Player Watch Alex Neyland welcome to Sydney

[SwansProudly]

With pick 6 (matched bid) of the 2025 AFLW Draft, we welcome QBE Sydney Swans Academy player Alex Neyland.

Alex Neyland

DOB: 04-09-2007

Recruited from: QBE Sydney Swans Academy

Position: Utility

Alex Neyland is a 178cm utility from the QBE Sydney Swans Academy and a two-time recipient of the Basil Sellers Scholarship.

Whether it is flying through the air or laying bone-crunching tackle at ground level, Neyland is an all-round threat with enormous upside.

Representing the QBE Sydney Swans Academy in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, she averaged 19 disposals, four marks, 6.5 tackles, four inside 50s and booted three goals across four games.

At the national championships representing the Allies, Neyland started forward but then was quickly thrown back and then remained there, a role she grew up playing throughout her junior career. The tall averaged 11 disposals, 1.5 marks, 5.5 tackles and 2.3 rebound 50s across the four games.

2025 AFLW Draft: Pick 6, Alex Neyland

With pick 6 (matched bid) of the 2025 AFLW Draft, we welcome QBE Sydney Swans Academy player Alex Neyland.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[SwansProudly]

From Sarah Back - Players to Watch

ALEX NEYLAND​

Position: Utility
Height: 178cm
From: New South Wales, Sydney Academy/Singleton

Also goes by Ally, surname pronounced Nai-lend. An athletic utility from Singleton, 80km inland from Newcastle. Has caught the eye of many with a sterling return from a torn ACL. Particularly strong overhead – described as reminiscent of Tayla Harris – and quick on the ground. Dominated the Combine – second in the agility, standing and running vertical jumps, and fifth in the 2km time trial.

Sarah Black's top 25 prospects for tonight's AFLW Draft

AFLW expert Sarah Black has crunched the numbers ahead of the AFLW Draft on Monday night, and this is how she sees the first round playing out

www.afl.com.au

 

[joeykanga]

From Sarah Back - Players to Watch

ALEX NEYLAND​

Position: Utility
Height: 178cm
From: New South Wales, Sydney Academy/Singleton

Sarah Black's top 25 prospects for tonight's AFLW Draft

AFLW expert Sarah Black has crunched the numbers ahead of the AFLW Draft on Monday night, and this is how she sees the first round playing out

www.afl.com.au

Were these on a timer...very quick

 

[SwansProudly]

Were these on a timer...very quick

Nope was using my mobile phone, so frustrated so I powered up desktop.

 

[Callipygian]

Welcome Ally!

Alex Neyland Draft Profile

Alex Neyland is an ultra-athletic tall out of the Sydney Swans Academy with an ability to impact in the air and at ground level.

central.rookieme.com

 

[RnR from RWO]

I look forward to her joining Alice in the back half - and relieving Branna.

 

[Callipygian]

I look forward to her joining Alice in the back half - and relieving Branna.

Why? Surely we need her more up forward, notwithstanding the arrival of Taylor Smith? Also, what's your plan for Brenna if Neyland relieves her of her current role?

Personally, I'm keen to see Alex playing in forward 50. I like the sound of her contested marking and the defensive pressure she can apply there. Conversely if her kicking accuracy is her weakness I'd rather her not be bringing the ball out of defence (although I don't wanting her to wasting shots at goal either). I think honing her set shot goal kicking is a narrower skillset to develop than accurate kicking in general play.

 

[joeykanga]

Why? Surely we need her more up forward, notwithstanding the arrival of Taylor Smith? Also, what's your plan for Brenna if Neyland relieves her of her current role?

Personally, I'm keen to see Alex playing in forward 50. I like the sound of her contested marking and the defensive pressure she can apply there. Conversely if her kicking accuracy is her weakness I'd rather her not be bringing the ball out of defence (although I don't wanting her to wasting shots at goal either). I think honing her set shot goal kicking is a narrower skillset to develop than accurate kicking in general play.

One of the coaches was commenting. They dont know where to play Alex. Shes so versatile. Maybe its all over the ground wherever we need that marking ability

 

[Kiama Chris]

One of the coaches was commenting. They dont know where to play Alex. Shes so versatile. Maybe its all over the ground wherever we need that marking ability

If Taylor is playing FF with Holly in the pocket (been wanting to say that for ages), then probably HF.
Chloe and Cynthia sharing HF and time in the midfield. Amelia and Sarah (Grunden) sharing with Alex and maybe Ally M and Lexi rotating at CHF. Sof and Lulu on the wings. Montana in the midfield.

 

[joeykanga]

If Taylor is playing FF with Holly in the pocket (been wanting to say that for ages), then probably HF.
Chloe and Cynthia sharing HF and time in the midfield. Amelia and Sarah (Grunden) sharing with Alex and maybe Ally M and Lexi rotating at CHF. Sof and Lulu on the wings. Montana in the midfield.

The way youve put that sounds really good. Sofia delivering inside 50 pearlers to all of them.

 

[joeykanga]

The way youve put that sounds really good. Sofia delivering inside 50 pearlers to all of them.

And dont forget Zippy. There must surely be up forward time for her or at least delivering through the midfield like Sofia to that awesome forward line. Just more rotations and flexibility in general.

 

[Kiama Chris]

And dont forget Zippy. There must surely be up forward time for her or at least delivering through the midfield like Sofia to that awesome forward line. Just more rotations and flexibility in general.

I think of Zippy as a tiny Blakey. Creating chaos.
Get her running through the middle from half back. Seen it a couple of times and it's dynamite. She can form part of the second line when we have the ball in our forward line. Evade and goal!

 

[joeykanga]

 

[RnR from RWO]

Why? Surely we need her more up forward, notwithstanding the arrival of Taylor Smith? Also, what's your plan for Brenna if Neyland relieves her of her current role?

I believed our backline to have been very short on height. So if Neyland could start down back, an easier task than slotting into centre-half-forward for a youngster - and maybe a better fit the strengths and weeknesses mentioned here https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/alex-neyland/
That would perhaps allow Brenna to fulfill Ella Heads' former role.

KiamaChris' comments regarding the talent that will already be in our forward line also has merit.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I believed our backline to have been very short on height. So if Neyland could start down back, an easier task than slotting into centre-half-forward for a youngster - and maybe a better fit the strengths and weeknesses mentioned here https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/alex-neyland/
That would perhaps allow Brenna to fulfill Ella Heads' former role.

KiamaChris' comments regarding the talent that will already be in our forward line also has merit.

Thanks for the kind comment.
While I agree that we could use some more marking power in defence I'm not sure that Alex is the best fit.
I would start Alex at HFF not CHF. Too big an ask for a debutant.
Zippy is already filling much of the Ella Heads role superbly and I wouldn't change that just yet plus that's not really Brenna's skill set. She's a stopper.

 

[RnR from RWO]

You could well be right regarding Alex. I've only see highlights, so I know f.all - but HFF?
The Swans already have Molloy, Hamilton x 2, Grunden, Martin and McCarthy in the que for those spots.

The Ella = Zippy thing I'll need to keep congitating on.

 

[Kiama Chris]

You could well be right regarding Alex. I've only see highlights, so I know f.all - but HFF?
The Swans already have Molloy, Hamilton x 2, Grunden, Martin and McCarthy in the que for those spots.

The Ella = Zippy thing I'll need to keep congitating on.

One of the (very nice to have) "problems" with Alex is her versatility. It's been noted that she could play almost anywhere. We could offer up almost any position as a possibility and not be wrong. More a matter of what's best for her development and for team balance and definitely a matter of opinion. IMO she's the only draftee likely to be ready to go Round 1.
As to Ella and Zippy my recollection is that Ella's main responsibilities with the ball were kick-ins and release from half back to the centre line. In defence she took an opponent. This is largely what Zippy did this season, though IMO more dynamically and without as much defensive impact. She could play midfield but again it's a question of what's best for team balance. What she brought to that role was pretty unique. Brenna is not a particularly good kick, which both Ella and Zippy are, not all.that dynamic on the run.
Nice discussion to be having.

 

[joeykanga]

Wow this is so impressive. Do yourselves a favour and watch till the end. The amount of work amd dedication is amazing. And all the while training with her younger sister Quinn or Quinno. How good is she going to be.
The trainer says he's never seen a better marker than Alex in all his time.

 

[Kiama Chris]

You could well be right regarding Alex. I've only see highlights, so I know f.all - but HFF?
The Swans already have Molloy, Hamilton x 2, Grunden, Martin and McCarthy in the que for those spots.

The Ella = Zippy thing I'll need to keep congitating on.

One of the (very nice to have) "problems" with Alex is her versatility. It's been noted that she could play almost anywhere. We could offer up almost any position as a possibility and not be wrong. More a matter of what's best for her development and for team balance and definitely a matter of opinion. IMO she's the only draftee likely to be ready to go Round 1.
As to Ella and Zippy my recollection is that Ella's main responsibilities with the ball were kick-ins and release from half back to the centre line. In defence she took an opponent. This is largely what Zippy did this season, though IMO more dynamically and without as much defensive impact. She could play midfield but again it's a question of what's best for team balance. What she brought to that role was pretty unique. Brenna is not a particularly good kick, which both Ella and Zippy are, not all.that dynamic on the run.
Nice discussion to be having.

Wow this is so impressive. Do yourselves a favour and watch till the end. The amount of work amd dedication is amazing. And all the while training with her younger sister Quinn or Quinno. How good is she going to be.
The trainer says he's never seen a better marker than Alex in all his time.

Round 1 mark it up. Only debate is what position. Quinno next?

 

[joeykanga]

One of the (very nice to have) "problems" with Alex is her versatility. It's been noted that she could play almost anywhere. We could offer up almost any position as a possibility and not be wrong. More a matter of what's best for her development and for team balance and definitely a matter of opinion. IMO she's the only draftee likely to be ready to go Round 1.
As to Ella and Zippy my recollection is that Ella's main responsibilities with the ball were kick-ins and release from half back to the centre line. In defence she took an opponent. This is largely what Zippy did this season, though IMO more dynamically and without as much defensive impact. She could play midfield but again it's a question of what's best for team balance. What she brought to that role was pretty unique. Brenna is not a particularly good kick, which both Ella and Zippy are, not all.that dynamic on the run.
Nice discussion to be having.

Round 1 mark it up. Only debate is what position. Quinno next?

Don't forget Macy in between.
Its such a talented and dedicated family.
What cant Quinno do also a top swimmer.

Gold medal for Neyland | Hunter River Times

Singleton swimmer Quin Neyland has qualified for the School Sports Australia Swimming Championships to be held in late August.

hunterrivertimes.com.au

 

[Callipygian]

Wow this is so impressive. Do yourselves a favour and watch till the end. The amount of work amd dedication is amazing. And all the while training with her younger sister Quinn or Quinno. How good is she going to be.
The trainer says he's never seen a better marker than Alex in all his time.

Thanks, I enjoyed that! However, it was also a bit self-promotional on the part of enhanced football. I'm mindful that's it completely in their interests to highlight how much they helped Aly with everything.

The key things I took away were:

* marking is her weapon - she is really elite at this skill and she needs to make it tell in-game

* kicking and composure are challenges for her. while she has improved she needs to keep working at this

* she needs to value handballs more by which I understood she shouldn't seek merely to get rid of the ball before she is pinged but she needs to look to use the ball effectively and do damage with her disposals. In the same vein they were encouraging her not simply to dispose of the ball immediately on being tackled but to "test the tackle" (a bit risky because I suspect it sharply increases the chance of being caught HTB (especially in W) but probably worth doing especially at lower levels, to build her confidence in her skills.

Quinno seems to share a strong work ethic and be very determined to succeed at AFLW. Still another 4 years off (?) - but she could be a ripper when the time comes.