Welcome to the second quarter of VFLW’s Team of the Year, if you missed my last post I will bring you up to speed. Firstly the team I’ve created is pure VFLW talent, AFLW players don’t make the team because they have already reached their goal. This team is created to reflect on the talented players looking to be drafted this year. TAC Cup Girls that have signed with the VFLW are included as well as delisted AFLW players seeking redemption. This team is made based on expert opinions, Dream Team points and competition stats. More discussion below.
In the backline, we have Jessica Edwards, Jayde Van Dyk, and Leah Olsen. Edwards is currently captain of the pies leading them to an undefeated season so far, bursting out of defensive 50 she has been a star all year. Van Dyk is one of Hawthorn’s standouts in a well-organised backline, she has ranked in the top 5 players on the ground in several matches. Olsen has been the best true tall defender in the VFLW, there aren’t too many players with her height and skill.
On half-back we have Mia Rae Clifford, Jacqueline Graham and Meghan McDonald, these girls bring the pace out of defence. Clifford the EX-Demon proves herself week after week, Geelong has found a real weapon with the ability to play midfield as well as halfback flanker. Graham has been Richmond’s surprise packet, she could easily be their best player and will no doubt be looked at in the 2018 draft. McDonald has to be the most overlooked women in women’s football, she has premiership credentials at Darebin, easily one their better players but can’t seem to grab the attention of AFLW scouts. Perhaps this will be McDonalds year.
For the centerline Hayley Bullas, Tyla Hanks and Alison Brown are far superior to most midfielders at this level. Bullas is number 1 for tackles, she has battled hard in an inexperienced team and has become a real shining light in Essendon’s very poor year. Hanks has only had two games and has changed Carlton’s midfield for the better. Hanks has been touted as a top 3 pick for the 2018 draft, and for good reason, her natural ability to find space and hit up targets is nothing short of elite. Aside from Maddison Prespakis, Hanks is the standout for TAC Cup midfielders. Brown is one who may have slipped under the radar due to playing alongside Alison Drennan, but her hard work should be noticed as one of the better inside midfielders in the competition.
Half-forwards have really brought in the tall timber this year. Kaila Bentvelzen, Sophie Alexander and Olivia Flanagan have been the best hit up targets all year. Alexander has spent time in the midfield which gives her great versatility, but when you have the ability to outreach your opposition and kick 50-meter goals in concession, you would prefer her up forward. Bentvelzen has had a slow start to the year, however, she has hit her strides for Casey in the last few weeks. She is now equal 3rd in the competition for goals alongside Alexander with 8 goals. Flanagan is one of those lost TAC Cup Team of the Year girls who didn’t get drafted. She has proven to be a valuable asset to Hawthorn providing a target inside 50 as well as playing in the midfield.
Before I discuss the Full Forwards I would like to state that Hannah Mouncy will be excluded due to the fact that she cannot be drafted. This may change in the future and with two quarters left she will easily slot into the full forward position.
But for now, our forwards are Jessica Francke, Daisy Bateman and Tamara Luke. Luke could have been put anywhere, she has become the ultimate utility all year, starting down back pushing forward to playing ruck and midfield. But considering how well she has done in the ruck I see her resting forward as the backup ruck. Francke has worked hard all year in a slow starting Bulldogs outfit. She has been one of the more consistent players all year and a real target up forward. Bateman like most TAC Cup girls has had only two games, but when you kick 5 goals in guest appearances you know she’s dangerous around goal. Bateman could possibly be the most talented forward in the draft after a star show in the u18 competitions.
Ruck and Rover- There was only one ruck that stood out above the rest, Rhiannon Watt. Watt has been the most dominate VFLW ruck in the comp, she is second only to Breanna Moody of Carlton for hit-outs totalling 194 from six games. As for her rovers, there could only be two that stand out, Maddison Prespakis and Alison Drennan. Drennan has been the star for the Southern Saints, a true ball magnet that can push forward kick goals and inspire a team with her work rate. She is without a doubt the best pure VFLW midfielder, she has no AFLW or TAC Cup experience. Prespakis, on the other hand, is the name AFLW fans have been waiting for. She really lives up to the hype from experts. Prespakis is already averaging higher DreamTeam points than anyone in the competition. She will play for Geelong in 2018 as the first round draft pick unless they’re stupid.
On the Bench, we have Stephanie Simpson, Kathryn Klatt, Megan Willaimson and Erica Fowler. Simpson has been a solid contributor for Darebin on the scoreboard averaging a goal a game she brings x-factor to her team pushing up the ground. Klatt has been quite the story, a Canadian coming to Australia and quickly becoming one of the better defenders in the VFLW. One-on-one forwards do find Klatt to be a handful. Williamson is the one good story to come out of Williamstown. Williamson has been seen as a high pick for this year’s draft and the impact she is making in the midfield would back up her claim for a spot in the senior competition. Fowler has been a wild card but if there was to be a spot for a backup ruck Fowler would be it. Her hit-outs to advantage give her midfield first choice with the ball, add to that she can outrun most rucks. Fowler has also kicked more goals than any other first choice ruck in the competition.
For now, that’s all, I have two more quarters remaining and this list has taken me a lot of effort and time. I know there may be some girls left out that might have deserved a spot, and if that’s true shout them out on Twitter. Enjoy.
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