14 October 2026
Rookie Me Central's Peter Williams has profiled HAD Football client Lacey Nihill, a top-age prospect for the 2026 AFLW National Draft from the Bendigo Pioneers.
Twelve months earlier, Lacey missed selection in the Under 17 Futures squad. In 2026, she earned a place in the Vic Country team at the AFL Under 18 National Championships and an invitation to the AFLW National Draft Combine. "It meant the world to me," Lacey told Rookie Me Central.
Lacey is one of the most versatile players in the 2026 AFLW draft pool. She has played on-ball, on the wing, down forward and across half-back, and her speed and endurance make her a strong runner and carrier who can break lines. At the Combine she ran 5:50 in the 1.6km time trial, sixth best in the group.
Lacey has worked with HAD Football since 2025. Her program has focused on building her confidence and improving her kicking, the same area she highlights in the article as a key part of her development.
She is now a prospect for the 2026 AFLW National Draft, and is ready to relocate to whichever club picks her.
Read the full interview on Rookie Me Central. See Lacey's Combine results in our other post, and read what recruiters take from the Combine in Draft Ready Part 3.