What you need to know about the AFLW draft
It's in three weeks, and WA will have a massive showing.
G’day again punchers!
I’m going to be honest with you. I didn’t know what to put in the newsletter today.
We covered every last inch of the AFL national and rookie drafts last week, even looking ahead to the best prospects of next season. And had a bunch of new subscribers as a result - welcome! Please tell your friends!
The AFLW draft is still three weeks away and we have plenty planned for our paid subscribers (🫶) in that time, but in the interests of having nothing else to write about from a WA footy perspective, we’re giving a free preview of the top prospects in today’s Monday send.
Let’s get stuck in.
Coming towards the end of the season, we’re really thankful to launch partner Lightning Minds for supporting us. Whether you’re ditching the drink entirely, or taking a breather this festive season, their non-alcoholic craft beer is here to help you strike a healthy balance. Brightening minds one drink at a time.
AFLW DRAFT
The AFLW draft is on Monday, December 15. The Dockers will enter at pick No.8, the Eagles at No.11. I’m 99% sure it’s the first year since West Coast entered the comp that the Dockers will pick higher. I would fact check that but it’s already quite late, sorry.
WA look like having a heap of players picked up in the first round. It’s genuinely the best crop the State has produced. We’ll get into the higher-end picks below.
And if you’re not across it, one of the most fascinating picks in this year’s draft is Ava Usher out of the Gold Coast academy. She hasn’t played footy in 18 months because of injury, but could still be one of the first picked - THAT’s how highly clubs rank her.
WA NATIONAL COMBINE INVITES: Alicia Blizard (East Fremantle), Evie Cowcher (Peel), Olivia Wolmarans, Olivia Crane (Subiaco), Carys D’Addario (Swan Districts), Alira Fotu, Renee Morgan (South Fremantle), Mia Russo (West Perth).
WA STATE COMBINE INVITES: Sienna Gerardi, Ava Stewart (Swan Districts), Juliet Kelly, Ella Gilbey (Claremont), Lucy Greenwood (East Perth), Maya Louvel-Finn (East Fremantle).
THE TOP FIVE
This is not a definitive five by any stretch. Opinions on the order vary wildly, such is the depth of WA talent. But we reckon it’s pretty close.
OLIVIA WOLMARANS - Subiaco
Wolmarans is as good a key forward to have come out of the WAFLW. She’s tall, athletic, kicks goals at crucial moments and has a huge tank - she finished top 10 in the 2km time trial testing at the combine which is crazy. Kicked 19.7 from 11 games for Subi and six in four games at the U18 champs and was named All-Australian. She’s very, very good.
EVIE COWCHER - Peel Thunder
The best player in the WA class before being smashed by injury this year, Cowcher’s CV is crazy. She’s been dominant at WAFLW and representative level playing as an intercepting, rebounding defender. In 2023 she was an All-Australian at U16 and U18 level, as well as winning WA’s U18 MVP award. She backed that up a year later with another AA and MVP for WA. Can easily develop into a midfielder at the elite level.
MIA RUSSO - West Perth
A quick, damaging midfielder who is brilliant to watch in full flight. Russo was the Rogers Cup MVP two years running. She was battling injury going into this year’s U18 champs but shrugged them off to dominate games and be named All Australian. If an AFLW midfield needs a weapon with X-factor, Russo is the one to go for.
Carys D’Addario - Swan Districts
This is one of those cases where the rest of the country took a while to learn what those in WA already knew - D’Addario was a high-end talent. D’Addario was named All-Australian this year as well as WA’s MVP. She was also unreal at WAFLW level, helping propel Swans into the grand final. A pure inside mid who gets to work and makes things happen on the ball.
Picture: Blake Parry Olivia Crane - Subiaco
A key defender who reads it as well as anyone, is great in the air, and makes good decisions. Came into the season off the back of an ACL injury and didn’t miss a beat. She played really well at WAFLW for Subi and has scope to move into the midfield in years to come.
That’s the lot for today.
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