Named: The top country women’s footballers to watch in 2025
Country Victorian footy is home to some of the best female players in the state. Now we’ve profiled the names to keep an eye on for the rest of the season.
Country footy is home to talented footballers across Victoria.
Now we’ve profiled those who are worth keeping an eye on in 2025.
Paige Baksh, Shepparton United
Has played footy for many years and is a standout with her athletic ability and goal kicking. She plays centre half forward and can change to playing ruck or on ball when needed.
Stacey Barbagallo, Bendigo Thunder
Recently played her 100th game of footy and joined the Thunder in the off-season from the VAFA. Has been in the best players in each game she has played.
Lillee Barendsen, Geelong Amateur
A proven forward in her second year at the Ammos, Barendsen leads Geelong’s women’s league for goals after five rounds, slotting 16 majors across four appearances, including one haul of six.
Kim Bessell, Darley
Recently kicked her 300th goal for the club and last year won the goalkicking award in the Ballarat league. A star for the Devils. She’s kicked 27 goals in seven games this year.
Jess Bokma, Redan
A strong leading forward who is a reliable in front of goal. She’s part of the leadership group at Redan this year and is always pushing to bring the best out of herself and teammates. Is the leading goalkicker in the Ballarat league.
Olivia Butler, Carisbrook
Recently played her 100th game for the club. She is a prolific ball winner, can run all day and plays tall. Can also kick a handy goal or two.
Ruby Campbell, Sandhurst
Ruby is a powerful midfielder who hunts the football and is a stoppage beast. She displays exceptional leadership qualities, and demands 100% from her teammates.
Simone Carkeek, Shepparton United
Has played football for a few years and has really improved her speed and running this year. She plays on-ball and rotates to the wing due to her ability to run all day.
Sienna Charles, Werrimull
On fire to start the year with 24 goals in six games.
Lauren Cleeman, Barwon Heads
The 1-3 Seagulls have struggled for wins so far this season but Cleeman, a new recruit, has proven a shining light after joining from Upwey Tecoma in the Outer East.
Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine
A good decision maker with silky skills. Can win the ball in the middle and is accurate in front of goal. Is the captain of the Magpies.
Lucy Della Monica, St Mary’s
The 20-year-old co-captain has helped lead the Saints to an unbeaten start in the Geelong league, Della Monica a regular in their best as an in-and-under midfielder.
Kate Dixon, Echuca
Won last year’s best and fairest at the Murray Bombers and this year is the player/coach at the club. Dixon has kicked nine goals in five games and been among the best in four of them.
Shani Dixon, Boisdale-Briagolong
The former VFLW player has been in fine form to start the season as Female Foot Gippsland’s leading goalkicker with 11 goals in three games.
Arkie Donnelly, Sandhurst
Arkie is a high accumulator of the football and has elite running endurance. Her tackling pressure is second to none, she has great ability to bring other teammates into the game.
Taylor Dow, Moe Newborough
A clever player up forward for the Lions who has a strong ability to hit the scoreboard.
Angela Fisher, Lavington
In her second season with the club and already putting up impressive numbers. Fisher has 25 goals from just five games including a haul of eight in Round 4.
Jemma Finning, Castlemaine
A strong inside midfielder with a powerful kick and a strong footy IQ. She is the vice-captain of the Magpies.
Gabby Foster, Lindenow South
A talented midfielder who runs all day and reals the ball well. Has a brilliant ability to take defensive marks and apply strong tackling pressure.
Asha Foubister, Mansfield
One of the best players in the Goulburn Murray competition and was unlucky not to win a best and fairest last year. Foubister has been among the best in each game she’s played this season.
Melanie Freeman, Bacchus Marsh
The former VFLW player has dominated in two sports this season for the Cobras. On Saturday she played netball for the club before donning the boots to play footy on Sunday. She’s been in the best players in every game of footy Freeman has played this season.
Peta Glaister, Tyrendarra
The key position player has been in the best players in two of the first three rounds of the season. Has been playing in ruck for the Darras.
Marlee Gundersen, Rumbalara
Made the move to the Rumba in the off-season and has been one of the best for the club, kicking eight goals in three games. She previously played for Lavington and St Mary’s in the NTFL.
Jedah Huf, Redan
Got great football smarts and is powerful at stoppages. Plays as a dominant ruck but is also able to play in the midfield with damaging effect. Can run all day and has impressed in her first year at the Lions.
Brodi Harris, Lindenow South
A playing coach who has a wealth of footy experience and is usually our avenue to goal, she reads the footy well taking strong marks and has a great kick on her, she can also be thrown into the middle for bursts to help clear the ball forward.
Morgan James, Lake Wendouree
Recently celebrated her 50th match of footy. Her team describes her as a hard working played with passion and dedication to the game. She’s been in the best players in five of her eight games this year.
Alyssa Johnstone, South Warrnambool
A half-back flanker who has good run and carry off half-back. She also knows how to take a mark and has strong defensive skills.
Claire Kennedy, Warrnambool
Has impressed in her first season of seniors, making the best players in each game she’s played. Kennedy last year represented Hampden in interleague in the under-19 women’s team against Ballarat.
Isabella Klein, Thurgoona
A defender turned midfielder who is an explosive and versatile player with great athleticism. She’s got a long and powerful kick and she’s fast. She applies great on-ball pressure. She’s a really hard worker both at training and on game day.
Ellie Koiker, Anglesea
The Anglesea co-captain is leading the way in the face of a difficult division 1 promotion for a new-look Roos side. The midfielder has been best on in two of her three games so far.
Sarah Lange-Richards, Tatura
Won last year’s best and fairest in the Goulburn Valley Murray league and has been impressive in the couple of games she’s played this year. Is the current deputy vice captain at the club.
Kaitlin Latta, Cavendish
Was recognised by the league in round four as the best player for the round after kicking two goals in Cavendish’s first win of the season over Warrnambool. Has been a standout for the team this season being among the best in each of her three games.
Paris Lightfoot, Thomson
Lightfoot brings with her plenty of experience in her first year in Geelong’s women’s league - playing over a 100 games and captaining Bond University in QAFLW.
Hannah Loughnan, Corowa-Rutherglen
The former Murray Bushranger has made an impressive start to the season for the Roos. She’s booted six goals and has been named in the best in every game.
Nickayla Lowe, Hamilton
The leading goalkicker in the Western Victoria women’s league. Lowe has averaged seven goals a season this year.
Monique Martin, St Joseph’s
A midfielder, Martin crossed to division 1 outfit St Joseph’s after two years at Modewarre (a then division 3 side) for a crack at higher division footy. A premiership player and league best and fairest winner at the Warriors, Martin has made an instant impact at her new club, a mainstay in their best in their opening four games.
Hayley Martiniello, Marong
The star netballer, who last year made Loddon Valley’s team of the year in A-grade for Newbridge, has been one of the best for the Panthers this year in footy. She’s been in the best players in three of four matches.
Katie McAloon, East Point
A leading player in the league for a couple of years. The East Point player has been among the best seven of her eight games this season.
Ella McDonald, Grovedale
The nifty forward, who became a premiership player at just 14 last season, enters her second year of senior women’s footy ready to build upon her strong first campaign. The teen is averaging just under a goal a game so far for the unbeaten Tigers, and has joined the Geelong Falcons’ U16s ranks this year.
Emilee McPherson, Wodonga Raiders
An interleague representative in previous seasons, McPherson has made a flying start to the season with a mention in the best every week.
Molly Metcalf, Eaglehawk
The stalwart of the competition has played more than 200 games and recently brought up 50 games at the Hawks. Last year she finished second in the best and fairest count and is the coach of Eaglehawk this year. A star of the competition.
Rose Milthorpe, Thurgoona
A midfielder with great natural instincts, athleticism and applies plenty of pressure to the opposition. She’s fast, competitive, and has a powerful kick. She’s a natural leader and brings a lot of energy to the team.
Katlin Mitchell, Bambill
The athletic tall, who can play in the ruck or up forward, with an excellent vertical leap is a smart footballer with strong game sense. The co-captain leads by example and can adapt to and excel in any role on the ground.
Lola Modoo, Bambill
Demonstrates exceptional leadership on and off the field and consistently performs at a high level week in, week out. Modoo is versatile and can play effectively in any position. An elite ball-winner with a fearless attack on the contest and excellent game awareness and ability to read the play.
Shae-Lee Murphy-Burke, North Bendigo
The former Geelong VFLW player has been among the best for the Bulldogs this season. The midfielder has been among the best in four of five games this season.
Maya Netherway, South Warrnambool
An on-baller with endurance, speed, strength and tactical awareness. She also has clean hands in congestion and is a high performer.
Anita Ovenden, Wangaratta Rovers
A new face to the club this season who has made a stunning start to the year.
Bethany Parker, Meringur
Has returned to the footy field this year after four years away and has been in brilliant form, named in the best every week so far.
Nadia Peebles, White Hills
The former Bendigo Pioneer has transitioned into senior footy with ease. She’s been among the best White Hills players in almost every game she has played.
Siarra Peters, Lindenow South
A young captain who has played a lot of footy despite her age. She’s a pocket rocket who can play anywhere, predominantly in the midfield but plays an awesome game off half back with her ability to read the play and keep the ball in front, she tackles hard and runs all day.
Chloe Pettigrew, Cardross
Has picked up where she left off last season with several mentions in the best.
Sammy Rourke, Barooga
The co-captain has led from the front this season. She’s kicked three goals in four games and been among the best in three matches.
Jasmaine Saunders, Lindenow South
A general in defence. On the last line, she consistently takes defensive mark and can pinpoint a target by foot to break the game open.
Kara Stacey, Lara
The Cats’ co-captain brings vital experience to an up-and-coming list, the onballer-forward also leading with her on-field actions - a regular in the Cats’ best each week and leading their goalkicking efforts with eight (in five games) so far.
Kijana Skerke, Torquay
One to watch in her first season of senior football, Skerke comes up from the Tigers’ U19 program where she was a key player last year. Has been vital to the Tigers’ improved 2-3 start after going winless in 2024 in their first year in division 1.
Ariella Vallender, Nathalia
Still eligible for under-18, Vallender has impressed in the couple of games she’s played at senior level. Vallender has been among the best in three of her four seniors games and has represented Goulburn Murray in interleague in under-18 the past two seasons.
Liz Watkins, Golden Square
Finished third in the best and fairest last year in the Central Victoria’s senior women’s league. Has started this year in fine form, kicking 16 goals in seven games and being among the best in three matches.
Bridie Williamson, Boisdale-Briagolong
A new face to the Bombers this season who has already had three mentions in the best to start the year.
Originally published as Named: The top country women’s footballers to watch in 2025
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