Newtown & Chilwell midfielder Sara Howley headlines Geelong prospects in the AFLW Draft mix

While gun Geelong midfielder Sara Howley headlines this year’s AFLW chances, a number of Falcons have also put a strong case to clubs. Plus, see who else has nominated for the draft from across Geelong.

Sara Howley leads Geelong Falcons’ top draft prospects heading into the AFLW draft. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Sara Howley is all but certain to go in the first round of tonight’s AFLW draft, with the Geelong Falcons hopeful a number of their players can also find their way onto a list.

The Newtown & Chilwell talent, whose invitation to the live draft at Marvel Stadium signifies her high value, is the first name several AFLW clubs have inquired about with the Falcons following multiple seasons in the spotlight off the back of a Coates Talent League best and fairest as a bottom-ager and back-to-back all-Australian selections at the U18 national championships.

The question will be whether the lifelong Cats fan could end up at Geelong with pick 9 or whether another team, such as Essendon at pick 8, swoops on the highly-rated midfielder before then.

The AFLW’s first fully national draft takes place Monday from 7pm, while a supplementary signing period with run in February for clubs who still have list spots available, with the rookie signing period to run alongside the SSP.

See the main draft chances from the Falcons.

Sara Howley (Newtown & Chilwell)

Falcons talent lead Jesse Drever praised Howley’s mature approach to dealing the with the spotlight placed on her since she joined the program at 15.

“We have no doubt as to what she’ll achieve hopefully at the next level just because of the way she’s dealt with the attention for the last three or four years,” Drever said.

“The thing we say to clubs is no matter what level she plays at, she keeps going to higher levels, she just keeps producing as well.”

While starring as an inside midfielder in recent years, Howley has also proven her versatility after starting her time at the Falcons off half-back.

“She’s kind of shown that ability to read the play behind the footy and set us up,” Drever said.

“Where the women’s game is going is that outside ball (movement) which she really fits the mould of.”

Mekah Morrissy (Newtown & Chilwell)

The Geelong Falcons captain is a player who leads both by voice and example, with her competitiveness a key asset to her game.

“If clubs at the next level are looking for someone to really drive that competitive edge, that real pressure footy, Mekah’s the one we really put forward,” Drever said.

The 18-year-old’s strong running patterns sees her work hard both up and down the wing, though she could easily line up as a small defender or forward after showcasing her ability to play multiple positions this year for the Falcons and Vic Country, as well as her one-off Geelong VFLW appearance.

“People kind of judge her on her size but she doesn't’ really get beaten one-to-one,” Drever said of the 158cm Morrissy.

Seisia White. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

Seisia White (St Mary’s)

The ultimate game-breaker, White doesn’t need many opportunities to make it count.

The Falcons’ main focal forward presence this year, the 18-year-old’s smarts around goals saw her slot three goals from eight possessions against GWV Rebels and cap a season-best four goals against Bendigo Pioneers off of 13 touches.

Enjoyed a strong start to the season to earn a VFLW debut with Geelong and Vic Country selection, with an electric two-goal outing against Vic Metro showcasing her goal sense. The 163cm White has also taken her forward tackle intensity up another gear this year, averaging 7.5 including a season-high 18 against the Power.

Battled with some injuries late in the year but still showed up for her team in the finals.

Chloe Bryant (St Joseph’s)

Bryant’s high footy IQ is one of the inside midfielder’s strongest traits, with the 18-year’s knack for seeing the game more broadly and pulling the trigger to change lanes for her teammates crucial to the Falcons’ success this year.

Geelong Falcon Chloe Bryant. Picture: Valeriu Campan

After battling injuries early in the year, Bryant needed just one game to get herself back in Vic Country contention and played two games at the national championships, with a move to the wing in those games showcasing her ability to hit the contest at speed and weave through traffic.

Rebecca Clottey (St Mary’s)

Clottey boasts natural X factor as a pressure forward, her power, speed and competitiveness her main weapons.

Rebecca Clottey bursts forward for St Mary’s in their U19 premiership win in 2024. Picture: Alan Barber

Earned Vic Country selection and has enormous upside, with Clottey at her best this season during the Falcons’ finals run, with her tackle pressure a highlight.

Still has plenty to learn though around technique and structures being relatively new to the game after the Ghana-born Clottey was unearthed through a state diversity all-stars game in 2023.

A return to the Falcons in 2025 as an 19-year-old selection is likely if not drafted on Monday.

Others in the mix: Ruck Hayley Peck (Grovedale) won the Falcons’ best-and-fairest this year, made a VFLW appearance for Geelong and had a train-on opportunity with the Cats this year. Meanwhile, the likes of intercept defender Faith Qoon (North Geelong), key forward Kiara Woods (Geelong West Giants) and winger Lucy Marescuk (South Barwon) all had Vic Country trial opportunities this year and have been training with Geelong’s VFLW team, so expect to see them take that step if not called in Monday’s draft.

Who else has nominated for the draft

Abbey McDonald, Brooke Plummer and Lilly Pearce will all look for a second chance at the draft after they were delisted by Geelong at the end of the 2024 AFLW season, while ex-Cat Maddie Boyd has also nominated after her delisting by St Kilda.

Eleven Geelong Falcons graduates will head to the draft, with the likes of Steph O’Kane and Caitlin Charles joining the names listed above.

Geelong VFLW best and fairest winner Lily Jordan headlines a strong contingent of state players looking to make the leap to the AFLW.

Among the Cats’ VFLW cohort to nominate are Poppy Schaap, Kelsea Gray, Mia Fuller, Jo Sunderland, Daisy Wilson, Abby Favell, Breanna Pratt, Ruby Dale, Piper Dunlop,Emma Gilligan, Lily Jordan, Zoe Larkins, Cecilia Lowrey, Madeline Sexton and Molly Walton.

VFLW rising star Keeley Hardingham is also in the mix after her season with Western Bulldogs, the ruck previously coming up the ranks at Colac Imperials and the Geelong Falcons, with her Bulldogs teammates Emmalyn Nekrep and Emily Ramsay also nominated and with strong Geelong links.

Geelong Ammos duo Lillie Barendsen and Bridie Collings, as well as Grovedale’s Jorja Kirsopp-Cole have put their name in the hat, as has Ruby Benham, who has played the past few season in the NTFL at Pint after previously playing for the Cats’ VFLW side and locally in the Geelong competition.

Originally published as Newtown & Chilwell midfielder Sara Howley headlines Geelong prospects in the AFLW Draft mix