The AFLW held just its third annual draft on Tuesday, and the feeling of optimism and anxiety was more than palpable than ever; realising the dream of playing Australian rules football for women at the elite level is still so new, it is filled with infinite possibilities.
Head of women’s football for the AFL, Nicole Livingstone, said in her opening remarks at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium that for young women in Australia, these are “dreams that not so long ago seemed impossible”.
For 2018’s No 1 pick, Nina Morrison, this is especially true. Morrison only took up playing the game two years ago and was highly touted to go first with Geelong. It is an impossible dream now realised.
“It’s a pretty weird thing to consider – two years ago, even at the start of this year, I never thought I would be in the sort of position I am,” Morrison, an Under-18 All-Australian, said. “It’s a big thing to wrap my head around, but I’m sure I will get there. I’m super-excited and can’t wait to get into pre-season ... just get stuck into it.”
Geelong took speedster Sophie Van De Huevel with their second pick and defender Rebecca Webster with pick seven. After developing an impressive VFLW side over the past two years that focused on local talent to be ready for their entry into the AFLW, the Cats are shaping as an exciting side to watch in 2019 as they build on experience.
Carlton got their woman in strong midfielder Maddison Prespakis with the third overall pick as the 2018 wooden spooners look to rebuild and fill some gaps, particularly in the back line with Danielle Hardiman and Kate Gillespie-Jones moving to North Melbourne. Prespakis will be a key figure at the club in the next few years and fans should be excited about what she can deliver. An experienced player, having been in the game since playing Auskick as a junior, she brings class and an ability to shine under pressure that the side was lacking in 2018.
The Blues also made history, for the second time, by adding the AFLW’s first father-daughter selection at pick 16 in Abbie McKay, daughter of Andrew. Carlton were also the first club to sign someone under the father-son rule in 1951 with Harvey Dunn senior and junior.
Twice premiership runners-up Brisbane used pick nine to take Paige Parker, who will add to their backline. The Lions also added exciting defenders Nat Grider and Mckenzie Dowrick and Under-18 All-Australian ruck Lauren Bella to fill the void created by Tahlia Randall’s departure to North Melbourne.
Fremantle looked to lock in local talent before the West Coast Eagles enter the comp in 2020 and secured former WA Under-18 captain and Claremont FC’s fairest and best Jasmin Stewart with pick four. The Dockers also added locals Sabreena Duffy (another WA Under-18 captain), Philipa Seth and Courtney Stubbs.
The Crows, with their first selection at pick eight, went with midfielder Nikki Gore who will be a great addition to Adelaide’s already first class midfield. If Gore can support the likes of Erin Phillips, Chelsea Randall and Ebony Marinoff around the ball, they threaten to be an unstoppable unit.
The second new team to enter the competition in 2019, North Melbourne, had done most of their work during the trade period, securing some of the league’s biggest stars including 2018 MVP Emma Kearney as well as Moana Hope, Kaitlyn Ashmore, Jasmine Garner and Jess Duffin.
On Tuesday, the Kangaroos selected small forward Daisy Bateman with their first selection at pick 25, while the club also took this year’s most talked about twins – Chloe and Libby Haines (picks 53 and 56 respectively) from Tasmania.
The Haines twins have already caused a degree of anxiety to journalists and will continue to do so should they meet Carlton and the league’s other twins Sarah and Jess Hosking. Though given the structure of the proposed fixture, reporters may be spared a tough assignment as not all teams will play each other.
Collingwood have been severely affected by exiting players, especially in Moana Hope, Jasmine Garner, Jess Duffin and young gun Chloe Molloy to injury. The Pies picked defender/midfielder Jordyn Allen with their first selection at pick five and tall forward Katie Lynch at pick 11. There are big shoes to fill at Collingwood and the pressure for these women to perform will be immediate.
The Giants were thrilled to take an All-Australian captain at pick 12 in Alyce Parker, who had to race off after being selected in the first round of the 2018 draft to sit an agriculture HSC exam. GWS also added speed, defence and a ruck in Brittany Perry, Lisa Whiteley and Ingrid Nielsen.
Melbourne selected talented midfielder Tyla Hanks with pick six and they attempt to replace the irreplaceable Daisy Pearce, who sits the season out during her pregnancy. The Dees also took Madeline Brancarisano to contribute to the pace of their midfield, and NT based utility Jordann Hickey.
And the reigning premiers, Western Bulldogs, went tall with their first selection in Eleanor Brown at pick 10. Brown said afterwards she could not believe how early she went and will join schoolmate Aisling Utri at the Dogs for the defence of their premiership.
Despite losing Kearney, the Bulldogs will be welcome back a healthy and un-suspended Katie Brennan in 2019 and as such should remain fierce contenders.
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