From VFLW to AFLW: The success of our women's program

As we wrap up the 2025 rebel VFLW season, we’re looking back at the success of our VFLW program and some of our VFLW players who have made it on to an AFLW list over the years.

Lauren Brazzale earned her third opportunity to play in the AFLW when she was signed by Richmond early in the 2025 VFLW season. Brazzale played 73 games for Carlton and Collingwood before signing with the Zebs. She was also Vice-Captain of the VFLW State team in April.

Erica Fowler became the second Sandringham player added to an AFLW list in 2025, following Brazzale. Fowler joined Geelong’s AFLW list at the end of May after playing 46 AFLW games for Collingwood and being a key factor in the first half of the Zebras’ VFLW season.

Arianna Clarke joined St Kilda’s list in the back half of the season, filling the vacancy by retiree Kiera Whiley. Clarke was born in Western Australia and was drafted to the Brisbane Lions with pick 15 in the 2017 AFLW draft. She joined the Zebs ahead of the 2025 VFLW season, playing 12 games before being picked up by the Saints.

Tessa Boyd was promoted to North Melbourne’s AFLW list in May. Boyd built her craft in the VFLW with the Southern Saints (now Sandringham Zebras) before crossing over to North Melbourne’s VFLW side in 2025. Boyd is a defender and was named in the VFLW Team of the Year in 2023 and 2024 when she was playing with the Southern Saints.

Maddison Torpey was signed by Carlton AFLW this year, giving her her first taste of AFLW. Torpey previously played for the Southern Saints and Box Hill Hawks and had the opportunity to captain the Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League and represent Victoria in the Women's State Game this year, alongside Brazzale and Boyd.

Beth Pinchin joined St Kilda AFLW with pick No. 20 at the AFLW Supplementary Draft in April 2023 after signing with the Southern Saints a few months earlier. Prior to joining the Saints, Pinchin’s first experience at AFLW was when she signed on as an injury replacement player for Brisbane ahead of season 2021. After some injury setbacks at AFLW level, Pinchin returned to the Zebs ahead of the 2025 VFLW season.

Hannah Stuart was drafted to St Kilda AFLW via the Southern Saints in 2022 where she has played ever since. Stuart served as the Southern Saints Vice-Captain and earned Best & Fairest honours in the year she was drafted.

Deanna Jolliffe was drafted to St Kilda AFLW alongside Stuart after captaining the Southern Saints to the Grand Final in 2022. Jolliffe had a career-best season, spending the second half of the year off half-back prior to being drafted. Jolliffe returned to the Southern Saints/Sandringham Zebras VFLW at the end of the 2023 AFLW season.

Tara Bohanna was rewarded for a breakout season with the Southern Saints with her first AFLW contract, signing with Gold Coast SUNS AFLW following the 2021 VFLW season. The Southern Saints Co-Captain won her first Southern Saints Best and Fairest award just weeks before being elevated to AFLW.

Courtney Jones was selected by Carlton at pick 59 in the 2019 AFLW Draft. Labelled as “one of the best ball-users in the draft and renowned for her kicking and decision-making,” she showcased her talent playing for the Southern Saints in the 2019 VFLW season.

Prior to the Sandringham Football Club co-managing the Southern Saints in 2019, then subsequently taking over full ownership in 2020, there were six Southern Saints picked up in the 2018 AFLW Draft.

Southern Saints selected in the 2018 AFLW Draft:

Pick 10 – Eleanor Brown (Western Bulldogs)
Pick 27 – Charlotte Wilson (Carlton)
Pick 34 – Selena Karlson (Western Bulldogs)
Pick 36 – Courteney Munn (North Melbourne)
Pick 40 – Rhiannon Watt (Carlton)
Pick 44 – Shelley Heath (Melbourne Demons)