1/25Ash Centra is a Magpie. Collingwood snapped up the Gippsland Power talent with the first pick in Monday night’s AFLW Draft. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images
Hottest young talent in years snapped up
Tales of Ash Centra’s junior footy career have become legend - so it was no surprise to see the 18-year-old selected first in the AFLW Draft.
2/25Centra has been a long-time star at junior level, averaging more than 27 disposals a game for Gippsland in 2024 including 47 touches and four goals in the season-opener. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
3/25Centra, pictured bottom centre amid some of the other first round picks, also had a legendary best-on-ground game last season after catching a red-eye flight from a national championships match and not sleeping a wink. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
4/25The first Magpies number one pick since Josh Fraser in 1999, Centra will be charged with lifting the one-win Pies off the bottom of the ladder. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
5/25Gold Coast academy product Havana Harris went at pick two after the Suns matched a bid from Melbourne. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
6/25Molly O’Hehir was full of emotion as she rounded out the top three after being drafted by Melbourne. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
7/25GWS pulled the first big surprise of the draft by selection bolter Sara Howley with pick four - and you could see it on her face. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
8/25If the draft was done on names Zippy Fish would have been number one. The WA product will move to the other side of the country after the Swans grabbed her with pick five. (Photo by Paul Kane/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
9/25Carlton pounced on Poppy Scholz, the sister of Port Adelaide player and this year’s Rising Star winner Matilda, with pick six. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
10/25Lucia Painter is headed to the Eagles after being selected seventh. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
11/25Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers) celebrates after being drafted with pick 8 by the Western Bulldogs. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
12/25Grace Belloni is on her way to Essendon as the ninth selection. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
13/25Alexis Gregor (left) was selected at 10 by Geelong. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
14/25Sierra Grieves is a Tiger after being selected by Richmond with pick 11. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
15/25Holly Ridewood, pictured here as a six-year-old ahead of a Richmond-Carlton final, went one pick after the club she grew up supporting made its pick.
16/25Ridewood is off to Essendon as one of two Bombers first-round picks. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
17/25The Crows grabbed one of the bargains of the draft by nabbing India Rasheed, the daughter of tennis champ Roger Rasheed, with pick 13. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
18/25Georgia Brisbane is heading to Fremantle as pick 14. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos)
19/25Hawthorn got its hands on multi-talented athlete Lavinia Cox (pictured right) at pick 15. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)
20/25Cox (middle) also has a rookie contract with Bendigo in the WNBL. (Photo by Adam Trafford/Getty Images)
21/25Claudia Wright will aim to help Brisbane go one step better in 2025 after being taken by the Lions with the 16th pick. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
22/25The Blues took Sophie McKay with pick 17. McKay, pictured here with number six selection Poppy Scholz, is the sister of current Blues midfielder Abbie. Both are daughters of Carlton legend Andrew McKay. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
23/25Sienna Tallariti is also a Cat after being picked up by Geelong at pick 18. (Photo by Riley Lockett/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
24/25Lily Paterson, pictured in action during 2024 AFLW National Draft Combine, is sprinting her way to Port Adelaide at pick 19. (Photo by Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
25/25Zoe Hargreaves rounded out the first round when she was taken at pick 20 by Richmond. Another 40 players were selected in later rounds. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/hottest-young-talent-in-years-snapped-up/image-gallery/fb8b85ea079c8429cbca4bbfe6ae2923