Essendon has swooped on Nalu Brothwell with pick No.50 in the 2025 Telstra AFLW Draft.

For the 18-year-old, a stellar 2025 season held development in spades, continually elevating to rise up draft estimations over the course of the season.

A 171cm forward, Brothwell’s contested marking and physical competitiveness make her a unique prospect as an often-undersized key forward, able to push up the ground and provide solid defensive pressure.

Brothwell averaged an impressive 15 disposals per game for Dandenong and slotted 13 goals in as many games for the campaign, with analysts impressed by her creativity in setting up teammates as well as hitting the scoreboard herself.

She joins identical twin Mizuki on an AFL list tonight, her sister selected by the Bulldogs earlier in the evening.