Profile:

Age: 17
Height: 175cm
Position: Tall Utility
Recruited from: Subiaco Lions WAFLW

Draft bio:

Thomas is a tall utility who possesses a strong football knowledge with ability to read the play. The AFL Women’s Academy Member is also known for her accuracy when disposing of the ball through congestion and is composed under pressure. Despite spending several months on the sidelines with a wrist injury in the 2021 season, the 17-year-old has focussed on improvement of strength and endurance and will have the ability to compete with more mature-age players when recovered.

What AFLW list manager Jordan Loxley had to say:

“Really excited to bring Charlie in with our first pick, it was quite an easy decision for us, despite only playing the one game of footy this year. High quality talent, can play all over the ground, and an exceptional person, so really excited to bring Charlie into the club.”

What she said:

“Got a call during the week last week to come in with my parents, pretty unsure what it was going to be about.

“Tried not to think about it too much, so I didn’t go in with any expectations.

“Then got here, all the coaches were there, got told I was going to get picked which was really, really good.

“It felt really good.”

Profile:

Age: 17
Height: 167cm
Position: Outside Midfielder
Recruited from: Peel Thunder WAFLW

Draft bio:

Rowley was Western Australia’s top ranked midfielder in this year’s AFLW Academy, and is a classy talent who possesses a combination of speed and skill which will make her an extremely damaging player in the Eagles’ engine room. Rowley lines up mostly on the outside, but played onball in the AFL Women’s Under 19 Championships and took home more than nine tackles per game, alongside an average of 22.7 disposals and 95.7 fantasy points.

What AFLW list manager Jordan Loxley had to say:

“Probably the best performed player in this year’s WA draft pool, a real high possession winner who can find the ball inside and outside of the contest. Can also go forward and kick goals. Another really high quality person, who we think can impact at some stage throughout the course of next season.”

Profile:

Age: 17
Height: 178cm
Position: Key Defender/Ruck
Recruited from: Peel Thunder WAFLW

Draft bio:

Schilling is a key defender with an ability to ruck if needed. The versatile half-back has a proven aerial ability with clean marking skills, making her a vital asset to the Eagles’ defensive system in 2022. Schilling is also able to take on the contest and battle it out at ground level, making her a prominent utility off the half-back line and in the midfield.

What AFLW list manager Jordan Loxley had to say:

“Really competitive key back, she’s a quality intercept marker who can lock down on her opponent as well. Uses the ball well and is super competitive. Another really good person, which was one of the reasons we were really excited to bring her in.”

Profile:

Age: 18
Height: 186cm
Position: Ruck
Recruited from: Swan Districts WAFLW

Draft bio:

Lakay hails from a basketball background and has utilised her height as a ruck in at the League and WAFLW competition. With a strong overhead mark and inherent athleticism, Lakay was one of the standout rucks from this year’s draft pool. The 18-year-old broke the all-time AFLW Draft Combine records in both the standing vertical jump (72cm) and the running vertical jump (82cm), displaying her incredible leap which will slot seamlessly into the Eagles’ engine room.

What AFLW list manager Jordan Loxley had to say:

“Sarah’s a ruck, who had a really, really exceptional back end of the year, particularly her grand final. A good quality tap ruck, who can also go forward and mark it. Her Combine was exceptional, with her 20 metre sprint and her vertical leap, so we’re really excited and think she has a huge upside.”

Profile:

Age: 19
Height: 170cm
Position: Medium Defender
Recruited from: Claremont Tigers WAFLW

Draft bio:

Bennett is a consistent defender who showcases natural ability both offensively and defensively, while also compounding the most tackles (16) of any player to record double-digit rebound 50s (12)  at the AFLW Women’s Under 19s Championships. Bennett is able to match up and win one-on-one contests with opponents and is a reliable rebounder inside the defensive 50 arc. The 19-year-old also possesses a strong overhead mark with an ability to compete at ground level which will make her pressure off of the half-back insurmountable for the Eagles in 2022.

What AFLW list manager Jordan Loxley had to say:

“Em had an exceptional Under 19s State Carnival, probably unlucky not to be in the All-Australian team. Uses the ball really well off of half-back, she’s tough, competitive and finds a lot of the footy. As a 19-year-old she’s played some really quality footy for Claremont this year as well and we’re rapt to bring her in. Another quality player and person.”