While the men’s league stumbles through the last throes of the Trade Period with everyone eyeing each other off from across the hall like a year 7 social waiting for the insanity of the final day and the hurricane of awkward fumbling therein, the women’s league has welcomed a new class of gun youngsters into the fold. Today’s AFLW Draft saw 47 young women realise their dream of playing top-line AFL football, with the league’s 8 teams picking the cream of the recruiting crop.
Young gun Izzy Huntington made history earlier today by becoming the league’s second-ever overall number-one draft pick, following in the footsteps of Nicola Barr who was taken first overall in last year’s inaugural draft.
Huntington was selected by the Western Bulldogs with the first overall pick, with the speedy, versatile player expected to fill forward-line duties alongside Bulldogs star Katie Brennan.
The moment Isabel became a Bulldog 😊 #AFLWDraft #RealStrength pic.twitter.com/h3dfDJCQlB
— WesternBulldogs AFLW (@BulldogsW) October 18, 2017
Huntington’s selection as the overall first pick was something of a foregone conclusion, with many recruiting experts regarding her as an exceptionally intelligent and agile footballer that some labelled “the total package.”
The Fremantle Dockers used their prized number 2 pick to re-draft Stephanie Cain, who was de-listed by the Dockers at the conclusion of this year’s historic inaugural AFLW season.
In case you missed it, cop this quick wrap of the top 8 picks in this year’s AFLW Draft.
- Isabel Huntington (Western Bulldogs) – A versatile, intelligent footballer who can play forward or back just as well as she can in the midfield.
- Stephanie Cain (Fremantle) – Re-drafted after being de-listed at the end of the 2017 season. A classy midfielder with a massive work ethic.
- Chloe Molloy (Collingwood) – Key forward in sparkling form. Tied for the VFLW’s leading goalkicker award this season while starring for Diamond Head.
- Monique Conti (Western Bulldogs) – Fast midfielder, continues a tradition for the Bulldogs of recruiting from Melbourne Uni.
- Jodie Hicks (GWS Giants) – Didn’t attend the combine, but presents as a serious target with an exceptional overhead mark. Also plays in the WBBL.
- Eden Zanker (Melbourne) – Tall and powerful key forward from Bendigo who, while still learning the game, has used her height to great advantage.
- Jordan Zanchetta (Brisbane Lions) – Now officially the smallest player in the AFLW, a whip-quick mid still recovering from an ACL tear.
- Jess Allan (Adelaide) – Tall ruck, who joins her sister Sarah at the reigning premiers.
Catch up on every NAB #AFLWDraft pick from 1-49: https://t.co/C3X9mhn9vg pic.twitter.com/37NurOrKAJ
— AFL Women’s (@aflwomens) October 18, 2017
But the highlights aren’t merely contained to the top 8. Elsewhere in the draft a handful of gems were to be found, from 36-year-old Jodie White who finally finds her way into an AFL system via Fremantle’s pick number 18, Tassie bolter Daria Bannister from the mighty Launceston Football Club who goes to the Bulldogs at 19, former WNBL basketballer Tegan Cunningham who arrives at Melbourne via pick 22, and Cora Staunton, a legendary Gaelic footballer who, with GWS’s pick 45, becomes the first international player to be drafted into the AFLW.
Gaelic @LadiesFootball star Cora Staunton is now a GIANT.
Expect to see Cora in our forward line in 2018. #AFLWDraft #NeverSurrender pic.twitter.com/ns0htYREtN
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) October 18, 2017
Congratu-bloody-lations, champions!
The 2018 AFLW season is scheduled to kick off next February.
