Bulldogs pick Newtown first, Moana Hope withdraws from AFLW draft

Western Bulldogs have used the No.1 pick at the AFLW draft to secure Northern Knights midfielder/forward Gabby Newton.

Western Bulldogs have taken Northern Knights midfielder Gabby Newton with the No.1 pick at Tuesday’s AFLW draft at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

Carlton pounced on Geelong Falcons midfielder Lucy McEvoy with the second overall selection and Brisbane used the No.3 pick on Maroochydore midfielder Lily Postletwaite.

“It’s absolutely crazy … I can’t believe this day has finally come and I’m so happy to be a part of the Western Bulldogs,” Newton said.

“I was hoping (I’d go No.1) but I wasn’t sure.

“… My whole family is so excited, it’s been such a long lead up, so for them to have me so stressed out all the time it’s good for them that I’ve finally been drafted.”

The Bulldogs obtained the first pick when Monique Conti was traded to expansion club Richmond, and they held four of the first seven Victorian selections.

Maggie Gorham from Belconnen went to GWS at pick No.4 with St Kilda landing winger Georgia Patrikios from the Calder Cannons with the fifth overall selection.

Patrikios, who was named player of the AFLW under-18 championships, was touted as a possible top pick after a very strong year with the Cannons.

The Bulldogs and Cats drafted Isabella Grant (daughter of Chris) and Millie Brown (daughter of Paul), respectively, as father-daughter picks.

In a surprise move, former Collingwood and North Melbourne forward Moana Hope withdrew her nomination on the morning of the draft and will take a year off before attempting to rekindle her stalled career.

The AFLW draft differs from the AFL men’s draft in that players can nominate the region that they are eligible to be selected in due to the competition’s part-time nature.

In Victoria, players can nominate for all eight clubs in the state, for Geelong specifically or the Melbourne metropolitan region – which covers seven teams and excludes the Cats.

There are now 14 clubs in the AFLW, after the additions of the Tigers, West Coast, Gold Coast and St Kilda, but the first round of the draft had 18 selections, due to expansion compensation picks.