2026 WAFLW 15 to Watch: #13 Tiama Collard
ANOTHER season of WAFLW Women’s action is just around the corner, with the season kicking off on March 28. As we did with the SANFL Women’s competition, Rookie Me Central will count down 15 players to watch in the upcoming year, focusing on either top-age or bottom-age prospects to keep in mind. We continue our […] The post 2026 WAFLW 15 to Watch: #13 Tiama Collard appeared first on Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central.
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Taya Maxwell
TOWERING South Australian Taya Maxwell is one of the top AFLW Draft prospects in this year’s crop, and the South Adelaide utility is on the verge of going to another level in 2026. Despite an ankle injury curtailing her bottom-age campaign, the 2024 SANFLW premiership player is ready to make her mark in 2026. We […] The post 2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Taya Maxwell appeared first on Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central.
Knapp the name to note in Talent League
EASTERN Ranges midfielder Jordan Knapp is primed for a big season according to his teammates. A total of 41 top-age (2026 draft eligible) prospects from the Vic Country and Metro summer squads were surveyed at Saturday’s Talent League preseason testing event, asked for a teammate to watch for 2026. > > ONES TO WATCH: South Australia […] The post Knapp the name to note in Talent League appeared first on Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central.
Preseason Q&A: Blake Justice (Calder Cannons)
AFTER the recent success of its recent Next Generation Academy (NGA) graduates, Essendon will be buoyed by the emergence of current member Blake Justice. After an impressive bottom-age campaign which yielded 15 Talent League appearances, the 17-year-old is seeking to play every game this year. Justice has cut his teeth as a utility across the […] The post Preseason Q&A: Blake Justice (Calder Cannons) appeared first on Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central.
Scouting Notes: 2026 U22 Women’s Summer Series R2 – Academy sides
AFTER another two big wins by the NSW/ACT Academies in the Under 22 Women’s Summer Series, we take a look at some of the Giants Academy and Swans Academy members who impressed at Henson Park over the weekend. The Giants crushed AFL Canberra with a triple-digit scoreline, while the Swans ran out 75-point winners over […] The post Scouting Notes: 2026 U22 Women’s Summer Series R2 – Academy sides appeared first on Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central.
2025/26 NBL Next Star season review – Dash Daniels
ONE OF the most hyped young talents to come through the National Basketball League (NBL) Next Star program, local talent Dash Daniels was given plenty of playing time in his first season in the competition as a member of Melbourne United. Coming from impressive basketball pedigree, the younger brother of reigning NBA Most Improved Player […] The post 2025/26 NBL Next Star season review – Dash Daniels appeared first on Basketball Rookie Me Central.
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Grace Tracey
OVERCOMING an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury throughout her bottom-age season, talented tall Grace Tracey made up for lost time late in the year. She squeezed in for a game with the Allies, made the Under 17 Futures squad and won the MVP for her side, which propelled her into the National Academy. We spoke […] The post 2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Grace Tracey appeared first on Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central.
Sydney sneaks past pesky Perth to go one up
ALTHOUGH they suffered a massive scare from a brave Perth Wildcats outfit, the Sydney Kings were still good enough to get the job done, claiming a one-point win to kick off the 2026 NBL semi-final series between the sides. The Kings came into the clash as favourites to get the job done at Qudos Bank […] The post Sydney sneaks past pesky Perth to go one up appeared first on Basketball Rookie Me Central.
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Gabrielle Mehrmann
DANDENONG Stingrays defender Gabrielle Mehrmann put her name on the radar in last year’s Talent League Girls finals series, capping off a consistent year by becoming the first person to keep Bailee Martin to under three goals in a match (just one). Mehrmann earned a spot in the Vic Country hub, and has the ability […] The post 2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Gabrielle Mehrmann appeared first on Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central.
2026 WAFLW 15 to Watch: #14 Rikisha Nannup
ANOTHER season of WAFLW Women’s action is just around the corner, with the season kicking off on March 28. As we did with the SANFL Women’s competition, Rookie Me Central will count down 15 players to watch in the upcoming year, focusing on either top-age or bottom-age prospects to keep in mind. We continue our […] The post 2026 WAFLW 15 to Watch: #14 Rikisha Nannup appeared first on Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central.
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Bailee Martin
ONE OF the top pick contenders in this year’s AFLW Draft, Oakleigh Chargers star Bailee Martin has proven to be a goalkicking machine across multiple levels. Winning the goalkicking at both Oakleigh and for Vic Metro, Martin had a day out against Vic Country with seven goals to earn All-Australian honours as a bottom-ager, and […] The post 2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Bailee Martin appeared first on Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central.
Scouting Notes: 2026 Summer Series – Swans Academy vs. AFL Sydney U22
THE SYDNEY Swans Academy has maintained its perfect record in the 2026 Summer Series after defeating the AFL Sydney Under 22s by 62 points at Henson Park on Saturday. After conceding the first goal and going without one in the opening term, the Swans set up their victory with the next 12 majors. Returning star […] The post Scouting Notes: 2026 Summer Series – Swans Academy vs. AFL Sydney U22 appeared first on Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central.
