AFLW Under-18 National Championships: Zipporah Fish, Amy Centra among young talents in mix for No. 1 draft pick

The AFLW National Championships will take on extra significance this year ahead of the league’s first national draft. ELIZA REILLY looks at what it means and who’s in contention to be the No. 1 pick.

Eliza Reilly

@ByElizaReilly

less than 2 min read

June 21, 2024 - 3:46PM

AFLW

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News.

The AFLW U18 National Championships will take on greater importance this year with the announcement the competition will move to a fully national draft for the first time.

The league announced on Thursday that players who nominate for the draft can be selected by any of the 18 clubs, parting ways with the state-based model that has been used in various forms in previous years.

Last year’s draft gave players the option to nominate for their home state or the national pool, with 69 per cent of hopefuls choosing the latter. The introduction of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, including increased base pay, new 12 month contracts and relocation expenses, has also made the introduction of a national draft more feasible.

Western Australia’s Zipporah Fish has been touted as a potential No. 1 pick. Picture: Darrian Traynor

Ash Centra had 47 disposals in a game this season. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

It means that AFLW recruiters and list managers will have to be across the talent pool like never before to discover the next diamond in the rough where previously they’ve largely only had to focus on their own state.

That starts with the U18 National Championships.

At this stage, Queensland tall Havana Harris, Vic Country midfielder Ash Centra and Western Australian midfielder Zippy Fish are the three players in contention to be selected with the coveted number one pick.

Standing at 182cm, Harris was named the overall MVP of the Championships last year as an under ager. The ruck/forward is also a member of Gold Coast’s Academy.

High-flying Havana Harris (centre) is a member of Gold Coast’s academy. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Gippsland Power product Centra racked up 47 disposals and four goals in the Coates Talent League earlier this season and shapes as one of the most polished ball-winners in the draft pool.

Fish arguably has the best name of the three but also has the talent to match. Playing as an insider midfielder for East Fremantle this year, the 18-year-old has been the most damaging player in the WAFLW, racking up a record 39 disposals earlier this season.

All three stars will juke it out to be the AFLW’s next number one pick with the National Championship fixture delivering clashes between Queensland vs Vic Country (July 7), Western Australia vs Queensland (August 3) and Victoria Country vs Western Australia (August 11).

The National Championships kick off on June 29 when the Allies host Vic Metro and continue until late August.