West Coast AFLW defender Georgie Cleaver believes women’s football and the AFLW is improving due to more opportunities available in junior ranks.
With the AFLW now in its 10th season, the development and junior pathways are getting more refined, with fewer cross-coders like Cleaver entering its ranks, unlike its earlier days.
Over the weekend, several first-years debuted and took the competition by storm, with experts likening this crop of draftees to the 2001 AFL super draft, which included the likes of Luke Hodge, Chris Judd and Gary Ablett Jr.
Round 1’s Rising Star nomination went to West Coast’s Lucia Painter after kicking three goals, but Cleaver’s former East Fremantle teammate and Sydney young gun Zippy Fish was also a strong contender with 26 disposals on debut.
Collingwood’s Ash Centra, Gold Coast’s Havana Harris, Carlton’s Poppy Scholz, Adelaide’s Indi Rasheed and Essendon duo Grace Belloni and Holly Ridewood also captivated the AFLW community.
Cleaver says this weekend’s showing from the first-year players is a by-product of junior development pathways and opportunities improving.
“She [Painter] had an outstanding game. She’s so exciting and one of the hardest-working players that’s come to the club,” she said.
“She’s really footy-focused and always wanting to get better, asks heaps of questions, and she fits in perfectly. She’s got a funny personality. She gets so well with everyone.
“Even all the other girls that debuted in other teams as well, I think the women’s footy community is getting a lot better. Everyone’s starting younger and able to get more opportunities in women’s teams.
“I’m really excited to see how the AFW comp will grow with all these great players getting drafted there.”
Western Australia’s female talent development program is matching this upwards trend, with a record 14 players set to be involved in the AFLW Draft Combine this year.
This comes off the back of a strong National Under-18s Championship campaign, which saw five of its players selected in the All-Australian side – another record broken for WA.
WA Football Female talent manager and coaching specialist, Trent Cooper, says this is pleasing and exciting to see.
“When I started at WA football, they were just coming into their 16s, and we’ve had them for two and a half years,” he said.
“A couple of full pre-seasons in our program and they’ve developed well. We knew early on that there was a lot of real top-end talent, Evie Cowcher, Olivia Wolmarans, those types of players.
“What’s been pleasing has been the development of a few of the players that probably weren’t even known on the Eastern Seaboard who’ve come along really well and earned those invites, which all comes down to who the AFL clubs want to see.”
As for cross-coders, fewer are being seen across the competition, with some opting to drop their chosen sport in favour of AFLW. Cleaver has revealed that she has parked her netball career to focus on footy as she enters her second AFLW season.
It comes as other netballers, like Olivia Lewis, are also following Cleaver’s footsteps and turning their backs on netball careers, due to a lack of opportunity, financial and job security
The 19-year-old juggled both Netball and Aussie Rules responsibilities with West Coast Eagles and West Coast Fever throughout her first season after being taken in the AFLW National Draft with Pick 39 in 2023.
For Cleaver, she says, making this decision has only helped her develop her footy.
“Something I really worked on in the off-season was my kicking and my marking,” she said.
“I have a bit of an unconventional kicking style, but it’s getting a lot better now with the help of Robbie Wiley, who’s our kicking coach.
“I’ve always been a bit scared of going back with the slide or coming through big packs. I’m not sure why I’m consciously scared of that, but I think maybe through netball, you’re not allowed to contact.
“I’ve really done lots of work with defensive marking and spoiling and that, and I think it’s only getting better now, which is exciting.”
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