With the countdown to Season 8 well and truly on, AFL Women's shed some light on which of our girls under 23 you should be excited about.

Hit the ground running 

By virtue of holding her place in a strong Brisbane side that has made finals in every season since she joined the club, tough midfielder Belle Dawes has played more games than any other AFLW player born in 2001 or later, with a career tally of 43. 

Her relentless pressure inside the contest has added another dimension to the Lions' midfield, averaging 12.4 disposals, 3.5 tackles and 2.2 clearances across her career, and is a prominent member of Brisbane's vast young contingent. 

Long-term prospect 

Drafted with pick eight - Brisbane's first - ahead of the 2021 season, it took a year before Zimmorlei Farquharson made her debut in round three of season six. In that first game she announced herself, winning 12 disposals, registering 325 metres gained and kicking a goal, and in turn earning consistent selection for the remainder of the season. Since then, Farquharson has been a reliable contributor at the Lions, but recapturing that debut form has eluded her. More recently, after a finger injury forced her out of the side, she was unable to break back into Brisbane's stacked forward line, ultimately missing November's Grand Final. 

The long-term development of Farquharson is about becoming a first-21 selection - not an easy task given the riches available to coach Craig Starcevich. 

Surprise packet 

Making the leap from crosstown club Gold Coast, Dee Heslop joined the Lions in season seven and thrived, forcing her way into a settled backline. 

Reliable behind the ball, Heslop worked well alongside the likes of Shannon Campbell, Kate Lutkins, Bre Koenen and Nat Grider and assisted in launching scores from the back half. Heslop averaged a career-high 1.2 score involvements and 1.4 marks throughout season seven and featured in Brisbane's fourth Grand Final appearance.