A landmark evening for WA footy
Our first No.1 pick in the AFLW and 10 players getting a shot at the elite level. How good.
G’day friends!
It’s a later-than-usual send today to account for the AFLW draft, so apologies all that went looking in their inboxes this morning. Worth the wait, with WA getting our first No.1 pick and a record number drafted overall. We’ve also got a few AFL tidbits and the WAFL round one fixture.
We’ll be back again later this week, as we did with the AFL draft last month, with a list of AFLW prospects to watch in 2026 for our paid subscribers.
Then you can expect one more edition next Monday before we break for a few weeks.
Thanks again to everyone who’s engaged with Jumper Punches either here or on Instagram this past few months. It’s been genuinely cool to have so many people so psyched about the project in its infancy.
Alright, let’s get stuck in.
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AFLW DRAFT
It was a landmark night for WA female footy at the AFLW draft. Ten WA girls have been drafted to the AFLW, doubling the previous best number we’ve produced in a single year. Here’s how the WA picks played out:
Olivia Wolmarans - Richmond, pick No.1
Give it up for the first West Australian No.1 AFLW draft pick. The Subiaco key forward was expected to go to GWS at pick No.2 before whispers got around on Monday that Richmond wanted her straight off the bat. This kid was the best forward in the WAFLW and has some traits that we genuinely haven’t seen in a player of her size at AFLW level. She changes the Tigers immediately. Also the first WA player taken at pick No.1 in either competition since Dave Swallow went to Gold Coast in 2010. How bloody good.
Evie Cowcher - Geelong, Pick No.11
One of the best juniors to come through WA’s female pathways joined Geelong at pick No.11. The Peel gun missed most of the year with injury but she’s ready to go. She’ll walk into the side in round one and be in the Rising Star race. An intercept defender who makes great decisions. Twice All-Australian and WA MVP already. If she played all year she could have been a top-three pick so this is a steal.
Mia Russo - West Coast, Pick No.20
I love this pick for Russo and for the Eagles. The West Perth gun is seriously dynamic through the middle, and that’s where West Coast need a bit more firepower. Bursts from stoppages, hunts for the footy, and kicks goals from the midfield.
Olivia Crane - Port Adelaide, Pick No.30
This could be a real bargain pick for the Power. Crane returned from an ACL injury this season and immediately slotted into centre half-back for the rampaging Subiaco and the WA program. Pre-injury she was one of the highest rated tall talents in the country. Her ceiling is very, very high.
Fina Dethlefsen - Richmond, Pick No.38
Another historic moment. Dethlefsen is the first player drafted out of the Perth Demons WAFLW program. Didn’t see this one coming tbh. She’s a 22yo mid-forward who played State footy this year and is a hell of a competitor. Left-field pick but shoot your shot, Tiges.
Alicia Blizard - Adelaide, Pick No.39
I really like this fit. The East Freo product is a quick medium forward who piles on the pressure and has huge upside. Her round one WAFLW derby performance this season - four goals, 16 disposals - was an indication of what her best looks like.
Renee Morgan - Geelong, Pick No.43
One of those midfielders who loves a tackle as much as they like a touch. The South Fremantle product is very well balanced, averaging 16 disposals and eight tackles in the WAFLW. Glad to see her picked up, will be an asset for the Cats.
Maya Louvel-Finn - St Kilda, Pick No.60
One for the back pockets! Louvel-Finn is a gun in a role that often gets overlooked. She shuts down her opponents and already got the best of plenty of highly-touted forwards in the U18s - being named All-Australian.
Carys D’Addario - St Kilda, Pick No.61
I let out an audible sigh of relief at this pick. If her name wasn’t called, my phone was going through the window. The Swan Districts gun was one of the best players in the WAFLW and WA’s MVP at the championships. She will play round one and make a material difference at St Kilda. Good on them for taking her here. Others should have taken her earlier. People love to overlook Carys - but she always ends up proving them wrong.
Ava Stewart - Adelaide, Pick No.63
Very cool selection. The Swan Districts defender is still raw, but there is heaps to like about her game. Saw her live at the U18 championships and came away really impressed. In a frightening moment for me, also realised I know her dad. That made me feel old.
AFL
It’s getting a bit dry out there, but here are a few snippets from track watchers:
Cooper Duff-Tytler has been eye-catching at West Coast. It’s easy to stand out when you’re 200cm but his mix of work-rate, size and skill forward and through the ruck has been noted.
Wingman Jack Hutchison has a stress fracture in his ankle and faces a race to be fit for the start of the season.
Harley Reid has been given the Crown Perth pool treatment in STM mag - great read by Jade Jurewicz, biggest tidbit from a footy perspective is the fact Harley’s bought a house in Perth. Smart investment for Harley and another sign for Eagles supporters that he’s putting down roots. The more logistically difficult it becomes to move, the better!
A good read here on Neil Erasmus and his decision-making process before sticking with Fremantle late this year.
Young Dockers defender Ollie Murphy looks to have put on a bit of size going into pre-season and has turned a few heads in match sim.
WAFL/WAFLW
Round one fixtures are in for season 2026:
WAFL
Friday, April 3 (Good Friday)
Peel v East Fremantle, Lane Group Stadium
East Perth v Subiaco, Sullivan Logistics Stadium
Saturday, April 4
West Perth v Claremont, HIF Health Insurance Oval
Swan Districts v South Fremantle, Steel Blue Oval
Perth v West Coast, Mineral Resources Park
WAFLW
Weekend of March 28-29, Times TBC
Claremont v Swan Districts, Revo Fitness Stadium (Grand Final Rematch)
East Perth v Peel, Sullivan Logistics Stadium
Subiaco v West Perth, Sullivan Logistics Stadium
South Fremantle v East Fremantle, Fremantle Community Oval
Outside of those….
The WAFL is considering a Saturday night grand final. Would likely need Freo to miss out on a home preliminary final to go ahead.
Michael Roberts has resigned as WA Football CEO, and will end his stint in late February. More detail about the looming State Government funding agreement etc in this yarn by Mitch Woodcock.
That’s the lot for today. Thanks again for reading.
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