With 24 AFLW games under her belt, Amy Gaylor showcased versatility and leadership in 2025. 

Proving herself a reliable and dynamic asset to the Dons, Gaylor averaged nearly 18 disposals and four tackles per game in a standout season that earned her not one, but two prestigious accolades. 

Named in the 2025 All-Australian squad of 44, and most recently selected in this year’s 22Under22 team, the 20-year-old has reached remarkable heights in just her second AFLW season. 

Proud of the team’s unity and connection, Gaylor is optimistic about the 2026 season, and reflective on her growth as a player.

Gaylor on… the season that was

I feel like my season almost followed the way the team went. I felt like I started really strongly, playing in a new position in the midfield. 

Coming into the season, it was pretty exciting having a new position and I felt like I developed quite well. 

Everything felt achievable at the start of the season and then as the team went through a rough patch, I felt like I kind of went through the same stage. 

We were lucky enough to play against a lot of the really good contest teams, so I feel like I got a lot of learnings out of playing against some of the best midfielders in the comp. 

And then with injuries and changes to the team, I ended up playing back for the last few games of the year, which kind of felt like coming back home. That's where I played all my season last year, so it was nice to go back there and get to see the game in front of me. 

It's been nice to learn a new role, but also still develop my role as a half backer. So hopefully going into next year, I’ll keep building on both of those. 

Gaylor on… team connection

I think in times like this season, it's very easy to just come to training and just get through the slog a bit. 

But credit to our group, you almost couldn't tell win or loss, how we were going in the season, and that's just a credit to the girls that we have. We have such a strong connection, and that's been building for the four years that the side’s been playing. 

This pre-season, I think it was a big focus to build that connection, and we've honestly got to a point where I feel like everyone is so connected. It’s made it easier to have harder conversations but also be able to support each other. 

Looking on the end of the season, there's definitely so many learnings we can take from it, and I'm proud of how the group rallied together in that period. 

Gaylor on… where she plays her best football 

It's a hard one. I feel like, off the half-back, I'm able to use my intercept ability and read the ball. 

But then again being in the midfield, I get to be a contest player and try to deliver that ball out to the outside runners. 

So, I'd probably be sitting somewhere in the middle, developing both of those positions - and I think both roles complement each other really well. 

Gaylor on… her growth as a player

Looking at this year, I've really worked on the mental side of the game and changed my mindset around game day. 

I used to just get so nervous before games, but I think I’ve gotten to a point where I'm confident in my game and confident in my skills, and I feel like that's shown out on field. 

I've really tried to step into a bit more of a leadership role this year, having new girls come into the program and hopefully being a good role model for them. 

Obviously at the start of the year, we were playing games where we only had one player in the leadership group on field, so I was kind of forced to step into more of that leadership role, which I think really helps my development, and hopefully I can keep doing that over the next few years too. 

Gaylor on… shifting mindset

I heard this on a podcast once. 

You can put so much pressure on game day, so I’ve been working on switching the pressure onto the trainings and all the one percenters. So, the recovery, how you go out to training, putting myself under pressure - those moments. 

So, when I get to the game, I'm as prepared as I can be, and knowing that I've done everything I can to perform the way I want to. 

So that's probably been the biggest mindset switch for me. 

Gaylor on… working towards 2026

I think our biggest work on as a team on would definitely be our attack. 

When we did it well, there were such promising signs, but it's like, how do we then bring it consistently? How do we put more speed on the ball? How do we get the ball inside 50 more? Because we've got strong forwards, how do we get it in their hands a bit more? 

We also fielded quite a young side coming into this season, so getting another preseason into all of them, more time training together and continuing to build that connection on field. 

I have faith that we're not far off it. 

Read more on Amy's achievements: