Nominations for the 2014 AFL Women’s Draft are now open.
Draftees will play in an AFL Women’s Exhibition Game at Etihad Stadium prior to Western Bulldogs FC v Melbourne FC on June 29.
FIRST 50 DRAFT PICKS MADE THEIR MARK
Last year’s historic match took place on Saturday, June 29, at 1.45pm on the MCG as the marquee event of AFL Women’s Round 2013.
For the first time women’s teams represented AFL clubs and wore club guernseys.
The teams were formed following the first-ever AFL Women’s Draft.
Players aged 17 years and over from All-Australian teams, AFL Academies and 2013 state teams nominated for the Draft, together with nominations received from interested parties globally and around Australia.
The Draft was live-streamed from the Ryder Room in the MCG to conference rooms in each capital city. Friends and family members gathered with their daughters, sisters and friends to experience the first ever Women’s Draft.
As players were selected, there were squeals of joy, tears of relief and congratulatory embraces from delighted family members.
In some corners of the rooms, however, others sat quietly. Those who missed being drafted were gutted, falling short at their chance to place their name in the history books.
In a nail-biting atmosphere, Daisy Pearce (Darebin, VWFL) was picked up by Melbourne FC as Draft pick #1 and immediately shed a tear. “The realisation that female players could play on the MCG in AFL club colours in an AFL-sanctioned match and that I was the first player selected to do so was quite overwhelming,” said an elated Pearce.
Come match-day and playing for the Hampson-Hardeman Cup, Melbourne Football Club (MFC) and Western Bulldogs Football Club (WBFC) were proudly represented by 50 passionate and talented female athletes. At the conclusion of the historic game, Pearce also picked up the umpire’s votes for best on ground.
Others ranked highly in the Draft who played well included #2 pick for the Western Bulldogs, Stephanie Chiocci (Diamond Creek, VWFL) and #3 MFC choice Chelsea Randall (Swan Districts, WAWFL).
While Chiocci began using her speed to advantage, she found the going tough when #19 pick Kiara Bowers (Coastal Titans, WAWFL) was her opponent.
Randall enthralled the crowd. Her spectacular leaps off the backs of her opponents together with her high work ethic ensured the
7500 audience were loud and entertained. Debbie Lee Medallist from the 2013 AFL Women’s Championships, #25 pick for MFC Courtney Gum (UNSW/ES Sydney, NSWACT), continued her superb season’s form, repelling numerous Western Bulldogs forward moves in her backline.
Although Melbourne FC ran out four-goal victors, the cliché of the year was that “female football was the winner!”
The players high fived the engaged crowd during their lap of honour and the football community were in admiration of the skill level of the two teams.
To see their journey: http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-03-04/women-draftees-journey-to-the-g
The 2014 AFL Women’s Exhibition Game will be conducted at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, June 28, at 9.30am and will be contested before the Western Bulldogs FC playing Melbourne FC.
Now it’s your turn to get Drafted! With a minimum 24 places up for selection, you can make your mark.
Jan Cooper
AFL Manager
Female Development
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
The AFL will conduct the Draft and nomination process so players can be selected from across Australia as per the Rules and Regulations of the Draft.
As far as possible, the Draft will be live-streamed to each capital city. Interstate players will also be financially supported by the AFL to attend the AFL Women’s Exhibition Game ensuring it is as close to a true display of the best available female talent in Australia.
The competing AFL clubs will make their selections from the AFL Women’s Draft and host Interstate players who are drafted, providing a comprehensive program at their club leading up to the AFL Women’s Exhibition Game.
