Following the end of Hawthorn’s 2024 AFLW season, Backline Coach Steph Binder reviewed each defender’s performance.

Read her analysis below.  

Jenna Richardson

“Richo’s season built really nicely. Clearly from the start, her defensive work is incredible, she’s got the best aerial presence, being the leading marker in the entire competition. And them she really brought her attacking game as the season progressed so worked really hard on her disposal efficiency and being able to drive her legs. And of course, stepping up into the leadership group as well. At the start of the season I sat down with Rich she said one of her goals was to be an All-Australian defender, just amazing reward for effort to be named in the squad and really hoping and confident that she’ll make the team because she absolutely deserves it.”

Ainslie Kemp

“I’m so proud of Kempy, she worked so hard in preseason and through our practice matches to consolidate her spot in the team and the reward for effort playing every single game. She just gives us so much structure and stability behind the ball, she is so selfless in setting up everybody else and then when it’s her time to shine her aerial game is incredible. She halves so many contests, she takes so many marks, and I think she’s only 170cm tall but we put her on players who are 180-plus and absolutely every time she does the job. And then she had great skills as well so she’s able to start our attack.”

Tilly Lucas-Rodd

“We’re so lucky to have someone like Til with all their experience come into the backline and what they do for us in attack is just incredible, they read the ball better than anyone, they see a sign at a stoppage and know it’s their time to go and that’s how they’re always getting on the end of it. Being the outlet, driving their legs, launching us into attack, a lot of our score involvements and score launches come from our back half and that’s all Til. Their ability to hit the inside kick, run for the hand ball receives is incredible and then their defensive work is just as good as well, they really improved their tackle pressure and body work as the season went on. So again, All-Australian, just an incredible effort changing lines coming into the backline.”

Laura Elliott

“I just have a big smile on my face when I think of Bill’s season and her progression. Early on she was omitted and missed a couple of games but that was a real turning point, she was so incredibly professional, she took on so much feedback, she still had an incredible attitude around the team and just went and dominated at scrimmages and really earnt her spot back. Once she was back in the team she was amazing, she provided so much come forward pressure, she had a huge job on Alyssa Bannen in the Melbourne game so took on a lot of responsibility. And then as well just getting involved in attack, she was getting those handball receives, driving her legs and just an incredibly good ball user so yeah really happy for Bill.”

Tamara Smith

“I’ve loved watching Smitty play for a number of years now so to be able to coach her is just incredible. She’s just so tenacious and doesn’t take a backwards step, her tackle pressure is incredible, she had a couple of busted up shoulders but still went in just as hard. And what I love as well is her ability to read the play when the ball’s in the air, she’s so proactive and she’ll just go ang et first to the footy, win it and then again, launch us into attack. She’s just an absolute joy to watch.” 

Emily Everist

“Sherp, she’s faced a lot of adversity through illness and injury but her work ethic to get on the park and her bravery is just absolutely incredible. Every week she normally gets the lock down job on one of the best forwards and her ability to halve contests in the air, on the ground, there’s been that many times where she’s been 3 v 1 and she’s come up with the ball, it’s like gee whiz thank god for Sherp, she’s so incredible. And when she’s got the footy, she just drives her legs, she runs, finds the back space and just launches us, she’s been great.”

Watch Steph Binder’s full backline review below.