A Western Bulldogs VFL women’s team official says an AFLW club would be “mad not to” take Colac ruck prospect Keeley Hardingham in next season’s draft.
Western Bulldogs VFLW coach Rhys Cahir labelled Hardingham the best ruck in the league during her first full season at the level.
She is averaging near 23 hit-outs, 17 disposals, 2.3 marks and 4.7 tackles a game, while also kicking six goals from her 11 games in 2024.
Hardingham had a season off state-league footy last year after graduating from the Geelong Falcons and playing five VFLW games with the Geelong side as an 18-year-old in 2022.
But after a stellar season at the local level with Geelong club St Joseph’s in 2023, the Bulldogs were quick to swoop on the promising ruck prospect.
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Where To Buy“Keeley has been doing really well, it has been great to have her onboard,” Cahir said.
“She was at St Joey’s and we had a couple of girls from the Bulldogs playing with her in the grand final, and one of my assistant coaches at the time spotted her and rang me up and said there was a tall talent running around down there.
“We invited her into the talent-search session we ran, and within 15 minutes of the session we all wanted to invite her to pre-season.”
Cahir said Hardingham’s dominance at the VFL level had come quicker than expected, but he said he was not surprised to see her flourish.
“She has worked very hard to get to this spot, but for her to get this opportunity and to do what she is doing, we probably didn’t expect her to dominate at times like she has but that has come down to her hard work as well,” he said.
“I think we have been able to help her with enjoying football more than anything first and then the good footy is also coming with it.”
Cahir said the 180-centremetre tall ruck had been the competition’s best ruck in 2024.
“I am extremely biased but I would say she is the number-one ruck in the competition and should be in the Team of the Year when they pick it,” he said.
“For me she has been the number-one ruck and a lot of others would say that too.
“She does a great job with the travel from Colac, that’s a big step in itself, but to come to our talent-search session and grab that opportunity was great to see.
“She has really come on in leaps and bounds since then, and is really dominating the competition in the games she has played.”
Cahir backed Hardingham to be picked up in next year’s AFLW National Draft, and said she could even be promoted to the Bulldogs’ AFLW list this season if an injury occurred.
All 18 clubs have the ability to move players with season-ending injuries to their inactive list, and select a player from the state leagues to replace them.
“I very much do,” Cahir said when asked if he thought Hardingham could be drafted.
“Some might say she lacks that extra height that others have got, but her numbers don’t lie, she is winning plenty of hit-outs and her ability to kick the footy, mark and use her clean hands makes her an extra midfielder when the ball hits the deck.
“I don’t believe there are many talls around that can do that as well as Keeley can, so I think a club would be mad not to take her.
“She has got the opportunity to be a train-on player with the Bulldogs’ AFLW at this stage, so she is training and playing with us, but if an injury happens there is a chance she could be promoted.
“Last year we had three of the VFLW girls that were train-ons who got to play games with the AFLW, but if there is a season-ending injury they can be promoted to the full list as well.”