Players to watch: Women’s Summer Series Round 1

The first round of the Women’s Summer Series for some of NSW and the ACT’s most promising unsigned talent kicks off this Saturday.

With more than 120 players listed for selection across four teams (GIANTS Charcoal, GIANTS Orange, Swans Red, Swans White), it may be difficult to know who to watch out for.

And while anything can happen on game day, here are four players we think will be worth tracking in Round 1.

 

Swans Red

Taylah Canobie

The 19-year-old from Killarney Vale Bombers is known as one of the brightest talents in AFL Hunter Central Coast.

The midfielder stands at 164 centimetres allowing her to get in and under the contests.

She’s had plenty of experience at senior footy, selected in the AFL Hunter Central Coast representative side in 2021’s showdown against AFL South Coast.

Canobie will turn heads during the Summer Series with her ferocious attack on the ball, her decision making under pressure and elite ball use.

 

Swans White

Senna Gulden

Where there’s a Swans rep side, there’s a Gulden and yep, you guessed it, Senna is Errol’s younger sister.

The UNSW-ES Bulldogs player has been coming up through the footy ranks since her junior days at Maroubra Saints.

Gulden will be coached in this series by her mum, Bronwyn, who will be looking for her daughter to apply her trademark physicality and pressure through the midfield to help her side to victory.

In the AFL Sydney competition, Gulden is known as a strong and hardworking inside midfielder who breaks lines and delivers with elite accuracy on either foot. She thrives on the intensity of the game and is a leader on and off the field.

 

GIANTS Orange

Dom Carruthers

Carruthers plays in the AFL Sydney competition for North Shore and is a weapon in the midfield.

She is a hardworking and tenacious, and ruthlessly attacks the ball.

A tough competitor, Carruthers is rarely second to the ball which sees her accumulate plenty of possessions week after week. Part of her success is her big engine which will be tested in the heat of the Women’s Summer Series.

 

 

GIANTS Charcoal

Cynthia Hamilton

The Queanbeyan Tigers player has been a player to watch for several seasons now.

In 2021, Hamilton was named at full forward in the U19 AFLW All Australian Team – she was just 17.

She has played footy in Canberra since being asked to make up the numbers for her brother’s team (Belconnen) as a 10-year-old, which makes her part of a new generation of players who’ve grown and developed with a Sherrin in hand.

People who have seen Hamilton play liken her to Ellie Blackburn because of her kicking penetration, games sense and gut running for the contest.

The Hamilton family is well-known in footy circles in AFL Canberra. Cynthia is in the middle of six kids, all who have played or are playing at a high level – her sister, Lexi is on North Melbourne’s list.