AFLW 2025, Season 10 preview

The 2025 AFLW kicks off tomorrow and MSA is represented by 10 past students and 1 current staff member as players in the 10th edition of the competition.

Let’s find out a few things about these players that you may or may not have known.

Monique Conti – Richmond

• Conti is a key midfielder for the Tigers, known for her exceptional skills and leadership. 

·       She highlights the improvement of the younger players in the Richmond squad and their potential to make a strong impact. 

• Conti believes the team has a strong chance to compete in the finals again in 2025. 

·       She balances her AFLW career with basketball, playing for Geelong United in the WNBL. 

• Conti is a five-time All Australian and has won seven club best and fairest awards, six with Richmond and one with the Western Bulldogs. She also won the AFLW League Best and Fairest in 2023, and a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2018

Ellie McKenzie – Richmond

• No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft.

• Early career decorated with league awards and recognition.

• Resilient comeback from injuries in 2024.

• Commitment to the club through to the end of 2026.

• Engaged in both community and football development roles.

Sierra Grieves - Richmond

·       Co-captained Victoria Metro to the U18 National Championships title, going undefeated.

·       Claimed the Best & Fairest (MVP) for the carnival after averaging 28.3 disposals, 6.7 clearances, and 4 tackles per game.

·       Named in the All-Australian U18 team, Vic Metro MVP, Coates Talent League Team of the Year, and won the Western Jets Best & Fairest.

·       Taken with Richmond’s first pick in the draft at pick #11.

Libby Birch – Nth Melbourne

Premiership Player with:

·       Western Bulldogs (2018), Melbourne (Season 7, 2022), North Melbourne (2024) — making her the first AFLW player to win flags with three different clubs.

·       Twice named in the AFLW All-Australian Team (2020, Season 6 in 2022).

·       Her leadership and defensive experience have been hailed as a significant boost to North Melbourne’s ambitions of winning back-to-back flags.

Amy Smith – Nth Melbourne

·       Made history as the club’s first-ever father–daughter selection, with her father Shaun having played 47 games for the men's team

·       Amy is valued for her running capacity and adaptability. She can perform effectively across the field—whether on the wing or in a lockdown midfield role—and has steadily improved since joining Arden Street.

·       Before turning to football, Amy was a talented basketballer in the Big V competition.

Aliesha Newman – GWS Giants

·       Has played for 4 AFLW clubs.  Melbourne, Collingwood, Sydney Swans and now the Giants

·       Known for her explosive speed and agility, Newman is a versatile small forward who can also play on the wing. She has accumulated over 60 AFLW games and 24 goals across her career, including a standout performance in 2018 when she won the AFLW Goal of the Year award.

Georgie Prespakis – Geelong

·       In 2023, she claimed her first Geelong Cats AFLW Best and Fairest award, averaging 24.2 disposals, 7.2 tackles, and 6.6 clearances per game.

·       Prespakis is known for her elite clearance work and relentless pressure, making her a dynamic midfielder for the Geelong Cats.

·       In 2025, Prespakis is expected to continue her dominant midfield presence, contributing significantly to Geelong's aspirations for a successful campaign.

Georgia Patrikios – St Kilda

·      In her inaugural season, she earned a Rising Star nomination in Round 1 and was voted AFLPA Best First-Year Player by her peers.

·      St Kilda’s Best & Fairest in both 2020 and 2021, was named in the 2021 AFLW All-Australian team, and featured in the 22Under22 team in 2020 and 2021.

·      Heading into season 10, she continues to stand out as one of the league’s most promising talents—both as a ball-winner and as a key part of St Kilda’s engine room.

Charlotte Baskaran – Hawthorn

·      Played all 20 of Hawthorn’s historic AFLW games across her initial seasons, even while completing Year 12 in her debut year

·      In December 2024, Baskaran was officially traded to St Kilda, signing a three-year deal. Hawthorn exchanged her and pick No. 32 in return for picks 26 and 44

·      Represented Vic Metro, earning All-Australian honours at under-18 level

Jess Fitzgerald – Western Bulldogs

·      Jess has not missed a match since playing her debut through to the start of season 10 this year, affirming her reliability and durability

·      Best Young Player (club award), 2021, 2023 , 2022 S7: Community Award & Coaches’ Award.

·      In mid-2024, Fitzgerald was being transitioned into a half-back role—bringing her ball-distribution skills from defence to spark her side’s rebound play

Lauren Aherns – Western Bulldogs (Current Staff Member)

·      Ahrens began her AFLW career with the Gold Coast Suns, debuting in Round 1, 2020 at Blacktown ISP Oval

·      Her standout season came in 2021, when she won the Gold Coast’s Club Champion award—recognised as the club’s best & fairest player—thanks in part to leading the league in average metres gained (321.1 per game)

·      In the 2024 AFLW season, she played 7 games for the Bulldogs, averaging approximately 11.7 disposals and 2.3 marks per game

Calvin Payne at the Western Bulldogs and Tennille Cuttiford at Geelong are also former  

S and C coaches who left MSA to take up their roles at their specific clubs.