Medium Forward

#24

Lily Jordan

height: 164cm

weight:

D.O.B: 29-06-2005

Leagues: Coates Talent League Girls, AFLW U18 Championships

  • Snapshot
  • Analysis
  • Summary

SNAPSHOT:

One of the big improvers in 2023, Lily Jordan had a memorable season with GWV Rebels and then Vic Country to put herself firmly in the frame to be drafted. The natural goalsneak burst onto the scene in the first few rounds, then played more of a defensive role in the front half, while also getting some midfield minutes towards the end, which was enough to see her earn a late AFLW Draft Combine call-up.

STRENGTHS:

+ Forward craft
+ Goal sense
+ Defensive pressure
+ Dual-sided
+ Work rate
+ Strength

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Composure
- Athleticism

PROFILE:

Jordan showed promising signs as a bottom-ager last season, but did not have the substance to match her 'moments'. Always a talented forward with a unique understanding of where the goals are, the GWV Rebels small kicked 10 goals across the first three rounds, including a five-goal haul against Gippsland Power at Kilsyth.

That catapulted her into the Vic Country team after not being included in the initial hub, and though her scoreboard impact dried up for the Ballarat-based side, she found another avenue to impact. Unlike some one-way forwards, Jordan showed her defensive side when things were not going her way, laying a whopping nine tackles from just five touches against Gold Coast Suns Academy, with stints of 11 and seven either side of that to average nine per game in that three-match stint.

When moved into the midfield later in the season against Western and Bendigo, Jordan had efforts of 21 and a season-high 29, with her kick-first attitude on full display. All of her 29 touches were kicks, while she also had four marks, six tackles, 10 inside 50s and a goal.

By the end of the Talent League season, Jordan had kicked 16 goals in 14 games and averaged 13.6 disposals, 1.6 marks and 5.1 tackles. Her balance of offensive and defensive traits standout as a small forward, as though she is not athletic, Jordan is powerful and very strong for a 164cm player. She wills herself at contests and lays tackles with conviction, desperate to do all the team things.

With ball-in-hand, Jordan is reliable in front of the big sticks, often finding an avenue to goal when within range, and importantly, can use either side of her body. At the national carnival, she wheeled onto her left side which was noted by the commentators at the time as such, but it was the ultimate compliment given Jordan is in fact, a right footer. When it comes to dual-sidedness, not many have greater fluency and confidence to go off their opposite side, but Jordan certainly does.

The knocks on Jordan remain largely around that athletic base. She has a terrific endurance and her work rate up and down the field is terrific. However when it comes to speed and agility, they are not among her strengths, and it is the trade off for being a strong unit with outstanding strength and power.

Along with her athleticism, Jordan can tend to rush when under pressure because she cannot breakaway and improving that composure will help with her kicking consistency as well. When she has marked the ball or earned a free, Jordan can deliver passes lace-out no worries. These improvements are not as big of an issue as the athleticism, which will be what clubs need to overlook to take her.

Jordan does offer a point of difference as a small forward due to her defensive pressure, as she can kick goals and also lay plenty of tackles, while going off either side of her body. She might not have the athletic traits that others have, but she makes up for it with a high work rate and determination to get better.

SUMMARY:

Lily Jordan is a dangerous small forward who can do damage both on the scoreboard and to an opposition ball-carrier. If clubs can look past her lack of athleticism and see what she can do rather than what she cannot, then Jordan could be a valuable addition to any side. On footballing traits alone, Jordan is among the top 40 players in the draft, but it will come down to club preferences as to whether or not she gets picked up.

Strengths
Defensive pressure
Dual-sided
Forward craft
Goal sense
Strength
Work rate
Improvements
Athleticism
Composure

Coates Talent League Girls

SeasonTeamKHBDMCPUPTHOCLRI50R50GLGMKHDMHOTGDC
2021GWV Rebels821020020040124.01.05.01.00.01.00.524
2022GWV Rebels5020615002500170377.12.98.70.70.03.60.437
2023GWV Rebels1543719122007200503161411.02.613.61.60.05.11.157
Total-212592622900990071320239.22.611.41.30.04.30.9118

AFLW U18 Championships

SeasonTeamKHBDMCPUPTHOCLRI50R50GLGMKHDMHOTGDC
2023Vic Country Girls2632961216140060238.71.09.72.00.04.70.742
Total-2632961216140060238.71.09.72.00.04.70.742
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