Record number of West Aussies invited to AFL Draft CombineTuesday, August 19, 2025 - 2:54 PM - by Jordan McArdle

Western Australia’s female talent program has broken another record - this time with the number of AFLW Draft Combine participants. 

WA will have a record number of players in the National Draft Combine (eight) and overall combine participants (14), with six players testing at the WA combine. 

It comes after the Black Swans came within a goal of winning the AFLW National Under-18s Championship which saw the State have a record five All-Australians selected. 

WA’s trio of co-captains – West Perth midfielder Mia Russo, Subiaco defender Olivia Crane and South Fremantle midfielder Renee Morgan – were among the eight West Aussies and 46 Australia-wide invited to test from October 1-3 in Melbourne. 

The WA State Draft Combine is happening on October 12 at a venue to be confirmed. 

“It’s a record number for us to have eight national combine invites and six State as well so I’m really pleased with the girls who have been invited and it’s a credit to their hard work and the whole team for getting them to this point,” WA Football’s Manager Female Talent Programs and Coaching Specialist Trent Cooper said. 

“The really pleasing part is a lot of the fringe draft prospects really stepped up in the national carnival and put their names up there and given themselves the best chance to get drafted. 

“It’s been a great few weeks with a record number of Under-18s All-Australians from WA and watching some recent graduates play AFLW and play extremely well which is one of the best parts of my job. 

“Zippy Fish was outstanding, Molly O’Hehir was really good, Taya Chambers had 11 touches on debut and then some other recent graduates including Kaitlyn Shroj and Georgie Cleaver played really good footy as well.” 

WA’s AFLW Draft Combine invitees 

National: Alicia Blizard (East Fremantle), Evie Cowcher (Peel Thunder), Renee Morgan, Alia Fotu (South Fremantle), Olivia Crane, Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco), Carys D’Addario (Swan Districts), Mia Russo (West Perth). 

State: Juliet Kelly, Ella Gilbey (Claremont), Maya Louvel-Finn (East Fremantle), Lucy Greenwood (East Perth), Ava Stewart, Sienna Gerardi (Swan Districts).