Collingwood is being tipped to pounce on exciting, classy prospect Ash Centra with the first pick of Monday night’s historic AFLW draft.
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This year’s AFLW draft will be the league’s first ever truly national draft, with all nominees available to be selected by any of the 18 clubs.
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Blessed with an elite footy IQ and composure with ball in-hand, Centra is widely viewed as the best player in this year’s draft pool after an outstanding 2024 campaign. She averaged 27.7 disposals and kicked 18 goals from 13 matches for the Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League, while also having a dominant campaign for Vic Country to earn All-Australian honours for the second consecutive year.
The Magpies, who finished on the bottom of this year’s AFLW ladder, hold the opening draft selection, with Centra understood to be their top choice.
Melbourne holds Pick 2 — a selection it acquired after mega six-club deal in the trade period — with Western Australian duo Zippy Fish and Molly O’Hehir both in its calculations. The two are very different players: Fish is a speedy midfielder in the mould of a Mon Conti, while O’Hehir is an intercepting rebound defender.
If the Dees opt for O’Hehir, there’s a chance Fish slips a few picks, with the Giants (Pick 3) and Swans (Pick 4) pondering other prospects like Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges) and India Rasheed (Sturt).
It means Carlton (Pick 6) or even West Coast (Pick 7) could pounce on Fish, who holds the WAFLW record for the most disposals in a game (39).
There are handful of young guns already tied to clubs.
A bid for Gold Coast academy gun Havana Harris could come within the first three picks. That would mean the Suns use their pick 19 to match a bid.
Carlton father-daughter prospect Sophie McKay will likely receive a bid in the top 10, but the Blues will be desperately hoping it comes after Pick 5 so they then can use Pick 23 to match a bid on McKay. If a bid for McKay comes within the top five, the Blues would be forced to use that to match the bid.
There’ll also be ample intrigue around ex-Essendon AFLW forward Paige Scott, who nominated for the draft late last week after her trade wish to Richmond wasn’t granted.
The 2024 AFLW national draft will be held on Monday December 16, with coverage beginning from 7pm (AEDT).
You can follow the AFLW draft live on foxfooty.com.au below with analysis of every pick and every club, along with Fox Footy’s social media channels.