IN 1995, VICTORIAN woman Sally (Sal) Rees made history becoming the first woman to nominate for the AFL National Draft. Rees’ nomination led to the AFL changing the rules to prevent this type of scenario from recurring.
It’s apparent that times have changed as we fast forward 20 years to 2015 with more than 260 women from across the country and a handful from overseas nominating for the third AFL women’s draft to be held on Monday 20 April at Etihad Stadium.
Following the success of the first two AFL women’s games, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will play two games in 2015 with the bulk of the squads to be selected at tonight’s draft.
Both clubs were permitted to retain just six players from their 2014 squads and will select 16 players and one emergency each with the Bulldogs again having the prized number one pick.
Melbourne have reappointed coach Michelle Cowan, who led the Dees to victory in 2013 and 2014.
The Western Bulldogs, who are still searching for their first win, have a new coach this year, with Collingwood premiership player Craig Starcevich taking the reins at the kennel.
Nationally, the state of the game continues to flourish and the talent pool in the running for a coveted spot on an AFL list has never been deeper.
Draft selection games have been played in all states and territories giving players the opportunity to display their wares in the hope of catching the eye of the selectors.
Both Cowan and Starcevich have travelled the length and breadth of the country and watched countless hours of vision in their quest to identify the talent they need to put together a winning team.
Both coaches and their recruiting staff have worked overtime analysing players and planning potential match ups and contingencies.
“We look at doing our due diligence by watching as much footage on players from around the country,” Cowan said.
“From here we hope to select quality people with great football ability to represent the Melbourne Football Club.
“We need a good balance throughout the team of forwards, midfielders and backs – we’ve only retained the 6 players so there certainly are a number of spots to fill.”
With just 12 players retained from the 2014 lists, there are plenty of experienced footballers up for grabs alongside more than 200 women yet to have a taste of life at the very elite level.
“There were certainly a number of players delisted who will be playing again,” Cowan said.
“It was tough to delist them at the time and no doubt with their talent they'll be redrafted by either the Dogs or Demons this year.
“We'll also see some new and exciting talent get an opportunity too.”
There are plenty of questions to be answered as the coaches aim to put the pieces of the puzzle together to build a ready-made team.
With Melbourne champion ruckman Lou Wotton hanging up the boots at the end of 2014, the Demons will be desperate to draft a player capable of running all day and competing around the ground against Bulldogs skipper Aasta O’Connor.
Can South Australian Sarah Allan or West Australian Emma King assume the mantle?
One of the players retained by the Bulldogs is star forward Moana Hope. Hope, a five-time premiership player who kicked 80 goals in the VWFL in 2014, has started 2015 in blistering form, booting 14 goals in her first two games. She can play tall and she can play small. Who can stop her?
High-flying Melbourne key forward Chelsea Randall was unstoppable in 2014 and the Bulldogs will need to contain her if they’re to have any chance in 2015. Powerful, hard running and strong-marking with a big engine, Randall will take some stopping. Can delisted 2014 no.2 draft pick Meg Hutchins perform this role?
While some players have lived and breathed footy from birth, Canadian Aimee Legault grew up 14,000 kms away in a country where the main sport, ice hockey, is a far cry from the MCG. Legault, a hard working midfielder/defender, was named best on the ground as she captained her country to victory in the 2014 AFL International Cup. Will Legault follow in the footsteps of her fellow countryman Mike Pyke?
In 2014, onballer Ellie Blackburn was Melbourne’s leading possession winner, racking up 27 possessions, including 11 contested, along with driving the Demons inside 50 six times. It’s fair to say that she was unlucky to be delisted and she seems likely to be taken with an early pick in 2015.
Some other players to watch out for include:
Phoebe McWilliams (VIC) – Hard-working key forward with great hands.
Heather Anderson (ACT) - Very hard working mid/defender with a big tank.
Emma Zielke (QLD) – Feisty, hard working inside midfielder.
Lauren Morecroft (VIC) - Hard as nails defender with a ferocious attack on the footy.
Jordan Zanchetta (QLD) - Hard working midfielder
Last Modified on 22/07/2015 04:23