(Top L-R) Grace Belloni, Lucia Painter, Poppy Scholz, Emma McDonald, India Rasheed, Sara Howley, Sophie McKay; (Bottom L-R) Sierra Grieves, Havana Harris, Ash Centra, Molly O'Hehir and Zippy Fish during the 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft. Picture: AFL Photos

AFTER round one of the NAB AFLW season, the generational draft proof is in the pudding.

The current crop, who were selected at the end of last season, were born in 2006, meaning they were 11 when the AFLW began and football opportunities for girls exploded. 

Many had also already been through Auskick in the few years prior to 2017, and it's safe to say they hit the ground running over the weekend.

Fourteen of the top 20 from last year's NAB AFLW Draft took to the field, with a further four of that 20 named as emergencies. Just Sienna Talleriti (ankle) and Zoe Hargreaves (ACL) missed out.

Another 12 draftees born in 2006 made their debuts over the weekend, as did older draft trio Indi Strom, Piper Dunlop and Caitlin Reid.

16:33

The Wrap: Crows' big issue, Swan's record-breaking debut, Hawks win comes at a cost

Kate McCarthy and Sarah Olle wrap up all the AFLW action following round one

Throw in Laela Ebert (11, five tackles), Emma Kilpatrick and Ellie Veerhuis (12 touches), who are all 2006-born injury replacement players (overlooked in their draft last year but given another chance in the past few months), and a whopping 29 'class of 2006' players made their debut in round one, nearly enough to play a full 16-a-side AFLW game.

Round one efforts from the first round of the 2024 draft:

  1. Ash Centra (Collingwood) – one goal and a bounce move that has captured the AFL world
  2. Havana Harris (Gold Coast) – 16 touches, six marks and 1.2 as a key forward
  3. Molly O'Hehir (Melbourne) – 10 touches and three intercepts
  4. Sara Howley (Greater Western Sydney) – 12 disposals and two clearances
  5. Zippy Fish (Sydney) – 26 touches, a record for a non-inaugural debutant
  6. Poppy Scholz (Carlton) – 11 disposals, one goal despite playing in defence
  7. Lucia Painter (West Coast) – 13 disposals, three goals and the Telstra Rising Star nomination
  8. Emma McDonald (Western Bulldogs) – three marks, two tackles as a key forward 
  9. Grace Belloni (Essendon) – 12 touches, six tackles and a goal in attack
  10. Lexi Gregor (Geelong) – emergency 
  11. Sierra Grieves (Richmond) – emergency
  12. Holly Ridewood (Essendon) – 12 disposals and two goals
  13. Indi Rasheed (Adelaide) – 16 disposals, five marks, one goal
  14. Georgie Brisbane (Fremantle) – five touches, four score involvements
  15. Lavinia Cox (Hawthorn) – five touches, three inside 50s
  16. Claudia Wright (Brisbane) – emergency
  17. Sophie McKay (Carlton)– 11 touches, four marks across half-forward
  18. Sienna Tallariti (Geelong) – injured
  19. Lily Paterson (Port Adelaide) – emergency
  20. Zoe Hargreaves (Richmond) – injured

Other standout performers outside of that first round include St Kilda key forward Zoe Besanko (pick No.32, two goals), Collingwood winger Violet Patterson (No.42, 14 touches), West Coast half-back Kayla Dalgleish (No.57, 12 touches, 10 kicks) and Melbourne midfielder Maggie Mahony (No.21, 14 touches, six tackles).

04:17

The Moments: Best AFLW highlights of round one

Enjoy the standout plays throughout the 2025 NAB AFLW Season

Grace Martin (No.22, Greater Western Sydney), Sarah Poustie (No.25, Western Bulldogs), Mia Salisbury (No.29, Gold Coast), Taya Chambers (No.30, Essendon), Nyalli Milne (No.41, Gold Coast), Jasmine Sowden (No.52, Port Adelaide) and Kyla Forbes (No.55, St Kilda) round out the 2006-born debutants over the weekend.