The AFL Women's of the AFLW is Australia's top competition for women's footy. If you're new to the sport or just like to debate rankings (as most sports fans do), here are some of the best players in the league with their stats from the 2023 season.
Of course, if you disagree or think there are other players we should have included, feel free to let us know in the comments.
15. Jess Fitzgerald – Western Bulldogs
If you're new to footy, it's worthwhile knowing who to look out for when you're watching the sport. Let's start with Jess Fitzgerald.
Team: Western Bulldogs
Position: Midfielder
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 15.4
Marks: 2.4
Tackles: 4.0
Kicks: 10.3
Jess Fitzgerald is a midfielder for the Western Bulldogs. She was the number 2 draft pick in 2020 and quickly impressed.
She earned an AFLW Rising Star nomination in 2021 and became a central figure in the Bulldogs' midfield rotation. She's good with the ball, can break through traffic, and is versatile when pushing forward.
Since her debut, Jess Fitzgerald has consistently improved and adapted to different roles, showcasing her versatility as a player. Her ability to thrive in various positions throughout her career is a testament to her adaptability and skill.
14. Taylah Gatt – North Melbourne
Taylah Gatt is a promising young player who's already impressed for North Melbourne. She's a rising star and played her part in the club's run to the AFLW Grand Final in 2023.
Team: North Melbourne
Position: Defender
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 11.0
Marks: 2.0
Tackles: 3.8
Kicks: 6.4
She's a fast player with heaps of endurance and exceptionally gifted in outside play.
In transition play, her speed and ball-carrying help turn defence into attack, and she's a reliable option for North Melbourne on the outside.
13. Belle Dawes – Brisbane
Team: Brisbane
Position: Midfielder
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 18.8
Marks: 1.7
Tackles: 6.3
Kicks: 8.5
Belle Dawes is a midfielder for the Brisbane Lions. She was part of the Brisbane teams that won the premiership in 2021 and 2023, contributing significantly to both campaigns.
She's a young player and has performed consistently since her debut in 2020.
While these young players are making history, the history of women's footy goes back over a century!
12. Amy McDonald – Geelong
Amy McDonald is one of the most consistent and impactful midfielders in the AFLW. She plays for Geelong and is best known for her work rate, ball-winning ability, and tackling.
Team: Geelong
Position: Midfielder
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 21
Marks: 1.4
Tackles: 6.9
Kicks: 9.2
She was named to the S7 AFL Women's All-Australian team and has won Geelong's Best and Fairest three times.
In the AFLW, she regularly ranks among the league's top tacklers and applies pressure on the opposition.
11. Ellie McKenzie – Richmond
Elle McKenzie is an inside midfielder who currently plays for Richmond. Since her debut in 2021, she's quickly made a name for herself as one of the AFLW's best.
Team: Richmond
Position: Midfielder
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 15.0
Marks: 1.0
Tackles: 5.0
Kicks: 10.0
Following an excellent junior career, she was the first overall pick in the 2020 AFLW Draft and immediately impressed in her first season. She was runner-up in the AFLW Rising Star award and won Richmond Best and Fairest that year.
Unfortunately, her meteoric rise was slowed by calf and ankle injuries, which kept her out of matches in 2022 and 2023.
She's signed with Richmond until 2026, who will want to use her explosive speed, strong ball-winning abilities, and overall versatility.
10. Laura Gardiner – Sydney
Before moving to Sydney, Laura Gardiner was an excellent player at Geelong, making a name for herself as one of the club's most reliable midfielders.
Team: Sydney
Position: Midfielder
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 29.1
Marks: 2.7
Tackles: 9.1
Kicks: 14.1
She drew attention for dominating as a high-possession player, collecting high numbers of disposals, and constantly improving since her debut.
She's excellent at winning the ball, working hard, and disposing of it cleanly. She's also a clearance specialist, helping her team gain field position and create attacking opportunities.
Gardiner was named to the AFL Women's All-Australian team in 2023 while at Sydney, just two years after making her debut for Geelong in 2021.
9. Bonnie Toogood – Essendon
Bonnie Toogood is a key forward for Essendon Football Club in the AFLW. In 2018, she won the premiership with the Western Bulldogs.
Team: Essendon
Position: Key Forward
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 19.1
Marks: 6.5
Tackles: 5.2
Kicks: 13.9
She moved to Essendon in 2022 (S7) and has been the team's co-captain since then. She was also included in the 2023 AFL Women's All-Australian team and was Essendon's leading goalkicker the same year.
Toogood is a consistent goal scorer and good in the air, regularly taking strong contested marks.
Her reliable performances have made her one of the AFLW's best players. She's played regularly since her debut and avoided major injuries.
8. Ash Riddell – North Melbourne
Ash Riddell is a midfielder for North Melbourne in the AFLW. She quickly became one of the competition's top midfielders, excelling at winning the ball, tackling, applying pressure, and clearances.
Team: North Melbourne
Position: Midfielder
Key Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 29.8
Marks: 3.7
Tackles: 5.3
Kicks: 17.4
Her precision and decision-making during matches also make her stand out, and her disposal precision makes her an important playmaker for the team. She rarely wastes possession and often sets up plays.
She was awarded North Melbourne's best and fairest in S6 (2022) and has been chosen for the AFL Women's All-Australian team three times.
7. Kate Hore – Melbourne
Kate Hore is a forward and the captain of the Melbourne Demons. She's become one of the team's most influential players through her leadership, versatility, and goal-scoring ability.
Team: Melbourne
Position: Forward
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 17.3
Marks: 4.1
Tackles: 3.9
Kicks: 11.7
She won the premiership with Melbourne in the 2022 AFL Women's Season 7 Grand Final, bringing the club its first title in the AFLW.
Hore's also won Melbourne's Best and Fairest award and was chosen for the AFL Women's All-Australian team in 2020, 2022, and 2023.
She's excellent at goal-kicking, marking, aerial skills, playmaking, and creating forward pressure.
6. Chloe Molloy – Sydney
In 2018, Chloe Molloy burst onto the scene, finishing runner-up for the AFLW Rising Star award.
Team: Sydney
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 16.5
Marks: 3.2
Tackles: 4.3
Kicks: 11.2
She was playing as a defender at the time. She's also a dynamic forward and midfielder with incredible goal-kicking ability and heaps of talent.
She was named to the AFL Women's All-Australian team in 2018, 2021, and 2023 and was Collingwood's best and fairest in her first season.
She's been both Collingwood's and Sydney's leading goalkicker and, since 2023, the Swans' co-captain.
Molloy recently suffered an ACL injury, meaning the Swans have a big void to fill.
5. Anne Hatchard – Adelaide
Anne Hatchard is a midfielder for the Adelaide Crows in the AFLW. She's won the premiership with Adelaide three times (2017, 2019, 2022).
Team: Adelaide
Position: Midfielder
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 26.4
Marks: 5.4
Tackles: 5.7
Kicks: 11.3
She's a four-time AFL Women's All-Australian and regularly leads the league in stats like disposals, contested possessions, and clearances.
When it comes to contested possessions, Hatchard is incredible. She uses her strength in one-on-one contests and tackles incredibly, pressuring opponents and winning back possession.
Anne Hatchard is one of the league's most complete players. Her work ethic and consistency have helped solidify her position among the best in the AFLW.
4. Ally Anderson – Brisbane
Ally Anderson is a midfielder who plays for the Brisbane Lions. She was part of the Lions side that won the 2021 and 2023 premierships and the AFLW Best and Fairest in 2022. She was named in the AFL Women's All-Australian team in 2019 and 2023.
Team: Brisbane
Position: Midfielder
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 24.3
Marks: 2.9
Tackles: 6.5
Kicks: 13.3
Anderson is known for her endurance and speed. She regularly covers large distances across the ground and links up plays between defence and attack.
She's also great at winning the ball, excels at contested and uncontested possessions, and tackles aggressively.
If you don't know why that's good, then you might want to brush up on the rules of footy.
3. Ebony Marinoff – Adelaide
Ebony Marinoff is an incredibly consistent midfielder for Adelaide, having helped the team to its three premierships in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
Team: Adelaide
Position: Midfielder
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 27.5
Marks: 3.9
Tackles: 10.4
Kicks: 20.6
She's also been selected for the AFL Women's All-Australian team multiple times.
In 2017, she was given the AFLW Rising Star Award. She proved herself worthy of the accolade with two more premierships after that season.
On the pitch, she's a tackling machine who often finishes matches with double-digit tackle counts. She held the record for most tackles at 21 until 2022, when Kiara Bowerrs broke it.
She's also a clearance specialist with long, accurate kicking.
2. Monique Conti – Richmond
Monique Conti is one of the biggest stars in the AFLW and has shown that she's one of the top midfielders in the game. She's incredibly fast, good with the ball, and a versatile player.
Team: Richmond
Position: Midfielder
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 28.5
Marks: 2.9
Tackles: 5.8
Kicks: 15.9
She's been named in the AFLW All-Australian team five times, won the Western Bulldogs best and fairest once and the Richmond best and fairest five times. She was also awarded the AFL Women's best and fairest in 2023.
Born in 1999, she's one of the league's younger players, though looking at all her achievements and accolades, you wouldn't think so!
1. Jasmine Garner – North Melbourne
Jasmine Garner is, without a doubt, one of the finest players in the AFLW. She's a versatile and skilled player who can dominate the midfield and the forward line.
Team: North Melbourne
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Stats (average per match):
Disposals: 28.6
Marks: 3.5
Tackles: 7.2
Kicks: 19.2
She's been selected to the AFLW All-Australian team six times and won the AFLPA Most Valuable Player twice.
She was also the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year three times and North Melbourne's best and fairest four times! However, many believe she's been snubbed for the league's best and fairest award.
She's known for her versatility, field marking, game sense, decision-making, and goal-kicking during matches.
Who would you consider to be the best AFLW players? Let us know in the comments!
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