The 2023 AFL Womens Season 8 is well underway, but which players hail from Gippsland?

Here is a list of players to keep an eye on:

JASMINE FERGUSON – NORTH MELBOURNE

The former Gippsland Power player was recruited at Pick 51 in the 2o21 National Draft after two seasons playing with Collingwood’s VFLW team. Ferguson is a flexible, tall defender whose competitiveness and ability to read the ball in the air stands out.

In her second season (season 7), Ferguson played 13 games for North Melbourne, where she averaged 6.2 disposals, 1.8 marks and 1.8 tackles per game.

TYLA HANKS – MELBOURNE

A highly fancied draft prospect in her final year with Gippsland Power after being named in the TAC Cup Under 18 All Australian side, Hanks was picked up by Melbourne with pick 6 in the 2018 AFLW National Draft.

Currently the most accomplished AFLW player to come out of Gippsland Power, Tyla finished the 2021 season as the NAB AFLW Rising Star winner, made the AFLPA 22 under 22 team and won Melbourne’s Best & Fairest Award. Stats wise, she finished the season averaging 19 disposals, 5 tackles and 3 marks a game.

In the 2022 season 7, Hanks played 13 games and averaged 17.9 disposals and 6 tackles per game, as well as kicking 3 goals.

DARCY GUTTRIDGE – ST KILDA

A former Vic Country captain, Guttridge was drafted by Collingwood at pick 9 in the 2017 AFLW National Draft.

Due to a broken collarbone that kept her out of the 2018 season, Guttridge didn’t make her AFLW debut until 2019, where she managed 3 games before deciding to sign with new expansion team St Kilda. She played every game in 2021, finishing the season averaging 8 disposals, 2 marks and 2 tackles a game.

In the 2022 season 7, Guttridge played 10 games and averaged 9.6 disposals, 1.7 marks and 2.1 tackles a game.

CASEY SHERRIFF – MELBOURNE

Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Originally picked up a replacement player for Daisy Pearce as a category B rookie in the 2019 season, the athletic rebounding defender was elevated from the Casey VFLW side.

Sherriff had a breakout debut season in 2020 and has played every game since her debut. In 2021, Sherriff finished the season averaging 11 disposals and 4 tackles a game.

In AFLW season 7 in 2022, Sherriff played 11 games and averaged 8.8 disposals, 2.1 marks and 2.5 tackles a game.

MEGAN FITZSIMON – MELBOURNE

Selected at pick 35 in the 2020 draft, Fitzsimon is an explosive footballer who can play through the middle and up forward, and she knows how to kick a goal. In her debut season at Melbourne last year, she averaged 8 disposals and 2.5 tackles over two games played.

In the 2022 season 7, Fitzsimon played 13 games and averaged 6 disposals a game and kicked 4 goals.

JACQUI VOGT – ESSENDON

After a season with St Kilda’s VFLW affiliate side Southern Saints in 2019, the new Saints AFLW side selected life-long supporter Vogt at Pick 40 in the 2020 National Draft. Vogt played 8 games in 2021, averaging 5 disposals and 3 tackles a game. In the 2022 AFLW season 6, she played 9 games and averaged 8.3 disposals, 1 mark and 4 tackles a game.

At the end of the 2022 AFLW 6th season, Vogt advised St Kilda should would be leaving the club to join expansion side Essendon. In her first season for the Bombers, Vogt averaged 12.4 disposals and 4.5 tackles.

SHANNON DANCKERT – RICHMOND TIGERS

Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Hailing from Fish Creek, Danckert plied her trade with Bond Uni in the QAFLW in 2021, where she won the league Best & Fairest award. Danckert was training with the Suns when two players were put on the club’s inactive list, allowing herself and one other to be signed on to the official players list.

In the 2022 AFLW Season 6, Danckert played 4 games and averaged 7 disposals, 1.5 marks and 2 tackles a game. The Suns delisted Danckert in March 2023, but was picked up by Richmond for Season 8 in 2023.

LILY-ROSE WILLIAMSON – ESSENDON

Another product of the Gippsland Power, Williamson signed on with expansion team Essendon in the 2022 AFLW Season 6 as an injury replacement player.

She started playing football in Under-12 boys side, starting at the Orbost Snowy Rovers and the Churchill Cougars to winning 4 premierships with the Traralgon Maroons. Williamson was named as the Best on Ground during her V-Line Cup matches while also getting selected into the Team of the Year. She was also invited to train with the Hawthorn VFLW Academy. In 2021, Williamson was selected into the Vic Country Under-17s side.

Making her debut in the 2022 Season 7, Williamson played 5 games where she averaged 4.6 dispoals & 3.4 tackles a game

YASMIN DUURSMA – PORT ADELAIDE
A highly touted prospect from the Gippsland Power program, Duursma is the niece of former VFL/AFL player Jamie and sister of current AFL player Xavier.
Drafted at Pick 45 in the 2022 AFLW Draft, Duursma is a defensive midfielder with strong attributes in running ability, versatility and good ball use. During the National U18 championships, she had a breakout performance for Victoria Country, culminating in the final match where she collected 22 disposals, five marks, four tackles and six rebound 50s, with 85 per cent kicking efficiency.
Making her debut in the 2022 Season 7, Duursma played 4 games where she averaged 9.3 disposals, 2.8 marks and 1.5 tackles a game.

The AFLW 2023 season 8 began on September 1st, 2023, with the Grand Final currently earmarked for December 3rd, 2023.

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