Holly Ridewood is a rising midfield talent whose leadership, endurance and ball use have made her one of the standout draft stories of 2024. A late starter in footy, Ridewood began playing in 2020 and quickly rose through the ranks, captaining the Northern Knights in the Coates Talent League and earning selection for Vic Metro after initially missing the summer hub.

Her top-age season was a breakout, averaging 11.9 disposals, 4.3 tackles and 2.8 inside 50s per game, while also contributing on the scoreboard. Ridewood’s booming kick and versatility saw her transition from a rebounding defender to a wing/midfield role, where she thrived as a clearance winner and outside runner.

Drafted by Essendon with pick 12, she made her AFLW debut in Round 1 of the 2025 season and wasted no time making an impact. Ridewood played every game in her debut campaign, showcasing her durability, versatility and work rate. She announced herself with a memorable two-goal performance on debut and consistently applied strong defensive pressure throughout the season, averaging multiple tackles per match while continuing to develop her ball use at AFLW level.

Off the field, Ridewood is known for her humility, competitive drive and strong connection to her junior club, Heidelberg JFC.

Drafted from: Northern Knights / Vic Metro

Career Highlights:

• Northern Knights Captain (2024)

• Vic Metro representative (2024)

• AFLW Debut: Round 1, 2025