IT was a history-making season for Port Adelaide as 16 players made their league debut in the club’s inaugural AFLW season.

But what the side lacked in wins, it made up for in memorable moments and special individual performances.

We’ve ranked five of our favourite debuts from Season 7.

5. Olivia Levicki – Round 1

Olivia Levicki’s debut was not only her first game at AFLW level, it was her first game of football ever. Levicki made the code switch from basketball after being scouted by captain Erin Phillips at an ANZAC Day NBL1 match. The 188-centimetre former WNBL player was put through her paces by senior coach Lauren Arnell and list manager Naomi Maidment before being awarded a shot at AFLW as a rookie. She then went on to play every game of Season 7, even kicking two majors.

4. Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap – Round 9

Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap’s debut was special for a reason that will live forever in the history books – she and sister Litonya became the first Indigenous twins to play together in the AFLW. The pair also took the field alongside mentor and fellow Indigenous woman Gemma Houghton in her 50^th league game. Laquoiya became the 30^th and final member of the inaugural Port Adelaide women’s team to make their club debut.

3. Lily Johnson – Round 8

Fresh from the 2022 AFLW Draft, a wide-eyed Lily Johnson trained hard for months before finally earning her opportunity in Round 8. The 18-year-old forward made her debut in Pride Round against North Melbourne in front of a raucous home crowd at Alberton. In a pressure-filled game, Johnson slotted a thumping goal from 45 metres to bring her side to within three points of the Kangaroos just before half-time. Johnson also recorded five touches, two marks and a tackle.

2. Ella Boag – Round 6

Just days before returning to school after the term three holidays, year 12 student Ella Boag made her AFLW debut in front of more than 20,000 fans at Adelaide Oval. The added pressure of Friday night footy under lights and the first ever AFLW Showdown didn’t perturb the 18-year-old, who quickly settled in on the wing. With 10 touches and five marks, Boag was a promising shining light in an otherwise tough day at the office for the Power. Arnell even name-dropped Boag in her post-match press conference, stating she “was brilliant on the wing.”

1. Abbey Dowrick – Round 1

The undisputed queen of Port Adelaide debuts, Abbey Dowrick tops our list after a spectacular on-field performance in Round 1. She was nominated as one of two AFLW Rising Stars in the first round of the season and went on to be named runner-up Rising Star for the league, behind teammate Hannah Ewings. On debut, the smooth-moving Western Australian collected a game-high 21 disposals (equal with experienced North Melbourne campaigner Emma Swanson), six clearances, seven marks and four tackles.

Special mentions:
Long before winning the club Best and Fairest crown, Hannah Ewings racked up 10 disposals and four tackles in her Round 1 debut, while Yasmin Duursma recorded 11 touches and three tackles on debut in Round 3.

Full list of Port Adelaide debuts in Season 7:

Round 1: Abbey Dowrick, Julia Teakle, Liz McGrath, Olivia Levicki, Alex Ballard, Sachi Syme, Amelie Borg, Hannah Ewings.

Round 2: None

Round 3: Yasmin Duursma, Jade Halfpenny

Round 4: Sarah Goodwin

Round 5: None

Round 6: Ella Boag, Tessa Doumanis

Round 7: Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap

Round 8: Lily Johnson

Round 9: Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap

Round 10: None