Pakenham Football Club’s Abby Hobson is well positioned to be selected in next Monday’s AFLW Draft, set to take place at Marvel Stadium.
A member of Kooweerup’s Hobson family, esteemed in local footballing circles, Hobson represented talent pathway programs Vic Country and Gippsland Power in 2025.
After 31 goals in 20 games at Talent League level prior to this year, Hobson booted 20 goals in 13 games to cement her status as one of the draft’s best marking forwards.
A three goal, 10-mark game in a final at a windswept Shepley Oval against Murray Bushrangers was her last game of the season and it surged her stocks.
Having already long been a name circled on team sheets by recruiters, her ability to lead and launch at the footy and take clean grabs in difficult conditions – standing up with some important players missing – stuck out to industry sources as the clear on-field highlight of her year.
For some, it confirmed she had the breadth of skill to invest in at the next level.
“I felt like I had to step up that game because it was a final and I presented my game well all day,” Hobson said.
“When I’m asked my best game, I always say that one.”
Hobson has strong ties to both the Pakenham and Kooweerup Football Clubs.
The key forward kicked four goals in Pakenham’s senior women’s 2024 premiership side – a game she played in runners, rather than footy boots, as she had been sidelined for the previous two months with a foot stress fracture.
She played four years at Pakenham, including two in the senior side, establishing herself as the leading talent among a strong contingent of Gippsland Power-listed players at the club.
“Pakenham has set me up to get me to where I am now,” Hobson said.
“Having James Perkins as a coach during U16s helped me a lot and gave the confidence I needed.
“I doubted myself a bit in juniors because I didn’t think I was good enough but the girls have been phenomenal and have helped me a lot.
“Then (coming) to the seniors and winning a premiership under (coach) Rick Stalker and (vice-captain) Courtney (Stephens) and (captain) Chloe Nagel was one of my highlights.
“I’m glad I was part of it and could contribute to the win.
“Hearing the final siren and seeing the smile on everyone’s faces, knowing I had helped them get there, was like nothing I had felt before.
“I was always told to back myself and stick to my strengths and I feel like those people helped get me here today.”
Her association with Kooweerup runs long and deep – Dad, Brett, is part of the coaching panel, brother Josh plays for the U16s, uncle Steve, cousins Bryce Hobson and Mitch Alderson are also involved and grandfather Rob Hobson is a renowned figure and former player at the Demons.
Gippsland Power train together only once per week due to geographic challenges, with Abby using other days to train with Kooweerup’s senior side, often multiple times per week, throughout 2025.
“The fundamentals and skills was a big thing that the training helped with,” Hobson reflected.
“Trying to mark not on my chest at training and that translated into games as well and I feel like it helped my fitness and the competitiveness against boys was tough.”
Rob has been an influential figure in Abby’s footy journey, regularly offering his advice and watching vision.
A significant point-of-difference in Hobson’s arsenal is her contested marking, a skill she puts down to Rob, who emphasised with Abby marking with her hands rather than her chest.
Nathan Boyd, who coached Hobson from her four goal Talent League debut in 2023 until midway through this year, noted that the tall forward’s ability to provide defensive relief by presenting high up the ground is a compelling trait.
To further strengthen that this year, Hobson, with teammates Ella Stoddart and Rebecca Fitzpatrick – has received running coaching from Craig Huffer, an Australian 1500 metre runner.
“She has a point of difference aerially and gives a strong representation releasing from the backline,” Boyd said of Hobson.
“She kept showing up for us jumping for the footy.
“It’s an area of strength of hers and addresses a skill deficit around the AFLW competition.”
To pursue her strong footballing pedigree, Hobson gave up a fledgling tennis career.
Aged 14, she was ranked in Australia’s top 100 players of her age group, representing Berwick and Kooyong Tennis Clubs, coached by Ian Barclay who helped Pat Cash win a Wimbledon championship.
She was training up to four times per week and playing until 2022, when she was forced to surrender one sport to give herself the best chance of success in the other, with the team environment of footy winning out.
“I nearly made the state team with one hand, my brother broke my wrist doing a Tiktok, so that was interesting,” Hobson quipped.
“I enjoyed it a lot, it was a very individual sport, compared to footy where you are always around your teammates and don’t rely on yourself so much.
“I feel like that’s why when I went to footy at Kooweerup juniors, I fell in love with the game and Mum and Dad couldn’t keep me away from the footy ovals so I chose footy over tennis.
“The quick feet movement with the ground balls helps a bit, running up and down, side to side around the court and serving helps with upper body strength.”
Conditioning was a key improvement for Hobson in 2025, following an injury that thwarted the end of her 2024 campaign.
That enforced absence has given her a strong understanding of what is required off-field to thrive at the next level.
“I would bring my strengths; I’m a happy person being around the club and I would take advantage of all the facilities and making connections with people,” Hobson said when asked what she would offer an AFLW club.
“They would get 110 per cent out of me.
“I have shown all through my footy career and training that I’m determined and if I get an opportunity it would be great but we’ll just have to wait.”
