Although much of WA’s AFLW talent is concentrated within West Coast and Fremantle, there are also plenty of Sandgropers who are starring for the competition’s other 16 clubs - including a No.1 draft pick.

Olivia Wolmarans

Club: Richmond

Position: Key forward

Junior/WAFL club: Mt Hawthorn/Subiaco

Taken at the very top of last year’s draft by the Tigers, becoming the first player since David Swallow headed to Gold Coast in 2010 to receive that honour.

And having dominated the WAFLW competition for several years as a teenager, the full-forward will fancy her chances of making an instant impression at the top level.

Zippy Fish

Club: Sydney

Position: Half-back/midfielder

Junior/WAFL club: Newman/East Fremantle

The 20-year-old Rising Star winner will be aiming to continue her ascent into the ranks of the competition’s very best players after a stunning first season for the Swans.

Ruby Schleicher

Club: Collingwood

Position: Midfielder

Junior/WAFL club: Willetton/East Fremantle

Now into her second season as the Magpies’ captain, the defender-turned-midfielder will be hoping to lead her side up the ladder after a 15th-placed finish last year.

Kaitlyn Srhoj

Club: Greater Western Sydney

Position: Midfielder

Junior/WAFL club: Halls Head/Peel Thunder

Srhoj will unfortunately miss the start of the season due to illness, but has given plenty of glimpses of her huge potential since being taken with pick No.3 in the 2023 draft.

Evie Cowcher

Club: Geelong

Position: Half-back

Junior/WAFL club: Pinjarra/Peel Thunder

Winning Western Australia’s most valuable player awards at both the under-18 and under-16 national championships in 2023 showed just how much talent is at the disposal of Cowcher, who the Cats drafted with pick No.11 last year.

Molly O’Hehir

Club: Melbourne

Position: Half-back

Junior/WAFL club: South Coogee/South Fremantle

A hugely-exciting prospect who has athleticism which belies her height of 180cm, O’Hehir appears primed for a massive second season at AFLW level after doing plenty of good things in her first.

Dana East

Club: Richmond

Position: Midfielder

Junior/WAFL club: Donnybrook/Peel Thunder

The tough on-baller, who headed to the Tigers from Fremantle in search of more opportunity in last year’s trade period, has overcome a pre-season ankle injury to earn a place in their side which will take on Collingwood in round one.

Claudia Wright

Club: Brisbane

Position: Half-back

Junior/WAFL club: Subiaco/Claremont

Managed two games in her first season after being drafted to the powerhouse Lions and has benefited from a full pre-season, having arrived at the club nursing a broken leg.

Olivia Crane

Club: Port Adelaide

Position: Key defender

Junior/WAFL club: Wanneroo/Subiaco

Like her fellow Lions product Wolmarans, is a key position player — but plies her trade at the other end of the ground, where she has impressed with both her lockdown and intercepting ability.

Taya Chambers

Club: Essendon

Position: Defender

Junior/WAFL club: Canning Vale/East Fremantle

Bedded down a place as a negating defender for the Bombers in her first AFLW campaign, but the start of her second has been delayed by shin soreness.