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AFLW draft wrap

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Roar Rookie
23rd October, 2018
7

The AFLW draft is done for another year, with the league welcoming 67 new players into the fold.

Let’s take a look at each club’s picks and identify the young gun, role filler and surprise packet.

Adelaide Crows

Young gun
Danielle Ponter was always destined to play AFL. With relatives including Cyril Rioli and Michael Long, Danielle spent much of her childhood with footy in hand. An AFLW Academy product, the silky forward/midfielder could fill the gap left by Ruth Wallace.

Role filler
The Crows needed midfield depth and Nikki Gore answers that call. The contested ball winner and SANFLW Rising Star will work well in tight with Ebony Marinoff and, at only 17, has plenty more development in her.

Surprise packet
Sensing another mature-age superstar, Adelaide pounced on 35-year-old Jess Foley with pick 30. The former Opal was named in the SANFLW Team of the Year and will provide ruck support to Rhiannon Metcalfe.

Foley will also line up alongside former Adelaide Lightning teammate Erin Phillips, with the Crows hoping she can replicate the latter’s rapid rise from the inaugural AFLW season.

Brisbane Lions

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Young gun
With arguably the best talent pool in the country, the Lions drafted a number of youngsters who will keep them firmly in the premiership conversation.

In her first year of senior women’s football, Tori Groves-Little was named joint winner of the QWAFL best and fairest award. The pacey winger could fill the hole left by the outgoing Kaitlyn Ashmore.

Role filler
With Tahlia Randall’s move to North Melbourne, the Lions were after a first-choice ruck, and that’s exactly what they got with Lauren Bella. At 188cm, Bella has been the standout ruck of the past two Under-18 carnivals, earning All Australian selection both years.

Surprise packet
The player isn’t the surprise but more so the club of destination. McKenzie Dowrick has long been touted as a star of the future but her decision to nominate for Queensland rather than her home state of Western Australia surprised. Brisbane pounced on the talented youngster and long-time mate of Arianna Clarke, the duo set to line up down in defence.

Carlton

Young gun
Had it been an open draft, the name Madison Prespakis could have easily been called at pick one. With a list of accolades as long as they come, Prespakis finds space where others can’t and will slot straight into the Blues’ preferred line up in 2019.

After being named joint best player of the Under-18s carnival in 2018, equalling her feat from 2017, the commentators will be calling her name for years to come.

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Role filler
After losing a few key defenders to expansion club North Melbourne, Carlton needed to sure up their stocks down back. Jayde Van Dyk had her name called by the Blues at pick 21 and will look to replicate the form that saw her take out the Hawthorn VFLW best and fairest and VFLW Rising Star award, alongside being named in defence in the VFLW team of the year.

Surprise packet
Abbie McKay made history at the 2018 draft, becoming the first father-daughter recruit in the AFLW. The midfielder represented Vic Metro at this year’s National Championships and was selected to attend the AFLW draft Combine.

Collingwood

Young gun
Academy member Jordyn Allen joined the Pies at pick 5. Allen earnt all Australian Selection at this year’s championships, where she also captained a star-studded Vic Country side who won all but one game. The defender will slot into the back six nicely, with the loss of Jess Duffin, Chloe Molloy and Caitlyn Edwards for 2019.

Role filler
After being raided by opposition clubs, the Pies were after goal kickers and Katie Lynch fits the bill. With a strong overhead mark and dangerous goal sense, Lynch played a handful of games with the Collingwood VFLW side towards the end of the season and performed well against older players.

Surprise packet
Jordan Membrey gets her second crack at AFLW after playing a handful of games for the Lions in 2017, including their grand final loss. The forward/midfielder captained the Gold Coast Suns in this year’s winter series, while also tasting premiership success with the Wilston Grange Gorillas in the QWAFL grand final.

Fremantle

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Young gun
Sabreena Duffy captained Western Australia at this year’s championships and capped off a great year with All Australian selection. Duffy can play about anywhere and took out the Cath Boyce rookie of the year award at the 2017 WAWFL awards night.

Role filler
After being passed up by Fremantle in the first two AFLW drafts, Claremont product Jasmin Stewart finally gets her chance. The 19-year-old is a contested bull who captained WA at the Under 18s championships in 2016. Stewart took out her club’s best and fairest this year and will complement Kara Donnellan in the middle.

Surprise packet
Courtney Stubbs has recently picked up a Sherrin again after forging a career in athletics and basketball. The PE teacher can play both through the middle and up forward with her explosive pace.

Geelong

Young gun
You can’t go past Nina Morrison, who was the coveted number one pick. The joint winner of best player at the Under-18 championships is an exceptional ball winner who played some VFLW with the Cats, including the grand final, this year. In just two years, she’s taken the footy world by storm and will slot into the midfield nicely.

Role filler
After primarily signing older players in the expansion signing period, the Cats were on the lookout for youth. Olivia Purcell is another gun midfielder who racked up 28 touches against Western Australia on the Gold Coast. The youngster also played for the Cats in their VFLW grand final loss and will look to replicate the form that saw her earn Under-18 All Australian selection in 2018.

Surprise packet
Sophie Van de Heuvel previously represented Victoria in cricket but has chosen to pick up the Sherrin. The midfielder/forward is damaging with ball in hand and was another to earn All Australian selection at this year’s Under-18s carnival.

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Greater Western Sydney


Young gun
Alyce Parker is a steal at pick 12. In an open draft, she could have easily been called out at pick one but instead the Giants grab the Holbrook local with their first pick. A two-time All Australian, Parker already looks right at home in the orange and white after playing for the Southern Giants in the winter series.

Role filler
The Giants went to the draft looking to bolster their defence and they’ve done that with the addition of Lisa Whiteley. Formerly a state netball representative, Whiteley was a member of the South Adelaide premiership winning side and can provide support at either end of the ground.

Surprise packet
Brittany Perry has switched the cricket bat for a footy. The former Adelaide Strikers WBBL squad member had a standout year in the SANFLW, earning selection in the team of the year. Speed and pressure will see Perry play through the middle with the ability to hit the scoreboard when thrown forward.

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Melbourne

Young gun
The Dees used their first pick on Tyla Hanks. The speedy youngster earnt All Australian selection in 2018 and will be used up forward, with the potential to lock down a midfield spot in the coming years.

Role filler
Captain Daisy Pearce is set to sit out 2019 with the arrival of twins, leaving Melbourne with midfielders on their mind. Madeline Brancatisano was selected at pick 15 and will add depth with her pace and exceptional clearance ability.

Surprise packet
You wouldn’t want to be chased down by Shelley Heath. Melbourne used pick 44 to select Heath, an Australian Taekwondo champion and elite tackler. The pressure forward can also play on the wing or as a lock-down defender.

North Melbourne

Young gun
2018 was Daisy Bateman’s first full year of AFL after dipping in and out of the game in the past. The youngster impressed, earning All Australian selection and kicking two goals in the Allies vs Vics game. After representing Collingwood in the VFLW throughout the year, North Melbourne picked up one of the better small forwards of the draft.

Role filler
At 19, Courtney Munn is a proven goal kicker who will add another dimension to the Roos’ forward line in 2019 after representing the Southern Saints in the VFLW this season.

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Surprise packet
A basketballer growing up, Libby Haines should fit in well at the Roos, especially with her twin sister also donning the blue and white in 2019. The Tasmanian native finished in the top five of the 2km time trial and 20m sprint at the AFLW combine and will look to use her closing speed to lock down opponents in defence.

Western Bulldogs
Young gun
Sandringham Dragons youngster Eleanor Brown was the first addition to the kennel. Her versatility, work rate and agility impressed the Dogs, who pounced at pick 10. Brown represented Vic Metro at this year’s national championships and earnt All Australian selection.

Role filler
After being overlooked by the Dockers last year, Kate Bartlett nominated for Victoria and provides tall forward insurance should Isabel Huntington not recover in time for Season 3 The key forward snagged seven in last year’s Under-18s Championships matchup against NSW/ACT and earnt selection in the All Australian side, a feat she repeated this year.

With Katie Brennan set to return from injury, Dogs fans can look forward to KBx2 wreaking havoc in the forward line in 2019.

Surprise packet
Following the impact of Cora Staunton last season, the Dogs have picked up an Irish import of their own. At pick 23, the Dogs selected Aisling McCarthy, who graduated their cross-coders program earlier this year. The forward impressed with her speed and will add another dimension to an already potent forward line.

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