IT TAKES a rare 18-year-old to impact the AFLW competition straight away, and led by Collingwood's Jordy Allen, the draft class of 2018 are fast finding their feet.

It's easy to get distracted by the accolades achieved at an astonishingly early age by some of their peers: Maddy Prespakis was the 2020 AFLW best and fairest and both Prespakis and Tyla Hanks have won NAB AFLW Rising Star awards.

Alyce Parker is a three-time best and fairest at GWS, while Nat Grider was named All-Australian for the 2022 season.

The No.1 pick in the draft, Nina Morrison, has had seasons decimated by serious knee injuries, but looks to be getting back towards her best.

Allen, now 22, was a talented junior who had previously performed well at AFLW level, but is now dominating matches.

The defender is pushing further afield, having greater say in games, and is coming equal-eighth in the AFLCA count, with the same number of votes as reigning champion Emily Bates.

* played some time up forward

Now with 32 games under her belt, Allen is one of an increasing number of fifth-season players who are taking ownership of games.

Those of the 2018 draft class who were 18 when signed to AFLW clubs are now 22, driving standards in fitness, skills and game awareness as the competition develops.

The Western Bulldogs' backline is directed by Eleanor Brown (pick No.10) and Katie Lynch (No.11, via Collingwood), who have grown into to the enormous responsibility given to them in the young defensive group.

Collingwood hit the 2018 draft hard after a poor season, landing tenacious midfielder Mikala Cann (No.13) and Allen's close defensive teammate in Lauren Butler (No.18), whose assuredness has seen her add a layer of attack to her game.

Brisbane's spearhead Jesse Wardlaw (No.61) is one of the toughest key forwards to match up on and is ironing out her inconsistent performances, while premiership teammate Jade Ellenger was only signed as an injury replacement player but is now a mainstay of the Lions' side.

It's hard to believe dynamic Adelaide forward Danielle Ponter (No.48) is only 22, such is the impact she's had at the Crows, and last season's leading goalkicker Ash Woodland joined Melbourne (now at Adelaide) as an undrafted free agent.

Liv Purcell (No.14) looks back to her ferocious best after a knee reconstruction, while fellow midfielders Becky Webster (No.7), Maddy Brancatisano (No.15) and Abbie McKay (No.16, father-daughter selection) are all playing important roles for Geelong, Richmond and Carlton respectively.

Shelley Heath (No.44) and Laura Pugh (No.59) are fast making a names for themselves as lockdown specialists, and ruck Lauren Bella (No.45) has added more strings to her bow, finding more of the footy around the ground.

Finally, it's a brave defender who leaves one of Aisling McCarthy (No.23), Daisy Bateman (No.25) or Chloe Scheer (No.37) unattended, with all three having won games off their own boot.