There were cheers in the war room when Tess Craven was still available with the 13th pick in the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft, and, to anybody who's watched her play, it's clear to see why.
Craven is a player who exudes confidence through the midfield, and her quick release kick and efficient handballing means she very rarely misses a target. Her 2022 pre-season was interrupted by a foot injury, but she showed enough quality to earn a place in the round one side to face Geelong, however she was primarily playing as a forward. A natural midfielder, Craven’s biggest area of improvement over the 2022 season has been her versatility and she now possesses the ability to be a genuine threat ahead of the ball. Transitioning from playing against fellow underage players into an open-age competition sometimes takes time, and although her 2022 season didn’t result in much senior action, Craven has used her first season at senior level to set herself up well for a big future in royal blue and white.
