Seven in 7: The seven players from both the Crows and Power you need to watch in the AFLW’s seventh season
The AFLW is back! And with Port Adelaide entering the league for its inaugural season, we’ve scoured the Crows and Power lists to find your SA team’s top players to watch in season seven.
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The seventh season of the AFLW will see football supporters in seventh heaven, with Port Adelaide one of four clubs to enter the competition. It means the women’s league is now an 18-team competition … and it means every footy fan in South Australia can barrack for the team they support.
With the season starting on August 25, we’ve selected seven players from your SA club that you need to watch in AFLW Season Seven:
ADELAIDE
1. Anne Hatchard
Age: 24
Height: 175cm
Jumper No: 33
Position: Midfield
Debut: 2017
AFLW games: 49
A ferocious midfielder who won her second Crows Club Champion honour after an outstanding year in the Adelaide midfield, where she averaged 24.3 touches, 6.8 marks and 4.2 inside-50s per game. Was named best on ground in the Crows grand final triumph back in April, and added a third premiership medal while she was at it. Came runner-up in the AFLW league best and fairest count and … to think, she did that while carrying a niggling foot injury for the season.
Set to play her milestone 50th game in round 1’s grand final rematch against Melbourne on August 26.
2. Sarah Allan
Age: 24
Height: 178cm
Jumper No: 39
Position: Defence
Debut: 2017
AFLW games: 51
The last line of defence for the Crows, the spiritual leader of the backline that last season let through the fewest points for the 10 minor-round games: 187 (the next-best defence was North Melbourne’s that let through a combined 249 points). Has an uncanny ability to chase down opponents and spoil any of their goal plans. It’s a pity fullbacks don’t win best-and-fairests because this one deserves to. A three-time All-Australian for a reason. In 2022, she averaged 11.2 disposals, two marks, 2.8 rebound-50s and one inside-50 per game.
3. Rachelle Martin
Age: 23
Height: 153cm
Jumper No: 5
Position: Midfield
Debut: 2020
AFLW games: 20
Has had to work incredibly hard off-field to prove to coaches everywhere that she’s worth every bit of her 153cm. That hard work has meant she’s gone from an Adelaide injury-replacement player in 2020, to now a solid part of the Crows midfield, last season averaging 9.8 disposals and one inside-50 per game. But it’s her ferocious tackling that’s made her a fan favourite – averaging 5.2 tackles her page (up from 4.7 the year before).
4. Niamh Kelly
Age: 26
Height: 171
Position: Wing
Debut: 2020
AFLW games: 22
An accomplished Gaelic footballer from Ireland, word has it that Kelly, who’s joined Adelaide from West Coast in the off-season, is quick. Could find herself at home in the Crows forward line, with the side looking for a player to fill an Erin Phillips-sized hole. In 2022 she averaged 10.3 disposals, two marks, 1.6 tackles, 1.3 rebound-50s and 1.7 inside-50s and will be looking to make her mark early on.
5. Danielle Ponter
Age: 22
Height: 170cm
Position: Key forward
Debut: 2019
AFLW games: 35
There’s one thing about Ponter: she loves a big stage. Now she’s the final remaining Darwin-based player from the Crows’ early days when they had a strong connection with football in the NT. Ponter generally moves to Adelaide during the season. Won her second AFLW premiership in April and really got to celebrate when she kicked the goal to seal the game in the final quarter. Always the one that opposition teams look to shut down. Kicked eight goals from 11 games in season six and will be on the hunt to up that tally.
6. Keeley Kustermann
Age: 18
Height: 165cm
Position: Defensive utility
Debut: –
AFLW games: 0
The reigning premiers picked up the AFLW Academy player with their first pick (No. 40 overall) at the draft in June, hoping to capitalise on her reliable and penetrating kick. The West Adelaide product was named All-Australian at this year’s under-18 National Championship. Won’t be guaranteed a start given the depth of the Crows squad, but could find herself a handy replacement for similar-sized Nikki Gore who left West Lakes for Fremantle in the trade period.
7. Montana McKinnon
Age: 21
Height: 183cm
Position: Ruck
Debut: 2020
AFLW games: 12
There are hard luck stories every season and unfortunately, McKinnon was one of those in season 6: heartbreakingly missing out on playing in Adelaide’s successful grand final after being suspended for a match for rough conduct. What made it more difficult, is that she was the only Crow during 2021 to not play any AFLW games, which meant she’d worked incredibly hard in the 2022 pre-season to cement her spot in the line-up. Expect to see her determined in the ruck to get Adelaide in back-to-back contention.
PORT ADELAIDE
1. Erin Phillips
Age: 37
Height: 173
Jumper No: 1/22
Position: Midfield/forward
Debut: 2017
AFLW games: 46
The league’s most decorated player has swapped clubs, leaving behind triple premiership club Adelaide, instead opting to follow her heart to expansion club Port Adelaide – the club she grew up supporting from childhood. The Power’s inaugural captain might be coming back from minor off-season knee surgery, but she has talked openly about finding a new energy at her new club. In 2022 she averaged 17.2 touches, 4.4 marks, 2.6 tackles and three inside-50s per game.
2. Gemma Houghton
Age: 28
Height: 179cm
Jumper No: 27
Position: Key forward
Debut: 2017
AFLW games: 46
By her own admission, the two-time All-Australian didn’t have the greatest of seasons in her sixth year in the Fremantle jumper. She’s arrived at Alberton full of talent and drive to rise again to be one of the most dominant forwards in the competition. In 2021, she kicked 15 goals from 10 games (this year, she kicked nine from 12) and will be looking to return to her potent best. The possibility of seeing Phillips and Houghton together in the forward arc has all footy lovers excited.
3. Hannah Ewings
Age: 18
Height: 167cm
Jumper No: 12
Position: Midfield
Debut: –
AFLW games: 0
The historic first AFLW player to be drafted to Port Adelaide’s inaugural side, the North Adelaide premiership player was arguably one of the best talents in the country, let alone the state. Has been compared by talent scouts with the likes of a Dustin Martin, described as a tough, versatile midfielder. Having spent three seasons already in the SANFLW, Ewings is more than capable of slotting straight into the AFLW set-up. Should see her debut in round 1.
4. Liz McGrath
Age: 24
Height: 184cm
Jumper No: 29
Position: Ruck
Debut: –
AFLW games: 0
Coming across from Melbourne, McGrath will step into the side’s No. 1 ruck position, so her importance to the side cannot be understated. Until now, has been played for North Melbourne in the VFLW, taking out the club’s best and fairest honour this season. Joined the Power as a priority signing after helping lift the Kangaroos from seventh, to one game out of finals in a season.
5. Abbey Dowrick
Age: 19
Height: 165cm
Jumper No: 5
Position: Midfield
Debut: –
AFLW games: 0
Has arrived at Alberton from Western Australia, having played at Subiaco in the WAFL.
After being overlooked in the AFLW draft last season, she came to South Australia and played four games at Woodville-West Torrens earlier this year with the intention of increasing her draft chances at an SA club (as well as to spend more time with her sister, McKenzie, who is on the Crows’ list).
Is impressing coaches with her hard tackling, fierce smothers and always seeming to be fearlessly around the ball.
6. Indy Tahau
Age: 19
Height: 176cm
Jumper No: 10
Position: Defence
Debut: 2021
AFLW games: 19
Has arrived at Alberton following two seasons with Brisbane, including winning the 2021 premiership over Adelaide. Her return to SA will thrill local footy lovers, who got a taste of the huge defensive efforts of Tahau while she was with South Adelaide in the SANFLW, being named the 2019 SANFLW grand final best-on-ground winner at only 16. In her two AFLW seasons to date, has become known for her high leaps and pressure at ground level.
7. Justine Mules
Age: 27
Height: 162cm
Jumper No: 14
Position: Midfield
Debut: 2017
AFLW games: 49
The three-time premiership-winning former Crow has joined the cross-town rival expansion club and is flourishing in her seventh AFLW pre-season, also being voted by her teammates into the club’s inaugural leadership group. Has been known at Adelaide for her versatility and speed in the midfield, averaging 9.3 touches, 3.5 tackles and 1.8 inside-50s across her entire career to date. Will play her milestone 50th game in Port Adelaide’s historic first match.
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