Lily Quigley has been taken with the No. 1 selection in the inaugural AFLW Pre-Season Draft, going to Gold Coast and headlining a draft created to plug list holes left by pregnancies, injuries and retirements ahead of the 2026 season.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who came through the GWS academy before relocating to Queensland with her family, was the most talked-about prospect in the lead-up to the draft. The 159cm Brisbane academy product is described in scouting circles as quick and smart with a strong athletic profile, and her kicking has improved significantly across this season's pathway program.
Gold Coast's selection of Quigley with pick one signals a continued investment in midfield depth and locks in a player linked to the Suns since the Allies carnival.
Greater Western Sydney followed at pick two, taking Bond University's Maisy Evans, a 185cm ruck out of the Queensland system. The Giants described her as "a 185cm, versatile ruck who can perform at both the centre square and as a tall target inside 50," with a background in rugby and netball before turning to Australian rules.
Evans has been one of the form ruck prospects of the QAFLW season, averaging "25.7 disposals, 27.7 hit-outs and eight tackles" in her early outings for Bond, and the Giants flagged her as "a big improver, having developed her skills outside the Victorian talent pathway."
Essendon followed at pick three with Irish recruit Emma Dineen, a 26-year-old All-Ireland Senior champion from Kerry who arrives via the Gaelic football pathway. Bombers AFLW List and Recruiting Manager Josh Moore framed Dineen's selection as a long-term investment in the program.
"We're thrilled to bring Emma over from Ireland and welcome her into our AFLW program. Her experience as a high performing athlete will be valuable as we continue to build towards the season," Moore said.
Western Bulldogs took NSW-ACT product Amaia Wain at pick four, with Fremantle (Noa McNaughton, East Fremantle), West Coast (Sienna Gerardi, Swan Districts) and St Kilda (Saoirse Lally, Mayo, Ireland) following.
Hawthorn used pick eight on Central District's Mikaylah Antony, while Melbourne went to South Adelaide's Lauren Clifton at pick nine. GWS came back in at pick 10 to take Sophia Gaukrodger from the North Shore Bombers and the Giants academy, before West Coast closed out the draft at pick 11 with Sturt's Lily Smart.
The pre-season draft ran nine clubs across 11 selections to fill spots created by absences across the senior list. Pregnancies forced Bess Keaney (Essendon) and Ali Drennan (West Coast) out for the year. Injuries opened spots at Fremantle (Áine Tighe) and St Kilda (Nicola Xenos), while Blaithin Mackin (Melbourne) and Maggie Gorham (Western Bulldogs) stepped away for personal reasons. Retirements at GWS (Katherine Smith, Claire Ransom) and West Coast (Sophie McDonald) provided additional vacancies.
Draft order ran on reverse ladder from last season, with picks broadcast exclusively on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live App. Pre-season programs across the league commence Monday May 11.