AFLW draft 2025: Evie Cowcher, Ava Usher, Georja Davies in pick one contention
One of the most naturally talented female players Western Australia has produced is set to be in contention for the coveted No.1 AFLW draft pick this year. ELIZA REILLY examines the players in the mix.
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One of the most naturally talented female players Western Australia has ever produced is set to be in contention for the coveted No.1 AFLW draft pick this year.
Peel Thunder star Evie Cowcher, Queensland midfielder Ava Usher and teammate Georja Davies are three of the most highly touted talents heading into 2025, with the trio set to jostle for the honour of being the first selected.
But both Usher and Davies are tied to Gold Coast’s Academy and will likely land at the Suns after opposition bids. It strengthens Cowcher’s pick-one credentials given opposition clubs’ hesitancy to bid on Academy products early.
The best two players in the 2024 draft were widely considered to be Ash Centra and Gold Coast Academy graduate Havana Harris. With pick one, Collingwood selected Centra.
Carlton father-daughter prospect Sophie McKay was also considered a top-end talent but a bid wasn’t placed until pick 17 by Geelong.
WA Football Female Talent Manager and former Fremantle AFLW head coach Trent Cooper said that Cowcher was without a doubt one of the most talented players in this year’s crop.
“Evie is the most natural female footballer I’ve ever worked with,” he said. “She could easily be playing very good footy at AFLW level right now.
“She has to be in contention for the No.1 pick. It could come down to what clubs need.
“Davies was outstanding for Queensland in the ruck in last year’s carnival. Ava Usher missed last year but was touted as a potential No.1 pick before she did her ACL. There’s a few that bob up and a lot of it will depend on ladder positions but we expect Evie to be up there.”
The fruits of the WA 18s getting a full pre-season together coming to pass against WAFLW All Stars. Evie Cowcher's overhead mark and corridor kick at 0:10 the highlight but lowering the eyes a theme. Some sad news though with Subiaco's Olivia Crane suffering an ACL. https://t.co/k2HCQqLOw6
— Eliza Reilly (@ByElizaReilly) February 21, 2024
Cowcher is already one of the most credentialed players in this year’s draft, winning back-to-back WA MVP awards at the last two U18s National Championships. It’s rare to win one as a 17-year-old but it’s almost unheard of to do it at 16 as Cowcher did back in 2023.
Despite her growing list of achievements, Cooper said that Cowcher still has an insatiable appetite to improve. The 18-year-old set the tone for 2025 with a personal best 2km time trial earlier this week.
“She makes it look easy but she’s a student of the game,” he said. “She’s always out to improve which doesn’t always happen when someone has enjoyed two dominant years.
“But she’s taken her game to another level this year. Talent is one thing but she’s working extremely hard. She’s worked on different parts of her game to make sure she’s not just an intercept defender but she’s coming forward and delivering the ball inside 50.”
Despite the growing interest, Peel Thunder coach Ethan Norris said that Cowcher was remaining level-headed.
“She’s one of the most laid-back characters I’ve ever met,” he said. “She was in the spotlight a fair bit last season so at one point I said to her ‘Are you okay with all of this?’
“Her photo was everywhere and she was already being touted as a draft pick. She goes ‘Yeah I’m alright.’ So I said to her ‘Do you want to play AFLW?’ And she said ‘Yeah.’
“There probably is pressure on her but you wouldn’t know it.”
Cowcher has been compared to Fremantle dual All-Australian defender Emma O’Driscoll due to her intercepting ability. But the Pinjarra product boasts an elite kick.
“Just when you think you’ve seen everything she’s capable of, there’s more,” Norris said. “She’s a natural defender but we played her in the midfield and forward line last year for her development.
“This year with a stronger side, we’ll look to settle her in the backline where she naturally gravitated anyway. Even when I put her in the midfield, she’d drift a kick behind the ball.
“It’s a great feeling when I get to introduce players to Evie and tell them afterwards she’s potentially a very high draft pick.
“It’s great for Evie but it’s even better for the club. It’s generated some interest in Peel despite the fact we finished last.”
It’s set to be a bumper draft crop for WA with Olivia Crane (Subiaco), Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco) and Mia Russo (West Perth) also shaping as first-round picks. Sandgropers Molly O’Hehir (Melbourne) and Zippy Fish (Sydney) were both selected in the top 5 last year.
WA will kick off its National Championships against Queensland in late June.
Originally published as AFLW draft 2025: Evie Cowcher, Ava Usher, Georja Davies in pick one contention
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