districts duo, Summer Ajduk<\/a> and Grace Hirst<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer Ajduk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Position:<\/strong> Wing\/Forward
Height:<\/strong> 171cm
DOB: <\/strong>12\/11\/2008<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For WAFL Women’s fans, Ajduk is not a new name on the scene, in fact, she had a ripper bottom-age campaign and it was somewhat of a surprise she could not represent her state at Under 18s level. But by that stage, the midfield was fairly set, and Ajduk was entrenched in the Swans’ on-ball group and working well alongside ball-winning star Jaime Henry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After missing Round 1, Ajduk was a surprise to be on the Swan Districts’ emergency list for Round 2. Perhaps it spoke to the volume of the black and whites’ depth this season, but fortunately for the teenager, Alana Barba was a late withdrawal which paved the way for Ajduk to play. While not running around on-ball so far, Ajduk has been deployed in a wing\/forward role and has looked good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you see with Ajduk is a high running capacity and the foundations to be a very good player. She is not completely polished and her kicking at speed can use some work, but she is capable of breaking lines and making things happen forward of centre. Her creativity and dare is evident, and she is just as good defensively as she is offensively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Summer Ajduk has taken her opportunities when they have come. Image credit: via Swan Districts FC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Grace Hirst<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Position:<\/strong> Defender\/Midfielder
Height:<\/strong> 165cm
DOB: <\/strong>18\/03\/2008<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Ajduk was well-known across the league coming into the 2026 season, Hirst was less so. She played seven games last year and was an important part of the Swan Districts’ setup, but being in the less glamorous defensive role, she did not quite receive the plaudits that her fellow bottom-ager received for the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Hirst fortunately did not need a late withdrawal to crack into the Swan Districts’ lineup, named in the Round 1 team. She has not looked like losing that spot either, playing a really important role behind the ball, with added aggressiveness in her running, and an ability to also step into the midfield as a rotation which is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hirst is a different player to Ajduk, and though both love to run and gun, she is slightly smaller, but has more piercing skills on the run. Her ability to hit those 45-kicks and open up the ground are very good, while still remaining accountable to her direct opponent. Being a little smaller, she does not have the same height in aerial contests, but competes nonetheless and clearly has some outstanding footy nous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Summer Ajduk and Grace Hirst have had eye-catching starts to the WAFLW season, and while the data set is just two and three games respectively, the top-agers are quickly emerging as players to note for this year’s AFLW Draft. They might not have the same runs on the board outside the WAFLW that others do, but their traits shine through, and if their form holds throughout 2026, expect them to be donning the Sandgropers’ jumper mid-year and growing their reputations across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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