AFLW draft slider Evie Cowcher could be WA’s most naturally talented women’s draftee — and could be a steal on draft night

Evie Cowcher says her and 2025 rising star Zippy Fish are two peas in a pod — and both could leave fans wondering why they didn’t go No.1. Meet the star who could be WA’s most naturally talented AFLW draftee.

He’s coached AFLW league best and fairests, All-Australians and marquee signings.

But none of them compare to Western Australian draft hopeful Evie Cowcher.

“Evie is the most natural female footballer I’ve ever worked with,” former Fremantle AFLW coach turned WA female talent manager Trent Cooper said. “She could easily be playing very good footy at AFLW level right now.”

If not for injury, Cowcher would’ve been a pick one contender in 2025.

Instead, the 18-year-old looms as a genuine steal for whatever club calls her name out on draft night.

Evie Cowcher and her National Academy Girls side teammates at their jumper presentation in April. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Few have a resume like the Peel Thunder prodigy.

As a 16-year-old, she was named All-Australian in both the Under-16 and Under-18 All-Australian sides after representing both.

A year later, she was All-Australian again. And in back-to-back seasons, she was crowned WA’s MVP.

Cowcher might make it look easy. But she’s a student of the game.

“I feel like some stuff comes naturally,” a humble Cowcher told Code Sports. “But there’s always stuff to work on.

“There’s always something to be better at. There’s always something to try and improve.”

Cowcher won WA’s back-to-back Under 18s MVP. Picture: Mark Brake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Cowcher in action against Victoria Country in 2023. Picture: Paul Kane/AFL Photos.

Cowcher is the perfect blend of composure, elite intercepting and sublime skills.

Just when you think you’ve seen everything from her, there’s more.

Earlier this year, Cowcher ran a personal best in the 2km time trial, setting the tone for her 2025 campaign.

But just five games into the season, she was sidelined by a stress fracture in her back.

“I started getting a sore back, so they pulled me off the track straight away to get it right and try and get back for the national championships,” Cowcher said.

“It didn’t quite go to plan.”

Out of an abundance of precaution, Cowcher was ruled out for the rest of the season.

A few clubs have been put off by her missing so much footy. But the reality is that if she were only a 50/50 draft chance, she would’ve played.

Evie Cowcher in action for Peel Thunder. Pic: Shazza J Photography

“It was a bit annoying,” Cowcher admitted.

“That’s why you play footy. You want to play every game you can play.

“I haven’t missed much footy due to injury ever. It was my first major injury. But it made sense to have a break and reset.

“I’d be nervous going into the draft, whether I’d played the whole season or not. So I’m nervous, but I’ve played a lot of footy before that.”

Cowcher has always been ahead of her time.

She was just seven years old when she started playing for her hometown Boddington in the Upper Great Southern Football League.

She joined the under-14s boys team after spending one training session on the sidelines kicking footies to them and has never looked back.

“They were a lot bigger than me!” Cowcher recalled. “They made me work for the ball.

“They always protected me. I remember when I kicked my first goal, one of my teammates got 20 people to get around me.”

Cowcher during the Marsh AFL National Futures match last year. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Cowcher in action for Peel Thunder. Pic: Shazza J Photography

Cowcher spent six years with the boys at Boddington before moving to Mandurah in 2021, where she finally started playing with the girls in Pinjarra.

A year later, she was playing for Peel Thunder in the Rogers Cup. And the year after that, she made her WAFLW debut as a 15-year-old.

The same year, she was named the Cath Boyce Rising Star as the best young talent in the WAFLW. Except in an embarrassing blunder at the Dhara Kerr Awards night, the award was initially presented to South Fremantle’s Renee Morgan due to an oversight.

Two years later, the pair are both on the verge of being drafted.

“I went up to her after the night and said congratulations, and she was pretty shocked,” Cowcher reflected.

“To be honest, I didn’t read much into it and I didn’t expect to win anything. We’re close mates and it all worked out.”

If 2025 AFLW Rising Star and fellow Sandgroper Zippy Fish was a steal at pick five in last year’s draft, Cowcher could be 2026’s equivalent.

And coincidentally, the pair are best mates, with Fish set to be there on draft night when Cowcher realises her childhood dream.

“We’re tight as anything, Cowcher said.

“We’re the same type of person. We do our own thing and we’re not fazed by much.

“It would mean the world (to be drafted). I’ve worked so hard for it. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a young girl.”

Originally published as AFLW draft slider Evie Cowcher could be WA’s most naturally talented women’s draftee — and could be a steal on draft night