AFLW Indigenous Round honouree joins All-Australian panel

Jarred Cross Published August 6, 2026 at 4.30pm (AWST)

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Kirby Bentley has been appointed to the AFLW's All-Australian panel. Image: Fremantle FC.

Inaugural AFLW star Kirby Bentley has joined the competition's All-Australian panel ahead of its 11th season.

The former Fremantle Docker and Carlton Blue played in the first three seasons of the AFLW, and has since continued her impact on the game in coaching, development and pathways and as last year's honouree for Indigenous Round.

Before football, she played netball at the elite level with West Coast Fever and Western Sting.

Bentley has been appointed to the panel alongside fellow 'pioneers' of women's footy Debbie Lee, Meghan McDonald.

It comes with the departure of two-time AFLW best-and-fairest and new Suns general manager of football Erin Phillips, Jason Bennett, and Warumungu / Yawurum woman and footy media personality Megan Waters.

The panel will help select the All-Australian side announced following during the finals.

"The AFLW All-Australian selection panel plays an important role in recognising the competition's best each season, and we're also pleased to bring in three people with the football experience and credentials of Debbie, Kirby and Meghan," AFLW executive general manager Laura Kane said.

"Each has made an outstanding contribution to women's football, and their perspectives will be a valuable addition to the selection process."

Kirby ran out with Fremantle as an inaugural player in 2017 before joining Carlton for a season in 2019. A season-ending injury had ended her time at the Dockers in 2018.

The Noongar Yamatji star is recognised as an important figure in youth and mental health advocacy, and championing First Nations talent in the game.

*2025 AFLW Indigenous Round honouree Kirby Bentley. Image: Michael Wilson, AFL Photos*

In Western Australia, since 2014, the Kirby Bentley Cup annual round robin provides Indigenous girls aged 13-15 with opportunities to showcase their footy abilities in front of local clubs and WAFLW pathway setups.

Last year she followed Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, Aunty Pam Pedersen, NT football pioneers Ebony Abbott-McCormack and Mary Dunn, and Dockers teammate Alicia Janz when named the AFLW's Indigenous Round honouree for 2025.

The 2026 AFLW All Australian panel includes Bentley, Lee, McDonald and Laura Kane, former footballer Kate McCarthy, commentator and in-house expert Gemma Bastiani and journalists Eliza Reilly and Michael Whiting.